What saw (to rent, at home) to cut sleepers?

[skotl]

OK, so there may have been a little bit of involved, but I am now the proud owner of ten reclaimed railway sleepers that are:

• 2600mm long
• 125mm deep
• 250mm across
• Close to 100KG each

Ideally, if I can cut each into four pieces lengthways (along the length by depth, then by width) then I can use them for some garden projects without fear of them killing anyone who walks within 100m of them.
They're rough cut anyway, so another couple of rough saw cuts won't hurt - we're not talking precision engineering here.

What would you recommend I hire from the likes of HSS to do the job?

They seem to have wood-cutting circular saws, but no larger than what I already have at 230mm (which, I presume, gives less than 115mm cutting depth?).

They have larger cutoff saws but I think these are for concrete?

Not looking to send them off to a mill as that will cost way more than I spent on them so ideally looking for something at a hire cost of £30-£50 for the day.

 

[armalites]

I would say most mills wouldn;t touch them anyway due to the risk of metal.

You'd probably be better with a chainsaw.

 

[I'm getting on a bit]

Bandsaw, ideally a resaw at timber yard.

I'd get a price there first.

 

[I'm getting on a bit]

I would say most mills wouldn;t touch them anyway due to the risk of metal.

You'd probably be better with a chainsaw.

You can check for nails with a metal detector

 

[knighty]

you're pretty screwed....

the stuff they treat them with is like tar, and it sticks and gums up any blade you try to use to cut them

I shortened a couple with a mix of circular saw and chainsaw... circular saw did the best job, but it pretty much killed the saw :-s


you could shorten them... but cutting them long ways... you'll really struggle :-(

 

[skotl]

Thanks, gents. I hadn't considered the chainsaw (got one of them, too). I guess it's going to be rough anyway - I might try that with one of the sleepers and see what goes.

Edit: I'd sent this before the comments on nails and tar/creosote. Think I'll try it on one anyway - a new chain's pretty cheap.

 

[gaz1]

normal woodsaw and some elbow grease

be careful with chainsaw and nails not the best of things to use if nails are suspected to be in the wood

 

[skotl]

normal woodsaw and some elbow grease

be careful with chainsaw and nails not the best of things to use if nails are suspected to be in the wood

Yeah - I'll check that first. If there's heavy nail infestation then they'll be relegated to vegetable bed borders....

 

[gaz1]

 

[skotl]

Apart from my dog running around the field having more protective gear on, I'm not sure I noticed the destructive aftermath of the saw hitting the nail?

Not downplaying the seriousness of the event (never done it) but can't see it in this vid

 

[addjunkie]

Leasts hes wearing gloves, to keep his hands clean when he chops his leg off.

Id use a chain saw to cut up sleepers, but lift them up, nothing blunts a chain saw quicker than putting it in the ground.

 

[Migmac]

Use your chainsaw. If you had a ripping chain that would of been better for cutting parallel with the grain but a normal chain will do it, just take your time and don't force it.

 

[bricol]

I found a chainsaw struggled - as mentioned above, must have been the tar gumming it up. Best for shortening was working round it with a circular saw with a tipped blade.

 

[pcwizme]

Although a chainsaw will do it they are a real pain to cut, some about 20 for a job and to be honest the next time I was asked I bought in green oak timbers to do the job, won't last quite as long but saved hours of work and was better for the plants growing next to them

 

[8ob]

We have one of these in a petrol buzz saw https://www.mad4tools.com/spectrum-...MI-4T2hOTx1QIVy7XtCh0oYw1wEAQYAiABEgLPtfD_BwE

Not as fast as a normal blade/chainsaw but will poke up with dirt/stones/metal. As they dull off take it out and turn it around , they sort of self sharpen.

Bob

 

[mike 109444]

This is not something I have ever done but I think you would need a chain saw mill. If you watch the Alaskan bush people programs (or one of those shows) they have shown using a mill to create boards (rip sawing) logs.

If you google chain saw mill and select images you will see there are many variations.

 

[GW8IZR]

This is not something I have ever done but I think you would need a chain saw mill. If you watch the Alaskan bush people programs (or one of those shows) they have shown using a mill to create boards (rip sawing) logs.

If you google chain saw mill and select images you will see there are many variations.

Why do I get a vision of Sean Connery strapped to that...... No I expect you to Die Mr Bond :-)

 

[fixerupper]

How much depth of cut do you need , I cut some heavy timbers with my table saw at maximum height then turned the timber over and cut again , slowly slowly ....

 

[angellonewolf]

yep if there old very had to cut especialy along the grain

i have used a chain saw but it makes short work of knacking a chain when i done the next doors rose beads and after 8 ish cuts it was toast (it was not new but not that bad)

a good circle saw flip it over and down the otherside i think from memery and then a good chissel to knock out the middle

 

[GW8IZR]

a good circle saw flip it over and down the otherside i think from memery and then a good chissel to knock out the middle

Thats what I'd try, after all its not a huge number of cuts, just go steady and make sure you use googles as the dust is awful stuff in your eyes.

Cross cut I'd use the chainsaw but lengthwise I wouldn't ( I hate sharpening them )