View Full Version : Large sheets of lead
Slatewiper
02-19-2017, 02:19 PM
I have a friend who works for the phone company and has access to scrap lead that comes in sheets about .25" thick and about 24" to a side. What would be the easiest way to cut these down so they would fit in a furnace? Thanks
375RUGER
02-19-2017, 02:25 PM
I'm guessing it's pure. On 1/4"a wide chisel will work, sawsall, circular saw. I've used a chainsaw on large hunks and radial miter saw.
dbosman
02-19-2017, 03:47 PM
If the cutter has large hands, a large set of tin snips works. I have to make the cuts one slice at a time since mine are not quite large enough.
jonas302
02-19-2017, 04:36 PM
power wood splitter if you happen to have one otherwise a stump and nice sharp axe would shear it to pieces Or get bigger smelting pot folded in about half it would fit in a propane tank smelter
Set them on a block of wood and whack them with an ax...works for me.
imashooter2
02-19-2017, 05:10 PM
Set them on a block of wood and whack them with an ax...works for me.
Yep. Roll them, stomp the rolls flat, hack them off with an axe or hatchet.
ohiomadman
02-19-2017, 05:53 PM
I have cut up a lot of sheet lead from drywall used in X-ray room over the years. Use a utility knife with a new blade.
Just score the lead a couple of times, bend it back and forth a couple of times and it tears apart. Easy Peezie.
Iowa Fox
02-19-2017, 07:29 PM
When I came by some sheet lead just like you describe I used a sharp hatchet to cut while holding the edge off the ground. Once you make the first slit its easy to keep it moving. Then I roll the cut off strips into small rolls to store for the pot at next smelt. Then into ingots. No lead waste when you cut it with a hatchet.
runfiverun
02-19-2017, 09:09 PM
the 1/4" stuff is hard to cut with tin snips.
the razor blade and bend works pretty well.
I usually roll it up and pound it flat with a 6 or 8 lb hammer then cut it into 6" lengths with the porta-band.
Silvercreek Farmer
02-19-2017, 09:14 PM
Find a bigger pot?
Hardcast416taylor
02-20-2017, 05:22 AM
I salvaged an X-ray rooms walls once that were lead with drywall. If it wasn`t bad enough getting the drywall off it was the paper stuck the lead to contend with. Anyway I used a 6 lb. mini sledge and kept folding it over and hammering it flat till I had a block that fit my smelt pot and then rendered it down. The fumes of the paper burning off and the glue on it kept me a good distance up wind of the pot.Robert
phonejack
02-20-2017, 07:52 AM
I'm retired from the phone company. The scoring and bending works. Your friend also has access to something else. We called it encapsulant. A two part mix poured into splices. It's sets up in 24 hrs. It's also know as BALLISTIC GEL ! ( and its reuseable, just mix and pour more into into a bulle hole )
William Yanda
02-20-2017, 07:58 AM
Could you roll it?
Roll it up and use a hatchet to cut it up to handy lengths
lightman
02-20-2017, 02:01 PM
Thats a Good Score and a good friend!
I still get phone company lead occasionally and I've used all of the methods listed above. I prefer to smash it until it fits my smelting pot. You can cut it with a chisel, a hand saw, power saw, ax, hatchet, just about anything. A large air compressor and a air chisel works ok. If you use a saw arrange to catch the chips.
Phone company lead is probably not pure but is very soft. Probably in the 98% range. I've shot a lot of in in Black Powder rifles.
quilbilly
02-20-2017, 02:18 PM
What a score! Congratulations! If it was isotope lead sheets which are much thinner, I use my gardening hand hedge shears but I don't know about .25" sheets.
flint45
02-20-2017, 07:23 PM
I used an ax it worked for me 1/4 in thick pure lead ax went rite through layed on a 4x4 post.
nun2kute
02-21-2017, 09:07 AM
I am SERIOUSLY JEALOUS you have that problem ... :violin:
country gent
02-21-2017, 01:02 PM
A circular saw with a fine toothed blade would cut it quickly also. A little light oil or kerosene to lubricate it so the saw slides easy and the lead dosnt gauld
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