A plumber friend gave me some longer lengths of lead pipe. I would like to cut it into shorter lengths and then flatten it to consolidate storage space.
What are uou guys using to cut it with?
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A plumber friend gave me some longer lengths of lead pipe. I would like to cut it into shorter lengths and then flatten it to consolidate storage space.
What are uou guys using to cut it with?
Sawsall with a coarse blade. If it bucks too hard, try a fine tooth blade.
i use an ax to cut my lead pipe and lead sheeting
Let the electric power do all the work! Sawzall with the right blade. Right blade will cut thru it like butter and not break your back.
Axe or wedges, just drive them through over a stump.
A Sawzall is my favorite. An ax will work if you're up to the work.
Sawzall and it’s not worth the effort to flatten them imo.
Haven't actually done it yet, but have a hatchet & mallet, and reciprocating saws. Hatchet & mallet, for a preference, as I don't want to lose any of it.
Bill
I find a large pair of gardening shears ideal for cutting lead sheet and pipe.....If too thick ,then a hammer and wide chisel ,like a brick bolster with a sharpened edge.
Not sure of wall thickness or diameter of your lead pipe but a circular saw or chainsaw works just fine on large plates or chunks of lead. With circular saw an occasional squirt of WD40 on the blade keeps it cutting well.
If the pipe is small and thin wall then you've got your answers above.
Longbow
Axe, maul or chisel.
Axe, and the process of beating through it helps knock loose the old scale on the inside. I cut mine into aprox foot long lengths. At that time I did not have a smelting setup. Short pieces and give each length a good hard knock endwise on concrete and most of the scale and mud fell off.
Cut it with about 700 degrees and it stacks pretty well afterwards usually.
Have my young strong son cut it for me. I take it out of his rent.
24" bolt cutter
I’ve used a maul in the past as it was what was available at the moment. It worked pretty well, just took some time. I sure enjoyed it more than splitting logs!
on pipe up to about 2 1/2" od I've used hand operated tree pruners before. Slices the soft thin walled lead with ease
Ax...cut a lot of lead phone cable sheathing...with the copper phone wire inside. Once you figure out how to swing, it is one swing per cut,not a big deal, forget the saws, way too slow.
Dual bladed circular saw. Maybe I just had poor technique, but the chatter from a Sawzall felt like it would knock out my fillings.
Axes are hazardous to my health. Even a hatchet set carefully on lead and hit with a maul threatened to amputate various body parts. Too much the city boy, I guess.
Didn't see anyone mention it, but put down a tarp, if you plan on using any type of saw, to collect the "saw dust".