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Thread: Clean Way to Cut Up Sheet Lead

  1. #1
    Boolit Master
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    Clean Way to Cut Up Sheet Lead

    Again I am saying clean (ie.. no shavings or dust.)

    "Pardon me whilst I adjust my accrutiments." (Daffy Duck)

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    JonB_in_Glencoe's Avatar
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    depending how thick the sheet is?
    I score it with a utility knife, fold and break.
    another clean way is using a hydraulic wood splitter.
    ~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
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  3. #3
    Boolit Buddy
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    Quote Originally Posted by JonB_in_Glencoe View Post
    depending how thick the sheet is?
    I score it with a utility knife, fold and break.
    another clean way is using a hydraulic wood splitter.
    I like the wood splitter idea.

  4. #4
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    JBinMN's Avatar
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    The sheets pieces I have acquired from wall protection for labs & such was thin enough to cut with a pair of tin snips. I can see where that "hair hammer with chisel" could do a good job on some thicker stuff though.

    I have one, but haven't had any sheet lead that is thick enough to need to use it.

    Thanks for sharing the idea though! Another "tool" to consider keeping in the Casting toolbox!
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    I have used a hatchet and an axe to cut up thicker sheet lead. Put it on a splitting stump. For 1/4" or thinner, the score with utility knife, fold and break method mentioned above works pretty well.

  6. #6
    Boolit Master
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    This stuff is 1/2" and alas I do not have a log splitter. Set on end it runs down nice, easy, and quick! Thanks for the options! Well, some of it is 3/4" yikes!!

    "Pardon me whilst I adjust my accrutiments." (Daffy Duck)
    Last edited by Reddirt62; 04-19-2018 at 01:24 PM.

  7. #7
    Boolit Grand Master

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    I've use an air chisel to cut up some pretty thick phone company splice covers. Not having lead chips everyplace is nice!

  8. #8
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    It's all in the thickness. I use different cutting tools for each. I have cut Pb sheets from 1/16" thick to 1.5" thick. Each demands a different tool to get it done efficiently and with as little "sawdust" as possible!

    banger

  9. #9
    Boolit Master
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    The 1" door liners I scored from a hospital demo. I cut up with an electric Jacob hammer with a 4" spade bit. The pieces that were too large for my 40 lb pot I bought a pneumatic floor scrapper and used it like the air hammer. $80.00 at HF.
    QUIS CUSTODIET IPSOS CUSTODES?

  10. #10
    Boolit Master
    Ed_Shot's Avatar
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    Quote Originally Posted by ShooterAZ View Post
    I have used a hatchet and an axe to cut up thicker sheet lead. Put it on a splitting stump. For 1/4" or thinner, the score with utility knife, fold and break method mentioned above works pretty well.
    +1.....an ax always works for me. Doesn't have to be pretty, just has to fit into the pot.

  11. #11
    Boolit Master
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    I sometimes use one of the old brick masons chisels when I used to do some brick work around the last house we owned. Ground down the bevel to a sharp edge place on the sheet lead and whack it with a 3lb drilling hammer. Most of what I have is 1/4" roofing lead.Frank

  12. #12
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    I'm thinking hang it above pot and hit it with one of those 50,000 BTU torch wands from Harbor Freight so that it drips and flows right down into the casting pot, arriving pre-warmed and everything. Then take the torch out and kill weeds in the driveway if there is any propane left.
    Scrap.... because all the really pithy and emphatic four letter words were taken and we had to describe this source of casting material somehow so we added an "S" to what non casters and wives call what we collect.

    Kind of hard to claim to love America while one is hating half the Americans that disagree with you. One nation indivisible requires work.

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Abbreviations used in Reloading

BP Bronze Point IMR Improved Military Rifle PTD Pointed
BR Bench Rest M Magnum RN Round Nose
BT Boat Tail PL Power-Lokt SP Soft Point
C Compressed Charge PR Primer SPCL Soft Point "Core-Lokt"
HP Hollow Point PSPCL Pointed Soft Point "Core Lokt" C.O.L. Cartridge Overall Length
PSP Pointed Soft Point Spz Spitzer Point SBT Spitzer Boat Tail
LRN Lead Round Nose LWC Lead Wad Cutter LSWC Lead Semi Wad Cutter
GC Gas Check