On Wed, 10 Jul 2013 06:28:36 -0700, "William Sommerwerck"
wrote:

I recently suggested opening the cell, pulling out the anode, then reinserting
it.

No one has commented on this, possibly because it seems absurd. But I remember
reading it in the PPC calculator journal over 30 years ago.

For mechanical palliation of the whiskers, what about a small paint
shaker, such as
http://www.micromark.com/paint-shaker-120v-ac,6781.html

I've never tried it (for batteries) but maybe it would work. Beats
prying open the cell casing.