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OldCannon wrote:Wouldn't a blowtorch work?

A propane tourch was the first thing I tried in dealing with my 50# ingots and I quickly found out the thermal conductivity of lead is high enough you end up heating it for what seems like forever before the spot to which the tourch is applied begins to melt. Of course if you used and Oxy-Acetelene tourch with it's much higher flame temp you would get quicker results but then how much does the gas cost???

Just my 2c

Gerry

Gyrogearhead wrote:

OldCannon wrote:Wouldn't a blowtorch work?

A propane tourch was the first thing I tried in dealing with my 50# ingots and I quickly found out the thermal conductivity of lead is high enough you end up heating it for what seems like forever before the spot to which the tourch is applied begins to melt. Of course if you used and Oxy-Acetelene tourch with it's much higher flame temp you would get quicker results but then how much does the gas cost???

Just my 2c

Gerry

Too hot and the lead would dangerously vaporize -- a very bad thing. Good point about the conductivity though. Well, I was just tossing out ideas :)

OldCannon wrote:

Jumping Frog wrote:I know a guy cut up a huge piece with a sawzall.

Wouldn't a blowtorch work?

That was my THIRD great idea...!!
I tried a cutting torch at one corner..but as soon as it started to melt, the lead hardened around where I already cut.
Seems that the hunk worked like a heat sink and hardened up before I got anywhere...I may have been able to use a rose bud torch..But it was not looking good and went on to other things.
I first used a sawsall with a long wood type blade, actually tried a few blades..they seem to just gum up and ran into another dead end.
Last I tried was a small hatchet and a mallet...then a chisel...Then gave up

I did manage to get a few pieces cut/burned/chiseled off...Like I said...next trick will be a hole in the ground with HOT coals with a grate and a large cast iron pot I have...If that don't work...I GIVE UP..!!!!

" I wonder if I sharpened the wedge on a hydraulic log splitter and....." NEVERMIND


Don2

I know a guy cut up a huge piece with a sawzall.

I've actually done that with the 15lb ingots I get. A little slow, but it works.