Notes: Members cut-off dates are set at the 25th of the month before the month of despatch. If you join us on the 24th September your first issue will be the issue due the following month ie. If you join us on the 26th September then your first issue will be the issue due in December.
Due to their large scale, if you are cutting a lot of sleepers in one go, then using a hand saw is not the best option as you will tire quickly and there is a high risk of injury and inaccuracy. The best type of mitre saw for cutting sleepers is a sliding mitre saw. Best Circular Saw – Bosch Professional Hand Held Circular Saw 240 V, Saw Blade 190 mm, 1400 W. We talked earlier about the importance of having a large cutting depth when using a circular saw for cutting sleepers and that’s exactly what you get with this product.
Using 8×4 sleepers as the posts – like Ron’s nice work above – but with 8x2s slipped in behind them to retain the actual ground. “The 8x2s will be slipped behind the posts and laid edge to edge on top of each other. From the front, they’ll look like normal sleepers – 8” high boards – like the posts themselves. “Yes, the cut ends will show them as being only 2” thick, but from the fronts they’ll look identical to normal sleepers.
If you’re talking about railroad ties, just buy a cheap circular saw blade for about $5, use it for the railroad ties and then throw away. It won’t go all the way through, even if using on all four sides, but will get close. You can then finish with a bow saw or just strike it against something to split it the rest of the way.
best chainsaw for cutting railway sleepers Related Question:
Can a chainsaw cut railway sleepers?
We would not recommend cutting sleepers with a reciprocating saw or chainsaw.
What saw is best for cutting railway sleepers?
A good handsaw is probably going to be best for you. You could knock up a giant mitre box quite simply and quickly to help with your accuracy – you could even use the sawn ends of other sleepers as a guide assuming they’re square of course.
How do you cut a wooden railway sleeper?
Cut your sleepers with a circular saw or a chainsaw by slowly making clean, straight cuts. Use a square angle ruler to make sure your sleepers will fit perfectly. Alternatively you can ask for sleepers to be precut which The Luxury Wood Company is happy to do.
How do you anchor sleepers to the ground?
Cut your sleepers to your required length, which could be random for a rustic look. Then mix up some lean mortar, such as 6:1, to be used as a concrete base and haunching. Place at least a 50mm bed of concrete in the bottom of the trench and start inserting the sleepers, haunching them up as you go.
How do I join sleepers on top of each other?
If you are stacking the sleepers horizontally on their broadest side, e.g. on the 250mm width of a 250mm x 125mm sleeper, then all you need to do is to overlap the joints of the sleepers, from layer to layer, like building a brick wall, and fasten each layer to the layer below with timber lock screws or similar.
What do I treat railway sleepers with?
To preserve the sleepers further, we would recommend treating them with an exterior wood oil or decking oil, ideally twice a year in Spring and Autumn. This will help to repel water and prevent water ingress, the main cause of wood rot.
How do you fix railway sleepers to the ground?
Haunch at the back end of the sleeper and if possible, the front end too. This will help fix sleepers to the ground so they remain stable. If using sleepers for a low border or planter it may well be enough to fix a wooden post or spike behind the sleepers and fix this into the ground.
How long do railway sleepers last in the ground?
How long do railway sleepers last? Railway sleepers will last for years, with our softwood treated sleepers typically lasting around 8 to 10 years due to the pressurised treatment, and UC4 treatments extending this to 15 years.
Can you lay sleepers on sharp sand?
If you wish to add finishes or other treatments to your sleepers, this is the best time to do so. Laying sharp sand into your channels or in the dug area of your pathway will ensure each board has a nice even foundation. Pour in a layer of around 25mm and pack it down using one of your sleepers or a tamper.
What do you sit sleepers on?
The railway sleepers should ideally be laid on a surface that is level and firm. Many people simply lay them down directly on the earth, grass, deck or concrete.
Can I lay sleepers on soil?
Can you lay railway sleepers on soil? Yes you can. If you’re only creating a structure that’s one or two sleepers in height you don’t necessarily need foundations, which means you can lay your railway sleepers onto the soil.