Transmission Valve body gaskets

Any tranny techs out there? I have been rebuilding my wife's 93
Toytota camry transmission valve body (A540E) and have run into a snag.
I have all the replacement gaskets, but for the seperator plate
gaskets, the original gaskets seem to be 'bonded' to the upper and
lower seperator plates. Don't know if this is heat related or Toyota
prebonds these things to the plates, but they are VERY hard to scrape
off, and I'm afraid to nick them using a razor blade or something. Are
there any tricks to use to get these gaskets to come off the plates
easier? Perhaps a brass wire brush in a drill? Can I soak the plates
in something to help?

Any help would be appreciated as I'm desperate now. My only other
option will be to order a reman'ed valve body (should have doen this
inte first place) and put that in.

Thanks,

davemc