Originally posted by monochrome I've had success with one of those flat rubber bathtub drain stoppers I got at WallyWorld - no squeezing at all, just even pressure with the palm all the way around the face of the filter.
That trick works fine with a fixed filter, not so fine with a CPL or other 2-part rotating filter. One can sometimes find cheap "jar openers" at discount stores, with a levered plastic strap to grab the edges of a jar lid or lens filter. This is my favorite butt-saver.
To avoid such aluminum welding in the future, run a bar of soap lightly around the male threads. Prevention is the best medicine. Except maybe chicken fat.