How Do I Cut This Down

[Mr_Scrogg]

Friend of mine gave me this hunk of lead. Weighs 9.5lbs

I have a Hot Pot 2. How could I make this fit??

[cadman]

Don't know how big in diameter the lead is, but if you have a hot pot, melt a little at a time in the hot pot with the rest sticking up. Add as needed as you deplete your lead supply. You can also cut it with a hacksaw and a wood blade, or torch off a chunk with a propane torch.

[Mr_Scrogg]

Like a stick of butter in a frying pan, eh?

[Tony Maxwell]

An air chisel will work if you have access to one.

[robalo01]

If you go really slow, it can be cut with a power chop saw for wood.

Edited September 26, 2014 by robalo01

[LedHed]

hammer & chisel

[smalljaw]

All of those are good ideas, I've done the hatchet thing and the hack saw thing and it worked but far from fun. So, now when I have a large piece I use a reciprocating saw also know as a "saws all" and with a metal blade inserted it makes short work of cutting large chunks of lead. Cadman's way is also a good way but make sure you have heavy cotton mill work gloves on or use a large pair of channel lock pliers to hold onto the back of the lead bar as it melts. I have done that method in my 4lb pot that I use to remelt incomplete pours and to break down scrap lead, it is the easiest and least messy but it also takes longer as you have to wait at least 15 minutes.

[Mr_Scrogg]

Time isnt a issue. Ill try the "stick of butter" method first

[cadman]

Like a stick of butter in a frying pan, eh?

Yes like a stick of butter. But like small jaw mentioned, use gloves and a pair of channel locks to hold the lead, as it will get very hot.

[cadman]

All of those are good ideas, I've done the hatchet thing and the hack saw thing and it worked but far from fun. So, now when I have a large piece I use a reciprocating saw also know as a "saws all" and with a metal blade inserted it makes short work of cutting large chunks of lead. Cadman's way is also a good way but make sure you have heavy cotton mill work gloves on or use a large pair of channel lock pliers to hold onto the back of the lead bar as it melts. I have done that method in my 4lb pot that I use to remelt incomplete pours and to break down scrap lead, it is the easiest and least messy but it also takes longer as you have to wait at least 15 minutes.

 I like the sawzall idea. Never  thought of that. My sawzall has a big toothy blade that would rip through the lead. Good idea

[Jig Man]

For large pieces I use a cast iron pot and my fish deep fryer.  Melt it down and cast it into ingots using my wife's muffin pans.

[Mr_Scrogg]

For large pieces I use a cast iron pot and my fish deep fryer.  Melt it down and cast it into ingots using my wife's muffin pans.

Bet she loved that!!

[mark poulson]

If you cut it with a saw, do the cutting over a piece of old smooth material, like a pillow case, so you can dump the "saw dust" back into the pot when you're done.

But make sure it's a rag, so there is no danger of it ever being used for people purposes again.

Lead dust is not good for people.

Edited September 26, 2014 by mark poulson

[robalo01]

I bought a couple of 100 lb bars once pretty cheap. I drilled a hole in one end (not easy) and then strung them up one at a time with a pulley winch on a tripod and lowered them in to a 4 quart cast iron kettle with a fryer burner underneath. When the pot filled, I would raise the bar and pour a bunch of 1 lb ingots with a mold I made from 2" angle iron (I now use cup-cake pans). It took a pretty much all day, but in the end I had a couple month's supply of pure lead. It was worth it.