kyratchethead Posted February 12, 2010 Report Share Posted February 12, 2010 What's the best way to cut lead? I got two 8 pound + ingots from a retired plummer today but both are WAY TOO BIG to fit in my Lee IV Pot to melt! Any reccomendations appreciated! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
flatsrat76 Posted February 12, 2010 Report Share Posted February 12, 2010 What's the best way to cut lead? I got two 8 pound + ingots from a retired plummer today but both are WAY TOO BIG to fit in my Lee IV Pot to melt! Any reccomendations appreciated! would tin snips work? or maybe if its that big use a torch with a pair of pliers and melt it over your pot till it fits?????? But I have always used tin snips... Flatsrat76 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
tc-lures Posted February 12, 2010 Report Share Posted February 12, 2010 Maybe a hacksaw? Todd Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
kyratchethead Posted February 12, 2010 Author Report Share Posted February 12, 2010 (edited) I'm not so sure about either of these - these are TWO BIG HONKING 5 POUND INGOTS of lead. The only reason I took them were that they were free - the guy was going to trash them so I took them. Edited February 12, 2010 by kyratchethead Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
JSC Posted February 12, 2010 Report Share Posted February 12, 2010 An Ax .. Hatchet .. sharp thick Blade ..... BIG hammer ... Just chop it up .. works for me. Its good to have a pot that you can melt it down ... flux it .. clean it, pour into ingots that will fit in you pouring pot. Have fun .. I could use about 100 #s of some of that free stuff. JSC Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Jig Man Posted February 12, 2010 Report Share Posted February 12, 2010 An Ax .. Hatchet .. sharp thick Blade ..... BIG hammer ... Just chop it up .. works for me. Its good to have a pot that you can melt it down ... flux it .. clean it, pour into ingots that will fit in you pouring pot. Have fun .. I could use about 100 #s of some of that free stuff. JSC Yep hatchet and a hammer for me when I get big pieces. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
clamboni Posted February 12, 2010 Report Share Posted February 12, 2010 I use a propane torch. Set the ingot on top of my pot and let the pot warm it, then just hit it with the torch and let it drip right into the pot..........probably takes a little longer than chopping with an axe, but 8 lbs is really not a big ingot. When it gets to where I don't think it's as stable as I'd like, I jsut move it with pliers. You just have to be careful that big chunks of it don't drop into the hot lead in the pot ans splash. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
dlaery Posted February 12, 2010 Report Share Posted February 12, 2010 Use a hand saw or sawsall. A coarse blade will be better, something you would cut wood with. A skill saw does not work very well if it is thick, over 1/4". Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
redwolf Posted February 12, 2010 Report Share Posted February 12, 2010 I got a sheet of lead from an xray door,was folded up.Sat in my truck for 3weeks,couldn't find a way to get it out.Finialy used my jig saw with a wood blade and cut into managable pieces. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
kyratchethead Posted February 13, 2010 Author Report Share Posted February 13, 2010 (edited) I'm probably going to op out for the butane torch route. I did get the two ingots cut apart today, so's I'll probably set them one at a time on an ingot mold or mini muffin pan and melt them into whatever and then go from there. I just want to get these BEHEMOTHS down into a workable size. 'Tanks 'fer all the feedback! Edited February 13, 2010 by kyratchethead Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
BLT Posted February 13, 2010 Report Share Posted February 13, 2010 I had some very thick hunks one time, used a good hard cold chisel and hammer. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
reelcues Posted March 3, 2010 Report Share Posted March 3, 2010 hatchet and hammer +1 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Terry Anderson Posted March 5, 2010 Report Share Posted March 5, 2010 hatchet and hammer +1 +1 !! I use a masons chisel and a 3# hammer.... works awesome! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
BBK Posted March 8, 2010 Report Share Posted March 8, 2010 I got a few ingots that are too big for my IV also. I tried the chisel and hammer, the axe, and a pick but ended up holding it at the top of the pot and using a propane torch to melt it into the pot. Worked fantastically, bout 2 minutes to melt a 2lb ingot. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
