3" scaffold planks - best electric tool to cut

bro'

Looking at cutting scaffold planks 3" thick and wondering whats best tool for job to buy/ hire.
1. Chain saw
2. Skill saw
3 reciprocating saw

Want to build several raised beds

Was thinking skill saw would do job but not sure can cut to >75mm depth? Also read somewhere chainsaw chain can get blunt very quick cutting scaffold boards?
Also want to make a fence stile at some point also from scaffold planks so want tool to do both jobs and be useful for diy jobs etc about house.

What have other people used to cut scaffold planks?
Cheers

galwaydude18

bro' wrote: »

Looking at cutting scaffold planks 3" thick and wondering whats best tool for job to buy/ hire.
1. Chain saw
2. Skill saw
3 reciprocating saw

Want to build several raised beds

Was thinking skill saw would do job but not sure can cut to >75mm depth? Also read somewhere chainsaw chain can get blunt very quick cutting scaffold boards?
Also want to make a fence stile at some point also from scaffold planks so want tool to do both jobs and be useful for diy jobs etc about house.

What have other people used to cut scaffold planks?
Cheers

What ever you use to do that job will dull a blade extremely quickly due to the concrete that will be on them from sites.

meercat

dont hire

buy this,you can use it again

http://www.woodiesdiy.com/Product/Garden-Plus-18-Bow-Saw/18524/4.2.3

paddy147

galwaydude18 wrote: »

What ever you use to do that job will dull a blade extremely quickly due to the concrete that will be on them from sites.

You obvoiously have never used a power washer and a scrubbing brush or scraper bar before then.

Thats what you do with scaffold planks..when making raised beds.

paddy147

bro' wrote: »

Looking at cutting scaffold planks 3" thick and wondering whats best tool for job to buy/ hire.
1. Chain saw
2. Skill saw
3 reciprocating saw

Want to build several raised beds

Was thinking skill saw would do job but not sure can cut to >75mm depth? Also read somewhere chainsaw chain can get blunt very quick cutting scaffold boards?
Also want to make a fence stile at some point also from scaffold planks so want tool to do both jobs and be useful for diy jobs etc about house.

What have other people used to cut scaffold planks?
Cheers

Both will fly through scaffold planks....a cross cut mitrre saw will also do it nicely too.

A quick blast of a power washer and scrub brush before you cut them to size.

Thats what we do.

Very simple and easy to do.:)

Ilik Urgee

paddy147 wrote: »

You obvoiously have never used a power washer and a scrubbing brush before then.

Thats what you do with scaffold planks..when making raised beds.

Where in his post did you pick up this riveting information?

paddy147

Ilik Urgee wrote: »

Where in his post did you pick up this riveting information?

Well if theres a few bit of concrete on the scaffold plank then you give them a quick lash of a power washer and a scraper bar or scrub brush.

Its called common sense.

paddy147

Also a sabre saw will go through 5 inch thick creasote railway sleepers with no problem.

So it will fly through a scaffold board.

Ilik Urgee

paddy147 wrote: »

Well if theres a few bit of concrete on the scaffold plank then you give them a quick lash of a power washer and a scraper bar or scrub brush.

Its called common sense.

But where in his post did Galwaydude18 say he hadn't used a power-washer,scrubbing brush or scraper-bar before?

galwaydude18

paddy147 wrote: »

Well if theres a few bit of concrete on the scaffold plank then you give them a quick lash of a power washer and a scraper bar or scrub brush.

Its called common sense.

And in that common sense of yours where did you find out that he has a power hose or a scraper or scrub brush?

Not everyone is like you and goes and buys everything invade they might need it!!

Just because you have two or three power hoses doesn't mean the op has one does it!

Come on common sense doesn't even tell you he has one

galwaydude18

Ilik Urgee wrote: »

But where in his post did Galwaydude18 say he hadn't used a power-washer,scrubbing brush or scraper-bar before?

Ya I would live to know that as well

paddy147

galwaydude18 wrote: »

And in that common sense of yours where did you find out that he has a power hose or a scraper or scrub brush?

Not everyone is like you and goes and buys everything invade they might need it!!

Just because you have two or three power hoses doesn't mean the op has one does it!

Come on common sense doesn't even tell you he has one

Why dont you go and engarge your brain 1st in future.;)


You yourself should try using some commmon sense and a bit of cop on before just saying that blades will go blunt..what ever you use.

Even some warm sudsey water and a scraper/scrub brush (even a flat head screwdriver) will take off the bits of concrete skin/blobs from where you are cutting the scaffold plank.

paddy147

A Sabre saw will fly through the scaffold planks.You will pick 1 up for around 30-35 euro in the likes of Lidl Argos or a builders providers.:)

bro'

Thanks guys....would be good clean planks as plenty available now.

Meercat, have a bow saw already and trying to justify electric tool upgrade �� as cutting fair few scaffold planks.

