Cutting lead to size!

[soldierbilly1]

q:
I just got some (I believe) lead plates. they are ca. 6" x 6" x 3/8" thick.
I can put them in an old iron fry pan and melt but, I would like to know if there is an easier way. Can I cut these guys up as to fit my melter? what is the easiest way to do this? Whaddya you all do?
thanks
billboy

[DickelDawg]

I have the same problem with lead pipe. Will be interested to hear of a handy solution to the problem.

[Don Fischer]

I did lead sheet's from an x-ray room's walls years ago and don't recall right off how I cut it. I may have just bent it back and forth and broke it. In your case, I believe I'd just use my smelting pot. Mine is an old heavy aluminum pot. Would work fine for what you have. Ya know, I just though, you could probably cut them on a table saw with a carbide blade! I've cut a lot of aluminum that way. Prior to carbide we used to use a steel blade put on backwards.

[sandman228]

for lead pipe I use a hatchet . for large chunks of lead , a plain old handsaw . ive tried a reciprocating saw and a cut off wheel they just clog up

[Chill Wills]

This same question is going on in Lead and Lead alloy
http://castboolits.gunloads.com/showthread.php?298307-How-to-reduce-large-ingots

Lots of good answers....

[blackthorn]

For 3/8" thick just use an axe with the lead on a wood block.

[big bore 99]

For something as thin as that, I'd just use a cold chisel on some kind of anvil or even concrete.

[Idz]

We always used kerosene as a lube when machining lead. It works well to prevent clogging and evaporates off so you don't have to do much cleaning.

[44man]

6"x6", just pit an end in the vise and bend to fit the pot.

[cs86]

I had some large pieces of soft lead and I used a large chisel and a big hammer. Just don't miss and hit yourself :-(.

[soldierbilly1]

6"x6", just pit an end in the vise and bend to fit the pot.
this is what I did for the smaller pieces.
Larger pieces weigh more than my pot holds!
I like the axe idea.
See ya later, heading for my (snowy) backyard!
thanks for all the help!
bill boy

[bangerjim]

Save your back. Skip the hathets and axes. Save your joints...save the swwzall for.....well.....the junk box. Save your hands from calluses.

get a dual blade rotary carbide toothed saw from HF. Cuts thru most materials like a hot knife thru butter. No kickback. Just put a tarp down to collect the lead scrap from the blades.

Cool tool! You will use it for tons of cutting stuff lf all kinds.

banger

[labradigger1]

Chainsaw, wood splitter, axe

[JSnover]

Bangerjim's idea is probably best but if you don't want to buy the saw you should be able to shear them with hammer and chisel, either on a firm surface or clamped in a sturdy vise.

[dudel]

Hold it over the pot, and use a torch on it?

[upnorthwis]

I've cut lead on a bandsaw with a wood cutting blade. Has no effect on blade that I can determine.

[RED333]

Hold it over the pot, an use a torch on it?

This is what I do, ya it uses money, but saves your joints from all the banging.

[44man]

I had a 75# ingot with the ears on the ends. I drilled a hole in an ear and suspended it from the barn over hang with my deer hoist to lower slowly into the pot. Worked perfectly. Just raised it as the pot got full.

[fecmech]

Just use a skill saw with a framing blade. Cuts easier than pine.
http://castboolits.gunloads.com/showthread.php?272920-Skillsaw-vs-lead-pipe&highlight=cutting+lead+pipe

[flint45]

Just use a skill saw with a framing blade. Cuts easier than pine.
http://castboolits.gunloads.com/showthread.php?272920-Skillsaw-vs-lead-pipe&highlight=cutting+lead+pipe
Me to works fine.

[RogerDat]

For thinner or just doing a small amount I use a chisel and small 2# sledge hammer. Bigger stuff I start to think in terms of setting on smelting pot and hitting with propane torch. I don't put scrap into my casting pot that I'm going to cast bullets from. Too much crud and oxides need to be fluxed out so I keep the two operations separate.

I have too many saws to justify buying another one :-) And do too little scrap lead that needs cutting.

BTW - scrap yards will often have a shear, if your on their good side and the piece is not too small to handle they may cut it for you. Have had good luck getting them to chop up pipe or roll of sheet lead into manageable sizes. They use it to cut stuff like the brass fittings off of pipe or attachments off of aluminum so they can get premium "clean" metal price for the remainder. Sometimes they slice plated stuff to see what is inside, see plated copper items get that treatment to determine if that is a copper core.

[Toymaker]

There was a guy on here that used a chainsaw with an old chain and lots of oil to cut up sailboat keels.

[Geezer in NH]

Get bigger pot 6"x6" piece put it in a vise bend in half with a 2-3 pound hammer make it 3"X6"