Cutting Ingot

[PopcornSutton]

How do you cut a chunk off of a ingot to add to a mix? If I need 1 pound off a 5 pound ingot, it's easy enough to measure it out where to cut, but do you saw it, break it, something else?

[Springfield]

I use my bandsaw with a coarse blade, otherwise the lead binds it up .

[HWooldridge]

I generally pour some quantity of 1 lb. ingots from the master batch and use the whole piece - but to answer your question, a hatchet will do in a pinch.

[Pipefitter]

Wide cold chisel and a hammer works also. Sawzall, Porta-band, Take a torch and melt off what you need.

[Froogal]

I use my Makita jig saw with an all purpose blade.

[JonB_in_Glencoe]

score it, then break it

[PopcornSutton]

Thanks, I thought sawing would load up the blade if not careful. Using a chisel and hammer will be my first try, I can always saw it after if it doesn't work.

[Sasquatch-1]

As mentioned, I would pre-melt it into smaller ingots.

[Rapier]

I make alloy in a 100# pot and use a heavy axe and a tree stump, I do have tree stumps. I use two pieces of RR track plus an axe blunt back for breaking hard material like Linotype.

[Froogal]

Thanks, I thought sawing would load up the blade if not careful. Using a chisel and hammer will be my first try, I can always saw it after if it doesn't work.

I've never had that issue with a coarse, all purpose blade. In fact, I've cut MANY ingots and the blade is still sharp.

[Krh1326]

I too, make smaller ingots to make alloys…. However…
My source gives me incredibly large ( 100 lb plus ) chunks, for that, I actually use a chainsaw. I do spread out a drop cloth, to catch my ‘ saw dust’. I have also used my gas driven log splitter.
Once my chunks are smaller, I’ve used my shop press, with a modified splitting wedge, and then finally extra large bolt cutters.
I prefer the methods, that aren’t saws, but believe it or not, chainsaw flies thru it.

[BLAHUT]

How do you cut a chunk off of a ingot to add to a mix? If I need 1 pound off a 5 pound ingot, it's easy enough to measure it out where to cut, but do you saw it, break it, something else?

Axe or log splitter

[country gent]

Use chalk in the blade as a cutting lubricant it will help keep the blade from loading up. Wax also works well for this. Another trick if you have a drill press is a good sized forester bit and drill into the ingot catching the chips to use as you get a series of holes the ingot will be able to be broken

[GregLaROCHE]

If you have access to a big press, you could try cutting it with a wedge.

[BJung]

I cast ingots using the Lee mold. I also use a diving weight mold. To break the Lee mold, I'll wack it with a hammer and bend it enough times forward and back until it breaks. If it doesn't break, I use bolt cutters to bite as much of the corners and hammer again. The ingots and square diving weights always break then.

[lightman]

I've cut them with an ax, a wedge and hammer, various saws with course blades and I have held them over the pot and melted what I wanted. I cut sheet lead with an air chisel.

[TNsailorman]

It depends on how large the ingot is as to how I approached it. If the small ingots, I would use a hacksaw with a courser blade that I sprayed with light oil and larger ones I used both an ax and a hand saw on the few that I had scrounged. I never bought or produced the larger sizes of ingots, too much trouble to handle for this old boy. just me anyway, james

[kevin c]

How precise does the weight added have to be? How much alloy are you mixing up?

A fairly long, skinny ingot can be dipped into the molten alloy up to your mark, and eventually everything below it will melt off. I’d use vice grips to avoid hand fatigue and burns.

[fredj338]

Why cut? Mark a line on the ingot & just hold it in the pot with some channel locks. I’m a keep it simple guy. Its not a precision measuring event.

[dondiego]

This subject is addressed every 3 months..................