Author Topic: Any good way to cut a lead bar? (Read 5588 times)

rich pierce · « **on:** April 06, 2021, 10:25:33 PM »

Small pot, big bar of lead. Other than starting a fire and melting and pouring ingots, is there a good way to cut off lengths of lead bar?

So far I use a sledge hammer to thin it on the anvil then use a masonry chisel. Got to be a better way. Of course once I get out of the suburbs such things will be easier.

smylee grouch · « **Reply #1 on:** April 06, 2021, 10:31:53 PM »

Two man job with a heavy hammer and single bit ax.

Stoner creek · « **Reply #2 on:** April 06, 2021, 10:46:06 PM »

Acetylene torch!

EC121 · « **Reply #3 on:** April 06, 2021, 10:52:07 PM »

I have some chunks that are 4x4 bars. I don't have an acetylene torch so, I use a propane torch to melt the lead chunk into a Lyman ingot mold. Get on one corner and heat'er up. Once it starts to run, you are home free. I imagine a MAPP gas torch would work even better. I tried the chisel method, but that was way more work than I wanted.

Tim Ault · « **Reply #4 on:** April 06, 2021, 10:53:33 PM »

Sawzall with a coarse tooth demo blade run it on the slower side

davec2 · « **Reply #5 on:** April 06, 2021, 10:59:16 PM »

Do what EC121 says.....works like a charm.

Tim Crosby · « **Reply #6 on:** April 06, 2021, 11:20:25 PM »

Band saw with an old fine toothed blade and go s l o w.

Tim

Don Steele · « **Reply #7 on:** April 07, 2021, 01:52:39 AM »

Quote from: Tim Ault on April 06, 2021, 10:53:33 PM

Sawzall with a coarse tooth demo blade run it on the slower side

I used a sawzall as well but if I remember correctly I used a metal cutting blade.
Worked great, very little mess. Just go slow like Tim said.

Standing Bear · « **Reply #8 on:** April 07, 2021, 02:01:42 AM »

Another who uses sawsall.

mark esterly · « **Reply #9 on:** April 07, 2021, 02:38:51 AM »

i have cut inch thick chunks with a hacksaw easily

Scota4570 · « **Reply #10 on:** April 07, 2021, 03:18:29 AM »

"Acetylene torch!"
No!!!! Heating the lead that hot will volatize it, you will inhale it and get poisoned.

Saws work. Oil the blade so it does not bind.

I use a bandsaw with oil. You don't have to flood it. Do not rush the the feed. The bars will be zipped up almost as fast as hardwood.

Nessmuck · « **Reply #11 on:** April 07, 2021, 03:20:10 AM »

You Rookies have it all wrong.....I use my air hammer ....with a wide single plane chisel. Shaves that lead off...like nobody’s business. Of course you need an air compressor too.....

Greg Pennell · « **Reply #12 on:** April 07, 2021, 03:35:21 AM »

Another vote for the bandsaw here. Works like cutting butter.

Greg

frontstuffer · « **Reply #13 on:** April 07, 2021, 04:29:51 AM »

I had some 55lb. lead counter weights used on vertical columns I used my log splitter to reduce them into 2” squares worked great.

walks with gun · « **Reply #14 on:** April 07, 2021, 04:32:56 AM »

I've been using a old handsaw (carpenter saw) that works great for heavy stuff. Every one of us could most likely use a bit of exorcize anyway.

Nordnecker · « **Reply #15 on:** April 07, 2021, 02:10:31 PM »

I use a blacksmiths (handled) cold chisel and a small sledge hammer. It's easy, fast and no mess or loss of material.

Hungry Horse · « **Reply #16 on:** April 07, 2021, 05:41:30 PM »

I’m in the saws all camp, it works great, and you don’t fill your bandsaw full of lead particles. Sure would like to know what possesses people to cast ridiculously large amounts of lead into ridiculously big heavy unmanageable chunks of lead. But when you find them like that they are usually pretty cheap. I was given two balls of lead cast in an old three legged bean pot. They had to weigh fifty or sixty pounds apiece. Nice companion pieces for the four or five “ingots” some genius cast in a Chevy valve cover. It’s probably a good thing that these guys aren’t making bullets out of all that lead.

Hungry Horse

577SXS · « **Reply #17 on:** April 07, 2021, 05:51:38 PM »

I've got lots of lead sheet that is folded up. It is a real bear to cut up. I've used axes, machete, hand saw and you name it to cut it up fast. The SawZaw went through the folded stuff like butter. Had a wood cutting blade in it. I won't ever use anything else from now on the try and cut lead.

Daryl · « **Reply #18 on:** April 07, 2021, 09:50:45 PM »

Lead sheet is just folded up and hit with a hammer to compress it into chunks that go into the big outdoor pot for
casting into ingot moulds.
For larger chunks - an axe works and is good exercise for the soul.

Pete G. · « **Reply #19 on:** April 09, 2021, 09:00:36 PM »

Axe = no sawdust...

bob in the woods · « **Reply #20 on:** April 09, 2021, 09:22:59 PM »

I use an axe. Chop, chop..in the pot

Clark Badgett · « **Reply #21 on:** April 10, 2021, 02:17:58 AM »

I feel your pain. I have 3 more 12" diameter lead plates to saw. I use the metal bandsaw at work. Works like a champ.

BJH · « **Reply #22 on:** April 11, 2021, 12:02:02 AM »

The last time I cut up scrap lead I used my sawzall, with a coarse demolition blade. A bit of kerosene for lubricant. Works for cutting aluminum too. BJH

Bsharp · « **Reply #23 on:** April 11, 2021, 12:05:41 AM »

Quote from: frontstuffer on April 07, 2021, 04:29:51 AM

I had some 55lb. lead counter weights used on vertical columns I used my log splitter to reduce them into 2” squares worked great.

I will have to try this on on the big ones!

Hungry Horse · « **Reply #24 on:** April 11, 2021, 12:45:19 AM »

I cut up a 400# lead keel weight from a salvaged sailboat with a sawsall and a couple of demo blades.

Hungry Horse

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Author Topic: Any good way to cut a lead bar? (Read 5588 times)