Managed to get it loose! I left it on the fireplace the rest of the afternoon (around 70 degrees max) and then had another go. 1st with the nails and that ended in more bending…. main issue with that it’s that it’s very hard to get an even grip/force in the holes. So then I grabbed a caliper, expecting it to break it’s points, but to my surprise it worked good. Better grip on the ring and hands. And easier to apply equal force.
Thanks for the advice all!
Good idea! Will get something like that. Even though this was the 1st time I’ve had so much trouble, it probably isn’t the last time and would make life so much easier. Cheap enough not to mess around with nails anymore (or a caliper for that matter…).
Counter clockwise. All the circlips I have at hand have way too big tips. None fit in the holes of the ring.