Railroad Ties

[GF]

I had a person contact me wanting me to cut some old railroad ties.  I turned the person down but was wondering what you may run into when cutting them?  I can imagine embedded rocks would be one issue.  Thanks

Gary

[Kelvin]

Yowzaa!  I wouldn't cut one with my chainsaw let alone my sawmill.  If it would cut, it would kill you with the creasote you'd be breathing.  They also have those metal "s" things imbedded in the end, but i guess you could pry them out.  I'd rather saw telephone poles, at least they were out of the ground.  Can't think of anything worse!  Also all the toxic waste would be in your sawdust pile unless you went to him.

[ely]

exactly what kelvin said, but i would not be afraid to saw one of them that i picked out myself. once upon a  time they did hack out walnut for railroad ties. but as a rule i would say no deal.

[thecfarm]

I made some steps out of old RR ties.I used a chainsaw to cut them to lenght.There is ALOT of gravel and stones in them cracks.The gravel part I feel is the worse.Don't even see a power washer being much help.Just drive in into the cracks deeper.Cut one and have to sharpen the chain.I don't see how you could cut them on a bandsaw mill without almost destoying the blade.I would turn them down too.

[beav39]

good choice to to that job down not much profit to be had in sawing ties to much debris in them

[Brad_S.]

Uh-oh. You mean I shouldn't have accepted this resawing job? ;)

[Warren]

Hopefully you are doing that job on location on a time and materials basis...

[semologger]

family been in cresote business a long time none died yet from it. Ive worked the edger hole many times cutting them. In the 95 degree summer time wearing a long sleave shirt.  Telephone poles have CCA or Penta in them also that aint the nicest stuff either. Those things in them are spikes. They are used to hold down the track to the tie. Old dried out white oak is hard thats for sure. Dad had to shrapen the sawblade pretty often. Im glad them days are over. I feal sorry for you Brad. I hope you dont need any help.

[tcsmpsi]

I suppose what I'm missing is, what would be the need to mill used railroad ties? 

I can hardly imagine that going to the touble with them would gain as much as they were worth. 

Maybe I've handled too many of them, hauled too many through ditches, briars, snakes, mud,  etc.  and just have an all out aversion to them. 

[Brad_S.]

There is no way I would ever cut one tie, much less that stack! I was just impressed with the pile they got going there, so I snapped a photo.

[tcsmpsi]

There's no doubt there.  That IS an impressive stack of ties.  My back is tired just seeing it.   :D

I knew you wouldn't be cutting into any of them, Brad.   ;D

[olyman]

They are cuttable--but i do it with a 10 1/4 circular saw. With a carbide blade. And the rocks in them will cut with carbide, just cant be in a hurry----but with a bandsaw--uh uh

[semologger]

The S in them are called S irons. I remember dad driveing them in With a sledge hammer driving them in. It keeps the tie from splitting. Them finaly made an machine to put them in.