Jay, I soaked mine with Kroil a few times a day for a few days first and then used a punch just a bit smaller than the dowel. It wouldn't budge when I was being timid when whacking it, so I got a larger hammer and used more muscle. Once it broke free, it drove in easily. I did not use heat. I used a piece of thin wire bent at 90 degrees to gauge the correct depth, but discovered that it really wasn't necessary because you can feel when the dowel bottoms out when it reaches the correct depth. The bent wire is helpful because it lets you know when you are getting close and can start to back off.
It is a bit of a tense process because you are on edge about goofing it up, but it sure feels good when the dowel starts to move.
Good luck,
Matt
