I have a 500lb lead ingot

[m.chalmers]

Cheap HF chop saw or chain saw.

[mdw]

well I set up today to cut this thing down





it's pretty thick and the log splitter was struggling,..so I stopped before I broke it, but managed to shave off a few pieces,..I may try again when I have some help I think I can work it from all 4 sides, but at 30 inches long 9 inches thick and 7 inches wide it's just too much for my splitter to cut all the way through..my other thought is to use the torch set and melt a grove down the center splitting it into 2 thinner slabs then chunk it up with the splitter,.. or go after it with a weed burner as also suggested

[NavyVet1959]

Lead is fairly easy to drill, so if you log splitter is not up to the task, you could drill a line of hole along the line you intend to cut so that it would be easier on the log splitter.

What is the ton rating on that log splitter?

Maybe that Case unit behind there could run over it a few times and flatten it out a bit?

Got a friend that is a locomotive engineer and some train tracks nearby? I have to think that the weight of a locomotive on those narrow steel wheels would shear off any lead put there.

[lightman]

I would try to split it length ways with some type of saw. Then your log splitter would have an easier job of it. With your toys around, I would pick it up with that skit steer and hold it over my smelting pot to melt it.

[Mytmousemalibu]

I had an "ingot" that weighed in at 1300lbs. that I made more movable by cutting it in half with a Sawzall and on of those big burly Rescue blades. You will want pretty coarse tooth and used a cutting fluid of some kind. I just used some used motor oil. It will help to keep the chips clumped up to collect and toss in the smelter.

[woodbutcher]

Some folks just have all the luck.Happy casting.
Good luck.Have fun.Be safe.
Leo

[deadeye ruck]

I echo the log splitter. Makes quick work of the bigger stuff

[Jack Stanley]

Problems like that are interesting , I solved mine by building a pot big enough to hold it .

Jack

[Lakehouse2012]

Set a tarp down to catch the shavings and use a chainsaw. Lead is about same density as oak. The sailboat guys do this all day long when shaping their keels.

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[NavyVet1959]

Set a tarp down to catch the shavings and use a chainsaw. Lead is about same density as oak. The sailboat guys do this all day long when shaping their keels.

Uhhh... No... Definitely NOT the same density... Oak will float in water, lead will most definitely sink...

[mdw]

I attacked it with my cutting torch today and melted a grove down the center funneled the melt off into a pot, worked it from both sided and split it into 2 thinner slabs, I think the log splitter can handle it now,..we'll see in the next couple days

[Drm50]

I had 2 big ingots, take up weights. I started with a saws-all which cut it ok but was taking forever.
I ended up over a period of time kind of peeling it with a axe and a sledge hammer. I still have one
left, haven't worked up the energy to cut it up. I have been thinking of building a hot fire and let
it melt off the end. We melt lead sheathing of cable that way, when fire dies done pick it off the
ground. You have to remelt to clean because a lot of dirt gets in it this way, but is in managable
pieces.

[mdw]

didn't take long with the torch it was easy and pretty clean

progress so far

[Mgvande]

Wow. I thought I was cool when I 'found' about 50lbs of forgotten lead in fishing pyramid weights. Looking for lawn mower gas I noticed a jug with the top cut off, under closer inspection it was lead weights. That was last week. Today I headed to the barn to move some bales and tada a 1/4 5gal or more lead weights. I wish I had the whole 500 lb problem. I do have a 40lb block do you guys think my table saw can handle it? It's book shaped and about 1 1/2" thick.

[NavyVet1959]

I do have a 40lb block do you guys think my table saw can handle it? It's book shaped and about 1 1/2" thick.

How many fingers do you have?

How many do you want to have afterwards?



Besides, you're going to end up with lead chips all up and inside of the mechanism of your table saw.

Personally, I wouldn't do it with *my* table saw, but I have other options that would probably not be as messy.

[mdw]

torch set worked pretty good so I just kept going with it, have manageable pieces now, and very little to no loss









then my buddy tells me there are 2 more the same size and he'll see what he can do to get them for me

[trails4u]

I'm going to be really disappointed if you don't get another and try flattening it with the dozer.

[mdw]

I'm going to be really disappointed if you don't get another and try flattening it with the dozer.

while that would be fun,..I think it would push it into the ground vs squish it

[NavyVet1959]

I suspect that the concern many would have on using a oxy-acetylene (or oxy-propane) torch on lead would be if you tried to cut it the same way you cut steel (i.e. cause the steel to *burn*, not just *melt*). That would heat the lead up to boiling point and you would get lead vapors. That's more dangerous that just solid or liquid lead. But if you just work the flame back and forth along the groove that you are trying to cut and let it heat up enough to melt and flow, but not boil, the risk of lead vapor would be reduced.

I've wondered what striking an arc with a stick welder would do with respect to being able to cut lead since there is a lot of heat generated by an electrical arc, but I'm pretty sure it would be also generating lead vapor, so I've avoided the temptation to find out.

[mdw]

no I didnt try to cut it like steel I just got it flowing worked the groove in an up and down motion melting it deeper and deeper

I did think of going to a welding shop and getting a couple stainless steel rods and do just that with my arc welder making a make shift hot knife

to my calculations this thing is 3.5 million grains,..thats alot of boolits,..but the thing is I'm a noob and have yet to cast a boolit,..I'm guessing next step is to make a few ingots and should test the lead for hardness,..any simple way of doing that?