Open Association of Landscape Industries
CUTTING SLEEPERS
Hi, Im getting an increasing amount of sleeper work, including retaining walls and raised beds. Usually Ive just been using my trusty panel saw to cut them, however this is labour intensive on big projects. Ive been thinking about getting a circular saw but Im not sure if this would "do the job" as presumably you have to make two cuts as the blades are not deep enough for one? Maybe this is ok but i just cant decide. The other option may be a bigger stihl saw with an all purpose blade but Im not sure on the accuracy of these? Would anyone with experience like to comment and point me in the right direction in what to purchase/hire Id greatly appreciate it Thanks Dan.
Replies to This Discussion
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Permalink Reply by 2p6qs98d2phid on -
I use a large circular saw and finish with a hand saw.
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Permalink Reply by Dan M Valencia on -
Thanks Stephen that sounds like a plan, I think there is a wide range of saws and prices so should be cool! Will look into it Cheers Dan.
stephen Huxtable said:I use a large circular saw and finish with a hand saw.
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Permalink Reply by Thermo on
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i have a dewalt 508 sliding mitre saw. they dont make them anymore but they are still avaliable on ebay etc. they have a 305mm blade which will go through a softwood or oak sleeper the whole way. My first one has lasted over 8 years and has mainly been used for sleeper work. I recently bought another ex-hire one off of ebay for £225 for the other crew and it is well worth the money. You can also do all the angles etc on them. failing that its 2 cuts with my large makita or a very sharp panel saw. Have used a chainsaw with a good sharp chain on, but i find the cut is either never accurate enough or doesnt leave a clean enough cut.
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Permalink Reply by Dan M Valencia on
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Thanks for that Thermo, ill check with Hire station for next job but will invest in one as soon as Cheers.
Thermo said:i have a dewalt 508 sliding mitre saw. they dont make them anymore but they are still avaliable on ebay etc. they have a 305mm blade which will go through a softwood or oak sleeper the whole way. My first one has lasted over 8 years and has mainly been used for sleeper work. I recently bought another ex-hire one off of ebay for £225 for the other crew and it is well worth the money. You can also do all the angles etc on them. failing that its 2 cuts with my large makita or a very sharp panel saw. Have used a chainsaw with a good sharp chain on, but i find the cut is either never accurate enough or doesnt leave a clean enough cut.
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Permalink Reply by gary newton on -
- try a recipicating saw
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Permalink Reply by Dan M Valencia on
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Nice one Paul, Im on a used sleeper job at the moment and they have knackered the chain on my saw. im hoping to sharpen up tomorrow to get me through the job! The client wants me to slope the cut from the wall down to meet some setts should be fun :) thanks bud Dan.
Paul @ PPCH Services said:I find a chainsaw by farr the easiest method and the quickest by a long way.
With used creosote sleepers they do dull the chain but I have a mains bench top grinder in the workshop so sharpening is a quick job. I guess however a circular saw would also dull quick in sleepers.
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i refuse to work with reclaimed railway sleepers. too heavy, too smelly, too unceratin whats in them from a health point of view and always a complete nightmare to cut.
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Permalink Reply by Dan M Valencia on
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Yeah its not great using these old sleepers, Client is a farmer and has in stock. Im using a mask and gloves when cutting them but yeah never again !
Thermo said:i have a dewalt 508 sliding mitre saw. they dont make them anymore but they are still avaliable on ebay etc. they have a 305mm blade which will go through a softwood or oak sleeper the whole way. My first one has lasted over 8 years and has mainly been used for sleeper work. I recently bought another ex-hire one off of ebay for £225 for the other crew and it is well worth the money. You can also do all the angles etc on them. failing that its 2 cuts with my large makita or a very sharp panel saw. Have used a chainsaw with a good sharp chain on, but i find the cut is either never accurate enough or doesnt leave a clean enough cut.
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Permalink Reply by CJ on -
Chainsaw and cutting on outside of mark as loose depth of chainsaw when cutting, worked well on a few benches Ive built from new sleepers.
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PRO MemberPermalink Reply by Jeff Bradley on -
Check out this link: http://www.professionaltool.co.uk/protool-univers-ssp-200 Basically it's a chainsaw in a circular saw stylee and can apparently go to 60 degrees If I remember correctly from a timber frame course I took a while back there are attachments, mainly in the U.S., that you bolt onto your chainsaw. It's like the baseplate of a circular saw and acts in much the same way.
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PRO MemberPermalink Reply by Austin Powell-Allen on -
I have seen a lot of trades using chainsaws on them just be careful of the Knotts as there have been accidents from kick back.
I have found my supplier always seems to price new sleepers cheaper than old but depends on what the client wants.
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PRO MemberPermalink Reply by David Cox on -
I've used a chainsaw on each occasion I've needed to cut one, however DO watch out on old sleepersm - I hit 1.5" dia bolt head that was left bang in the middle of the sleeper, I assume it sheered off when the track seats were removed for scrap.
It stripped 3-4 cutting teeth off the chain before snapping it and jolting me V hard.
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