Lead (PB) is a soft metal that’s easy to work with. In fact, it’s easy to find lead ingots for sale that you can hammer or form into any shape. However, when it comes to machining, that’s a different story. Soft and dense metals can present several problems when you try to machine them. Here are some of the problems with lead machining and possible solutions.
Price
Although lead is not considered an expensive metal, it depends on where you buy it. The first problem to overcome involves finding the best prices on lead ingots for sale. Look for a company specializing in lead-based products. They’ll have what you need, and you should find affordable prices.
Too Soft
Once have a good source for lead ingots for sale, you need to drill, bore, or grind your materials. Some metals are too soft for standard machining methods. However, it’s possible to machine them with reasonable success.
First, you need very sharp cutting tools. It’s best to use carbide tipped or solid carbide cutters, as opposed to high-speed steel. The sharper the tool, the less likely you’ll have chip buildup.
Toxicity
Toxicity is a major issue with lead. It takes special equipment and precautions to handle toxic, heavy metals. For example, heavy metal fragments can enter the air during machining, especially with grinding. You need a way to protect the machinist from breathing this contamination.
Next, you have to deal with chip disposal. You just can’t sweep up and re-melt heavy metals. However, your supplier offering lead ingots for sale may buy your scrap for recycling.
Outsourcing the Work
If you don’t want to invest in expensive equipment or upgrades, consider outsourcing the work to a trusted lead service. They have all the right equipment for processing and machining heavy metals, and their workers know how to handle toxic materials.