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Thread: Cutting lead pipe

  1. #1
    Boolit Master
    cabezaverde's Avatar
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    Cutting lead pipe

    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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  2. #2
    Boolit Master
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    Sawsall with a coarse blade. If it bucks too hard, try a fine tooth blade.

  3. #3
    Boolit Master Forrest r's Avatar
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    i use an ax to cut my lead pipe and lead sheeting

  4. #4
    Boolit Grand Master
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    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.

  5. #5
    Boolit Man

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    Axe or wedges, just drive them through over a stump.

  6. #6
    Boolit Grand Master

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    A Sawzall is my favorite. An ax will work if you're up to the work.

  7. #7
    Boolit Master
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    Sawzall and it’s not worth the effort to flatten them imo.

  8. #8
    Boolit Master
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    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
    Last edited by Scrounge; 05-11-2021 at 12:27 AM. Reason: reduce redundant text.

  9. #9
    Boolit Master
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    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.

  10. #10
    Boolit Grand Master

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    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

  11. #11
    Boolit Master Win94ae's Avatar
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    Axe, maul or chisel.

  12. #12
    Boolit Grand Master GhostHawk's Avatar
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    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.
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  13. #13
    Boolit Master
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    Cut it with about 700 degrees and it stacks pretty well afterwards usually.

  14. #14
    Boolit Buddy
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    Have my young strong son cut it for me. I take it out of his rent.

  15. #15
    Boolit Buddy
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    24" bolt cutter

  16. #16
    Boolit Buddy
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    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!

  17. #17
    Boolit Buddy
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    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

  18. #18
    Boolit Master
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    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.
    Take a kid to the range, you'll both be glad you did.

  19. #19
    Boolit Master
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    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.

  20. #20
    Boolit Master Sasquatch-1's Avatar
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    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".
    A vote for anyone other then the conservative candidates is a vote for the liberal candidates.

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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