cutting/working with railroad ties

BubbaJr · Aug 6, 2005

One thing to watch out for on the ends of the ties are date nails (on OLD ties) and also S shaped metal rinktums that were driven into the ends to stop the tie from splitting more.

I've always heard that it's not a good idea to have the ties close to an edible garden due to the leaching out of the creosote. Whether that's true or not, I don't know.

BTW, if you find any date nails, they are collectible. /forums/images/graemlins/grin.gif

BarryinMN · Aug 6, 2005

I used a SawZall & long blade: cheaper & less mess than destroying a chainsaw - spikes, metal S strips, nails, stones, etc found in used ties.

Local Soil & Water office does not allow used ties anywhere near wetlands or water front... they say are a leaching problem.

Egon · Aug 7, 2005

In some places you can no longer get old creosted ties as they are considered hazardous waste.

Egon

turnkey4099 · Aug 7, 2005

( Ok, might use them for "ends" for some firewood stacks /forums/images/graemlins/smile.gif

Although I do have to put the chainsaw to them to see what it would do /forums/images/graemlins/smile.gif (I just goota do it myself!).

Probably be going to a lumber store in the near future.

Thks )

BarryinMn suggested sawzall type saw. That is what I would use were I to do it again. Lots faster to replace a blade than sharpen a chain every few cuts.

I built 300 ft of retaining wall ranging from 5' to only 2 ties, used ties to enclose my pasture (1 acre) every 9 ft, used ties to border drive, garden, flower beds. My back hurts just thinking about it.

Re: firewood 'ends' BTDT. My method was space two ties apart and put a bar across them, picture a wide "H". Then I use scrap 2X material against the cross bar for the end of each rick. WARNING. Make sure your rick ends lean in, I made it to be verical and one season pushed the ties way out of plumb. Leaning them in relieves the pressure as the stack settles (mine are 6 to 7 ft high). I redid all mine (3 "bins") by adding 4X stock to the inside of the ties so the 2x leans in at the top.

Re firewood 'ends'

Sigarms · Aug 7, 2005

Sawzall seems like a better idea now /forums/images/graemlins/smile.gif

Only one I have is battery and can't help but to think that it would be worthless on a piece of "wood" like that tie.

Yes, with only my wife and I, those puppies are VERY heavy.

Sooner or later I'll have to have some use for them.

EastTexFrank · Aug 7, 2005

I hate crossties !!!!!!! /forums/images/graemlins/mad.gif /forums/images/graemlins/mad.gif /forums/images/graemlins/mad.gif

The only place I will use them is for hanging farm gates. When my S-I-L decided all on her own, in her blissful ignorance, that "we" were going to use crossties for the fence we are building at the farm and made the purchase without informing anyone, I withdrew my labor. There is absolutely no way I am digging and setting almost 400 cross ties in the ground. They are heavy, nasty to handle, full of splinters, etc., etc. Now, I know that they are relatively cheap but there are much better alternatives for almost everything except what they were originally used for.

Many years ago, I helped a friend build a retaining wall out of them and we drilled them and used rebar to fix them together. It worked well and I believe the wall is still in existence so it's lasted almost 15 years. I wouldn't use them around flower beds or vegetable gardens because of the smell and leaching problems associated with the creosote.

That's just my opinion and as you can probably tell, it's not exactly unbiased.

hobbyfarm · Aug 7, 2005

( Any trick on cutting these other than using a chainsaw? )

Sigarms,
Your best bet is leave the chainsaw on the shelf, and cut it with one of these:
Stihl Cutquik with a diamond blade. Rocks, creosote, metals, etc. will cut easily, and all day long.
Rent one if you have to, but I wouldn't use a chainsaw.

Sigarms · Aug 7, 2005

Thanks!

Acttually one of my customers has somthing like from the Ridge tool co.

Now just where to put them!

Soundguy · Aug 8, 2005

I think you got good info.

Lots of people landscape with RR ties.

Have a spare 'sacrificial' chain saw blade handy.. and personal protection equipment.. I've done rough tong and groove cuts// more like tab and slot cuts.. then use a big 5/8 or 1/2 drill bit and made a hole for rebar.. or you could use theose long nail/spikes..e tc.

Soundguy