Cutting lead?
 

I have a few large blocks of lead that won't fit in my melting pot.
What is the best way to cut it without getting killed? I've already tried a tablesaw.:smash:

hack saw... might take a while tho

use the hacksaw, wash your hands real good when your done. No eating, drinking or smoking till you cleaned up.

use gloves please, don't touch it if you don't have to.

The air bourne lead that results from cutting the lead will get into your body. Wear appromiate mask and whatever else is needed. It is similiar to lead paint removal.
I would get a blood test afterwards if precautionary measures are not taken when cutting the lead. If lead shows up in your blood then you need to get shots with large needles for several weeks. The molecules of the lead are to large to escape the body.
Can you say cancer or brain damage.

How about a bandsaw?

sawsall at slow speed

Have bandsawed it many times at work. Course tooth so not to get clogged up. Hack saw will work but get clogged easily. Pieces, cuttings, are probably way to big and heavy to get airbourne but wash hands. P.M.

How about a cold chisel and hand sledge, you might be able to shear some chunks off without making lead dust that you get with saws :huh:

hatchet :D

I was thinking that a wide wood chisel would easily lop off chunks.

If you are worried about dust particles, use some shaving cream on the lead, it traps the particles.

actually like eben said a hatchet.a sawsall still goes to fast an gets to hot.I tried many ways an the hatchet was still the best way a chop saw does pretty good but it is very scary i would not reccomend that.A big chisel an small sledge just gets ur hand mashed.get a torch an go outside an melt it into a ingot mold.

of course if ur meltin lead u should already have one of those resperator things that protect u from the fumes.the big home improvemnt stores got em

It's like zero degrees outside, put it outside tonight, then take an ax to it in the AM. If that ain't cold enough to break some off, try liquid nitrogen :whackin: :uhoh:

cut cheese, not lead.

Use a propane torch. You can set the lead block on your melting pot and cut the lead in two sections with the torch. Any lead that melts off during the cutting will drop into your pot. Wear a respirator.

Jigman

What Jigman said. I have a bunch of lead flashing that I use to load my plugs. I have been melting sections into my pot with a blow torch. I have a dual canister respirator I bought at Home Depot (about $30) that I wear for spray painting and melting lead. I am brain dead enough as it is.

fyi on lead
 

concerning lead...since its already known to be brain destructive and highly poisoness.... it has also recently been added to the hazardous materials list that are known to cause CANCER as well...so consider it a carcinogenic substance.

quote: Lead, used to make lead-acid storage batteries, ammunition and cable coverings, and lead compounds, used in paint, glass and ceramics, in some cosmetics and as a fuel additive also joined the suspect list.

_Raven

p.s. it kills me to think of how many lead pellets i accidentilly cooked in duck filets and casually spit them out on finding (biting)them many years ago not realizing how dangerous it was -> then.

How many split shot did i bite on to close trout fishing.