Nah, lift up ring that's around the shift boot and get a microfiber towel. Wrap the MF towel around the shaft, and then use your vice grips on the shaft. This way you don't scratch it. Then use the strap wrench on the shift knob. I wrapped my shift knob first with painter's tape, then duct tape so i could get a better grip...AND it didn't damage the knob.
Here's a nice thread that goes into detail a bit:
OEM shift knob removal (SEARCHED)