lytlebait Posted May 10, 2011 Report Share Posted May 10, 2011 Band saw works great with a wood blade... Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Fatman Posted May 11, 2011 Report Share Posted May 11, 2011 For big blocks like that, get a couple of old baking trays (I bought the wife new ones and took the old ones), get a piece of 4x4 and put the chunk of lead on top of the wood with it hanging over the edge. use a torch and start melting it and let it drip onto the cookie sheet. Doing it this way you won't have dust, and you can pick up the melted pieces and put them in your bottom pouring pot. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
smalljaw Posted May 11, 2011 Report Share Posted May 11, 2011 Recipricating saw..AKA ...Sawsall Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
bakgat Posted May 11, 2011 Report Share Posted May 11, 2011 I get my lead in 50lb ingots and use the hammer and chisel method mentioned by many. I tried a heap of different methods, from axe to drilling holes to using different saws, but the good old hammer and chisel came out top. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
BLT Posted May 11, 2011 Report Share Posted May 11, 2011 Glad it worked out for you! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
robalo01 Posted May 25, 2011 Report Share Posted May 25, 2011 I have a fairly large pot that I use to melt down all impure lead and/or pieces that won't fit in my Lee pot and cast them into managable ingots. The pot is about 9 inches around and about 6 inches deep. For large ingots that I get sometimes and other large shapes that have at least one end that will fit in my 9 inch pot, I drill a hole in one end and hang into the pot from a tripod with a cable and pully and lower the piece of lead into the pot. OPnce the pot is full, I hoist the remainder up and por ingots. The pot is empty, I lower it in again. This isa good way to quicly and efficientll make ingots out of large pieces of lead. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
BLT Posted May 26, 2011 Report Share Posted May 26, 2011 I have a fairly large pot that I use to melt down all impure lead and/or pieces that won't fit in my Lee pot and cast them into managable ingots. The pot is about 9 inches around and about 6 inches deep. For large ingots that I get sometimes and other large shapes that have at least one end that will fit in my 9 inch pot, I drill a hole in one end and hang into the pot from a tripod with a cable and pully and lower the piece of lead into the pot. OPnce the pot is full, I hoist the remainder up and por ingots. The pot is empty, I lower it in again. This isa good way to quicly and efficientll make ingots out of large pieces of lead. Glad your system works for you, but I'll keep cutting. I don't want something else to worry about while melting lead, like the tripod falling or something like that. No disrespect meant to you at all. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Vodkaman Posted May 26, 2011 Report Share Posted May 26, 2011 I have a fairly large pot that I use to melt down all impure lead and/or pieces that won't fit in my Lee pot and cast them into managable ingots. The pot is about 9 inches around and about 6 inches deep. For large ingots that I get sometimes and other large shapes that have at least one end that will fit in my 9 inch pot, I drill a hole in one end and hang into the pot from a tripod with a cable and pully and lower the piece of lead into the pot. OPnce the pot is full, I hoist the remainder up and por ingots. The pot is empty, I lower it in again. This isa good way to quicly and efficientll make ingots out of large pieces of lead. I like it. As long as all theproper precautions are taken, it is a good solution. If the area is clear of inquisitive onlookers and you are wearing the correct gear then no one can get hurt. Dave Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
tubetragger Posted May 26, 2011 Report Share Posted May 26, 2011 Hatchet and a big hammer works for me....wear some safety glasses and gloves, the edges of the lead can get very sharp after being cut with the hatchet. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
josey wales Posted May 29, 2011 Report Share Posted May 29, 2011 Great thread, i have come across 4 -100 lb ingots, and i have been trying to break them up. Sawsall creates too much heat and binds the blade, tried an axe, slug is too thick for that. I did not want to melt the whole slug at once, maybe i will try the torch. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
mark poulson Posted May 29, 2011 Report Share Posted May 29, 2011 (edited) If you're cutting or chopping the lead, do it over a drop cloth, so you can collect the "saw dust" or chips that you'll make, and use them, too. And wear a dust mask. If you have kids, or plan to, lead can be dangerous, so be careful. Funny, but it turns out that the old expression, "It'll put lead in your pencil", is actually not true. Lead poisoning kills sex drive. And leads to irreversible developmental problems in kids. Edited May 29, 2011 by mark poulson Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
