RepackboxLee PrecisionTitan ReloadingMidSouth Shooters Supply
Load DataWidenersInline FabricationRotoMetals2
Reloading Everything
Results 1 to 13 of 13

Thread: Sharing Simple Method to Cut 1/2" Lead Plate

  1. #1
    Boolit Buddy
    Join Date
    Jun 2008
    Location
    Muskegon, Michigan
    Posts
    262

    Sharing Simple Method to Cut 1/2" Lead Plate

    Had a bunch of 1/2" sheet laying around and tired of moving it again and again but too big to melt in my cast iron pot. Read lots of suggestions for cutting methods, axe, saws-all, chainsaw. Wanted it in 4" wide strips.

    Thought of something I do not recall previously reading and it worked great. After cutting up wood pallets from my former place of work with a worm drive skill saw, cheap one from Harbor Frieght, gave that a try. Walked right through it, not much more difficult than cutting up the skids. Used the finer tooth carbide tipped blade that came with the saw (less after cutting a through a few nails in the pallets) and made a sheet metal hood to go over and in front of the saw to keep chips down and close. Most chips fell directly down, easy to clean up.

    Thought I would share this.

  2. #2
    Boolit Grand Master

    Join Date
    Mar 2013
    Location
    Northwest Ohio
    Posts
    14,455
    I have used a heavy circular saw to cut aluminum and lead one thing that helps a lot is a light wipe of oil where the saw rides, wax may even help it to slide easily along. Be sure to wear a face shield as the chips are sharp. If you have a decent table saw it works good and cuts downward so chips are captured

  3. #3
    Boolit Master
    Join Date
    Sep 2016
    Posts
    2,659
    It was suggested here by somebody to use a counter rotating dual bladed circular saw. Works great. Lots of chips, though. Still, it was much better than trying to hammer a hatchet through the 1/2" plate I was cutting, and still better than a Sawzall (maybe it was just my lousy technique, but I got tired of the teeth rattling chatter).

  4. #4
    Boolit Master


    fecmech's Avatar
    Join Date
    Mar 2005
    Location
    Buffalo NY area
    Posts
    4,030
    I just cut up a bunch of xray room drywall lead that had been rolled up into pieces a couple inches thick so they would fit in my smelt pot. They cut like butter on my $100. table saw with the blade that came with it. I set the saw on a tarp for the chips and pulled the pieces toward me against the blade rotation to avoid the chips. It was the same as cross cutting a 2x4.
    "Masculine republics give way to feminine democracies, and feminine democracies give way to tyrannies.” Aristotle

  5. #5
    Boolit Buddy Hammerlane's Avatar
    Join Date
    Dec 2011
    Location
    Charlotte, NC
    Posts
    124
    i put large pieces on top of my cast iron pot and hit it with a weed burner. no chips, drips right in until it fits. biggest piece so far 4 ft x 4 ft 1/4 inch thick. before that I would use the weed burner to cut the pieces to fit and let the lead cool on the ground, picked it up in one piece to put in the pot. I am not much of cutting and making a bigger mess..
    I would rather fish. Can you shoot fish ?
    ><((((º>`•.¸¸.•´¯`•...¸><((((º>`• .¸¸.•´¯[_____]””””””

  6. #6
    Boolit Grand Master

    Join Date
    May 2005
    Location
    Castlegar, B.C., Canada
    Posts
    7,932
    I had to get some lead anodes cut up for testing. They run 1/2" to maybe 3/4" thick. I knew a chainsaw would work okay but the plant didn't have one so the technician got a circular saw and I squirted WD40 on the blade regularly. That worked amazingly well. Not as messy as a chainsaw either.

  7. #7
    In Remembrance
    Join Date
    Aug 2005
    Location
    Near Mazomanie, Wi.
    Posts
    1,195
    I have used a circular saw with the blade reversed, works quite well.
    NRA Life
    NMLRA Life
    F&AM

  8. #8
    Boolit Grand Master
    bangerjim's Avatar
    Join Date
    Apr 2013
    Location
    out of here, wandering somewhere in the SW.
    Posts
    10,163
    Quote Originally Posted by kevin c View Post
    It was suggested here by somebody to use a counter rotating dual bladed circular saw. Works great. Lots of chips, though. Still, it was much better than trying to hammer a hatchet through the 1/2" plate I was cutting, and still better than a Sawzall (maybe it was just my lousy technique, but I got tired of the teeth rattling chatter).
    Double rotating rotary saws cut smooth and clean, and do not loosen your fillings like a stupid reciprocal saw! I have several of both and they each have their place in my machine shops and wood shops. But for Pb, you cannot beat the double blade saw. And all the "sawdust" you catch on a tarp below where you are cutting and just melt it down. No loss at all. And all your fillings/implants are still in place!


    You can cut Pb with just about any saw....carbide is MUCH better...but any good quality wood-cutting blade will walk right thru Pb. Don't push or the Pb will almost melt at the point of cutting and bog your saw down.....slow and easy does it until you get the feel of how Pb cuts with the blade you are using. And depending on the configuration of the saw and blade, you might be able to use some lube on the cut now and then.

    banger

  9. #9
    Boolit Master


    Join Date
    Mar 2005
    Location
    Perryville, Ky,USA
    Posts
    4,513
    Log splitter's not bad for doubled up or thicker pieces. Worked well for me./beagle
    diplomacy is being able to say, "nice doggie" until you find a big rock.....

  10. #10
    Boolit Buddy
    Join Date
    Apr 2014
    Location
    mid MO.
    Posts
    171
    Air chisel. No chips,no dust.

  11. #11
    Boolit Master
    Join Date
    Feb 2008
    Location
    Eureka MT
    Posts
    2,513
    I used a wood cutting band saw which worked very well. lead chips were all inside the base of the saw and were easy to collect. Because of the narrow kerf there was not nearly as much as a skill saw makes.

  12. #12
    Boolit Grand Master

    Join Date
    Mar 2013
    Location
    Northwest Ohio
    Posts
    14,455
    The last sheet lead I had I took into the shop and ran thru the sheet metal shear. Made 2" X 4' strips real quick.

  13. #13
    Boolit Master
    Join Date
    Jul 2013
    Location
    barry s wales uk
    Posts
    2,655
    i used a hatchet

Posting Permissions

  • You may not post new threads
  • You may not post replies
  • You may not post attachments
  • You may not edit your posts
  •  
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