Cutting Sleepers

potsy11

Ive got about 8 sleepers to install in the back garden as new raised beds.

I have to do a bit of cutting so can anyone recommend:

1. Whats best to cut then with (there will be some angled cuts not just straight down)

2. What is a good product to reseal the cut ends?

Thanks in advance.....

paddy147

potsy11 wrote: »

Ive got about 8 sleepers to install in the back garden as new raised beds.

I have to do a bit of cutting so can anyone recommend:

1. Whats best to cut then with (there will be some angled cuts not just straight down)

2. What is a good product to reseal the cut ends?

Thanks in advance.....

Are they new pressure treated sleepers or old reclaimed ones with creasote in them?

In the past,my girlfriend used a chainsaw to cut through both types before with no problems.

She also used an electric sabre saw with a 300mm long/large toothed blade.

This flew through both sleepers too.

potsy11

Hey Paddy. They are new pressure treated ones. No creosote.

Your girlfriend sounds tough... U better treat her right;-))

paddy147

potsy11 wrote: »

Hey Paddy. They are new pressure treated ones. No creosote.

Your girlfriend sounds tough... U better treat her right;-))

Chainsaw or electric sabre saw will fly through them so.

Shes good at what she does,shes a horticulturalist.:)

NecroSteve

NEVER NEVER NEVER USE RAILWAY SLEEPERS TO GROW FOOD IN!!!

They are treated with highly toxic substances, which will leach into the soil and from there into whatever you grow. AVOID!!!

paddy147

NecroSteve wrote: »

NEVER NEVER NEVER USE RAILWAY SLEEPERS TO GROW FOOD IN!!!

They are treated with highly toxic substances, which will leach into the soil and from there into whatever you grow. AVOID!!!

Eh we know all that.

And the OP states in his 2nd post,that these are new pressure treated sleepers.;)

These are perfectly safe to use for the likes of a raised veggie bed.

peterc14

Could you use a mitre saw? Anyone tried this?

crosstownk

I cut old IE sleepers with a bow saw. It was hard work but it did the job.

Rangi

I was wondering about this for a while,then just took the cheap old wood saw to them,like a hot knife through butter.

NecroSteve

"Pressure treated" means impregnated with chromated copper arsenate. Definitely not safe to grow food in.

potsy11

NecroSteve wrote: »

"Pressure treated" means impregnated with chromated copper arsenate. Definitely not safe to grow food in.

I was told by several retailers of these pressure treated sleepers that it is safe to grow veg in.

Sonnenblumen

NecroSteve wrote: »

"Pressure treated" means impregnated with chromated copper arsenate. Definitely not safe to grow food in.

If you check you will discover that some time ago, the PT process has been modified and the potential carcinogenic element has been removed, making pt timbers perfectly safe for growing food.

paddy147

NecroSteve wrote: »

"Pressure treated" means impregnated with chromated copper arsenate. Definitely not safe to grow food in.

You are completely miss-informed on this matter.They are perfectly safe to grow veg in.

amen

I cut old IE sleepers with a bow saw

yup thats what I did.

Good exercise.

Americoz

You are a brave man.

I am planning to cut some sleepers into boards by using circular saw in both sides and then cut middle section with handsaw, it would be only 1 inch left, but through length of the sleeper.
Did you do similarly?
I am struggling to find in Youtube someone that did similar job to get inspiration.

Any tips?

thanks in advance

looksee

Its a bit counter intuitive to cut sleepers into boards? If you already have them and want to use them up, fine, but otherwise would it not be better to use ready cut timber?