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Rather than a sheet, thick wire was looped in a loose spiral, or "buckles" of lead were formed and suspended. This increases the surface area. I'm no chemist, but I think what is formed is lead acetate, which was referred to as "sugar of lead" because of its crystalline structure. Many of the ancient caveats regarding which pigments discolor and fail, or which cannot be mixed with lead white originated because of the acidic nature of lead whites prepared this way. I believe what you outline was known as the "Dutch process". Kremnitz white owes its name to the variations on the process that were employed in that middle-European city.
The "buckles" need to be scraped of the efflorescence of "white lead", and the precipitate washed thoroughly, then pulverized before mulling. Working this process will expose you to possible absorption of lead in a way that painting at the easel with lead white never would, so be very careful handling the material, so that you don't breathe the dust. Wear protective gloves too..
Although I have a 25# brick of lead, this is going deeper into the problem than I'd care to. I sure wish you could simply obtain dry pigment, Allan. Good luck!
PS- no problem obtaining plenty of manure, though! . . . ha ha ha.
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