- Thread starter skotl
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If they're proper used sleepers (sounds like they are) and not the garden centre type you might also find stones embedded in what was the underside, Dad used to be a civil engineer and he's suggested sleepers for a retaining wall we need to build but said they can be a sod to cut and the preservatives and oil can leach out.
He also said all the yards he approached to get them re cut for jobs while he was working wouldn't touch them.
Whatever you use to cut them be prepared to ruin the blade or chain.
He also said all the yards he approached to get them re cut for jobs while he was working wouldn't touch them.
Whatever you use to cut them be prepared to ruin the blade or chain.
Wendelspanswick
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They won't touch them, it's not just metals that ruin a blade but embedded stones and grit and you won't find those with a metal detector.
Likewise I wouldn't use a chainsaw unless you want to spend ages sharpening the chains.
For cross cutting I'd buy myself a cheap reciprocating/demolition saw, it's what they were designed for.
Migmac
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Sounds to me like folk are trying to force the chainsaws to cut. Give the saw time to cut, let it do the work and make sure it is properly sharpened before you start. By properly sharpened I mean fie the cutters and check the raker heights and take them down if need be. I have cut sleepers and it wasn't a problem
Wendelspanswick
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The trouble with old sleepers is the outer layer is packed with embedded grit and small stones which will blunt a chain in seconds.
GW8IZR
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Yes and that grit contains LOTS of metal to make a perfect grinding paste, I've seen old sleepers on tight bends conduct enough electricity to make track occupation sensors trip ( or at least get close enough to fail test )
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A friend of mine ran a permanent way gang (trackworkers) back in the days of British Rail and they used chainsaws on wooden sleepers, I remember seeing a couple of well battered Husqvarna saws in the back of one of the vans.
GW8IZR
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Drifting way off topic but... back in the late 70's I had to follow Pway gangs fixing the cables they had cut. They weren't called tampers rampant for nothing :-)
Agree with that 100%.
We landscaped our garden using sleepers to shore up the banks. We designed it to use full sleepers as much as possible but we still had to shorten some lengthways using a chainsaw. If you were lucky you would get 2 cuts before the saw got blunt & needed tickled with a file. Hitting nails doesn't do much damage to a chain, it might chip a tooth but it will still cut. It's the stones & grit that grind the edge off very quickly, sometimes beyond sharpening with a file & needing sharpened on a grinder.
By all means try & cut it with a chainsaw - you will get proficient at sharpening it. A saw with a tct blade would probably be better but you will be lucky to get a mill that will cut sleepers.
brightspark
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no chance bits of stone in sleeper would wreck chain in 5 seconds flat. a rather large circular saw with a crap blade would be best
daleyd
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If you already have a chainsaw and don't have access to a big circular saw then I'd take the chance with the chainsaw, if it takes a couple of sharpenings then it's cost nowt but a bit of time.
brightspark
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I look after my gear so I wouldn't use it on them . still everyone to there own I'm not knocking it as long as there happy
to do so
eLuSiVeMiTe
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Back when I was landscaping with my old man (tree surgeon) we always had a surplus of old chains. They would come out of the box for sleepers. Quick sharpen every few cuts. Didn't matter as they were near the end of there life. Biggest issue using a chainsaw to rip is stopping your cuts wandering.
I used to have the older version of this skilly.
http://www.makitauk.com/products/saws/circular-saws/all-circular-saws/5143r-355mm-circular-saw.html
When I was oak framing. 130mm cut depth. Not sure on sleeper dimensions but you may do it with a fence and a few cuts progressively deeper.
I used to have the older version of this skilly.
http://www.makitauk.com/products/saws/circular-saws/all-circular-saws/5143r-355mm-circular-saw.html
When I was oak framing. 130mm cut depth. Not sure on sleeper dimensions but you may do it with a fence and a few cuts progressively deeper.
daleyd
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So you wouldn't cut them then? It sounds like something is going to get knackered if your going to cut them so might as well use what you've already got - otherwise you have to buy/hire something to do the job. I guess you'd have to weigh up the cost of a chain vs hiring something.
brightspark
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I have an old hand held circular saw with a carbide blade I never use. if I had to id use that. ive used it for cutting second hand scaffie planks down so not really bothered if it gets knacked .all my other saws only get used on new clean wood