Looks like sabre saw or the skill saw but favouring skill saw because better at cutting straight lines/ edges but skill saws seen so far will not cut 75mm thick timber? Any recommendations?

galwaydude18

paddy147 wrote: »

Why dont you go and engarge your brain 1st in future.;)


You yourself should try using some commmon sense and a bit of cop on before just saying that blades will go blunt..what ever you use.

Even some warm sudsey water and a scraper/scrub brush (even a flat head screwdriver) will take off the bits of concrete skin/blobs from where you are cutting the scaffold plank.

Paddy I'm long enough in the trade to know that even the dried dust after scrubbing the concrete will dull a blade. It won't do it right away but cut enough of it and will!!

So get back into you box and don't attack me over what I know about blades that you obviously don't know about!!

aujopimur

Watch for nails as well.

paddy147

galwaydude18 wrote: »

Paddy I'm long enough in the trade to know that even the dried dust after scrubbing the concrete will dull a blade. It won't do it right away but cut enough of it and will!!

So get back into you box and don't attack me over what I know about blades that you obviously don't know about!!

Aaahh has your little nose been put out of joint...AGAIN..



Aaahh poor you.


PS-I love how you actaully helped out the OP with is question....oh no wait...YOU DIDNT

massey265

paddy147 wrote: »

Also a sabre saw will go through 5 inch thick creasote railway sleepers with no problem.

So it will fly through a scaffold board.

But how straight can you cut it with a sabre saw paddy? not very straight am guessing...:rolleyes:

Ilik Urgee

massey265 wrote: »

But how straight can you cut it with a sabre saw paddy? not very straight am guessing...:rolleyes:

And no picking a picture of the internet now y'hear?

The Master.

I did exactly what you are planning and used a skill saw that i got brand new for 50 euro.

If i remember right the saw that was on it didnt go deep enough to cut right through the plank but left only a couple of MM that my hand saw went through in seconds.

For the amount of times i use the skill saw i dont care if it gets dull. i buy tools to use them.

prospect

When we cut our 'genuine' sleepers we had to sharpen the chainsaw chain after each cut.
We tried scrubbing the cut line with a wire brush and a power washer but it made little difference. I suppose after years of use tar & stone dust becomes deeply ingrained in them.

I have had to cut scaffolding planks before, I gave them a few raps of a lump hammer first to knock off concrete and cut them with a bowman saw.

As said earlier, If you are using some kind of power saw, be very careful of embedded nails.

dave45dave

Ilik Urgee wrote: »

And no picking a picture of the internet now y'hear?

Must be still looking , as he's normally quick off the mark

doctorchopper

you would be forever ripping them with a sabre saw, get a good skill saw or better yet a table saw, or take them to a saw mill and get them ripped there
http://www.goldenpages.ie/sawmills/

paddy147

Sabre saw flys through them for us with no problems.
You will pick up a nice new cross cut mitre chop saw for around 60 euro these days.

I bought a Parkside adjustable cross cut mitre saw from Lidl a few months back for 50 euro.
Fantastic bit of kit for the money.:)

slpower01

My tool of choice for this would be a chainsaw, I don't like ruining my circular saw or mitre saw blades on sleepers/scaffold planks and also find I cut a lot straighter with a chainsaw then a reciprocating saw. Chainsaws are generally for rough work/gardening so its the perfect tool in my eyes although after good few cuts of these you will either need to sharpen the chain or replace it.

Sources: Carpenter/done this many times before

paddy147

slpower01 wrote: »

My tool of choice for this would be a chainsaw, I don't like ruining my circular saw or mitre saw blades on sleepers/scaffold planks and also find I cut a lot straighter with a chainsaw then a reciprocating saw. Chainsaws are generally for rough work/gardening so its the perfect tool in my eyes although after good few cuts of these you will either need to sharpen the chain or replace it.

Sources: Carpenter/done this many times before

Have a Lidl/Parkside chainsaw.....Great chainsaw for the money...90 euro.:)

3 year warranty too.

doctorchopper

paddy147 wrote: »

Sabre saw flys through them for us with no problems.
You will pick up a nice new cross cut mitre chop saw for around 60 euro these days.

I bought a Parkside adjustable cross cut mitre saw from Lidl a few months back for 50 euro.
Fantastic bit of kit for the money.:)

Sorry i thought the op meant he wanted to rip them length wise, but ya sabre saw or chainsaw will work well if hes just looking at chopping them up and no straight cuts

prospect

You could get a straight cut with a sabre saw by clamping a high straight edge to the sleeper/plank and running the side of the saw tight along it.


'Could'

wildlifeboy

I need to get a gradual curve in four scaffold planks side by side. would a sabre saw do the job? i would like opinions before i rent one out

wildlifeboy

angle

Robbie.G

Sabre saw or jig saw will do the job

prospect

Id cut the curve on a sheet of timber first as a jig.
Then set up your planks as they will be fitted, clamp on the jig and cut the curve.