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.
What is the best tool for cutting sleepers?
A circular saw is the most widely used method for cutting sleepers at home. The most accurate method for cutting larger sleeper quantities, you will find in most instances that the blade is not deep enough to cut through the depth in one pass.
Can you cut a reclaimed railway sleepers?
Cutting reclaimed railway sleepers
The safest way to cut your reclaimed railway sleepers is to cut them outside using proper PPE and a circular saw. You can also use a chainsaw if you feel comfortable doing so. On a raised workbench or area where you can safely cut your sleepers, lay down your timber.
How do you stop railway sleepers from splitting?
For many, the grey, weathered appearance is exactly what is required. If you’re looking to retain the colour for longer, a clear decking oil with UV filters will help. The oil will nourish the wood and repel water, helping to prevent the wood from cracking and splitting over time.
How do I fix railway 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.
Can you cut a sleeper with a hand saw?
unless you’re going for the wavy look. cut a good few sleepers a few years back, and used my Makita hand-held, corded, circular saw to do a full depth cut on each of the four sides, and then finally cut the unreachable middle bit with my handsaw.
How do you cut a sleeper with a table saw?
Quote from the video:
Quote from Youtube video: So I cut the board to 48 inches. And I laid the 2×4 on it flush against one edge. Then I made some marks at both ends. I wanted one end of the 2×4. Angled about two inches.
How do you join sleepers together?
If you have placed the railway sleepers on the ground on their wider edge, then again simply screw them together at the 90 degree corners, allowing at least 50mm (or 2″) of the screw to go into the adjoining sleeper. You will need to screw through more of the railway sleeper than on the narrow edge option.
Can you lay railway 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.
How do you fix sleepers together?
Quote from the video:
Quote from Youtube video: And just being fixed through with some long landscaping screws they need to be pre-drilled when this oak and ideally you want to be using stainless steel where possible.
How do you cut a wooden 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.
What do you lay railway 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.
What screws to use with sleepers?
Timberlok screws are an alternative to traditional coach screws and can be used in a number of timber to timber applications. One of the most popular uses for Timberlok screws is fixing timber sleepers together.
What is a scorpion saw?
The versatile Scorpion® Saw combines a reciprocating saw, pruner and jigsaw in one. With Autoselect® technology, it automatically adjusts the settings at the push of a button, delivering hassle-free versatility and powerful cutting through timber, metals and plastics.
How do you prevent sleepers from rotting?
Wood Preserver
Wood preservative treatments provide garden sleepers with protective properties that help prevent rot, mould and fungal growth, as well as help to form a defence against the elements. It is best to apply a wood preservative before installation of your sleeper, so that you can paint all sides.
Should you line sleepers?
You may want to add bricks or stones at the bottom before the soil to increase drainage. Our timber sleepers are made from a specific class of timber for use in ground and water contact, so lining the beds is not essential.
What do you put behind sleepers?
Drainage behind the sleepers is key, so I’d put your rubble in behind it then fill in the gaps and top up with gravel. For the topsoil, you don’t want to compact it too much so treading it in is probably adequate.
How long will railway sleepers last?
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 seal railway sleepers?
You might wish to use old railway sleepers in your garden. Worried about the toxicity of the creosote, to animals and plants, and the famous smell it gives. Sealing creosote treated timber effectively allows you to use those old timbers without worry or smell.
Which railway sleepers last longest?
As a rule, hardwood oak sleepers tend to last the longest naturally with an expected lifespan of around 100 years. An untreated softwood will last for between three and five years if it sits on the ground, whilst treated softwoods can last between 20 and 30 years if they are maintained correctly.
