Thread: Resize old sleepers

It's not just steel dust that'll you'll have a problem with, there will also be lots of silica, stones, dirt and whatever else you can think of laying in the surface as well, so yes it will blunt the teeth a lot quicker and you'll feel it too when you're cutting them.

Firstly you have timber that is super hard to start with. then you have the gravel, steel etc ....sparks fly off when you cut them.

I would only take a job on like that if it was on a cost plus basis - not a quote and not a love job. If the client wants that look you are better off using old wharf timber but if the already have the timber and the sleepers are class A and they have the money....

make sure tehy know they gotta pay ofr new tips on the sawblade if they come off. (they will)

also do it on an hourly rate that way you get paid for teh time u spend sharpening.

good luck.

Thanks for the advice.
Will be charging on an hourly rate and will inspect them before starting.

its more than likely they have broken off spikes in them.

client has said that all sleepers are clean of railway dogs but will inspect before starting

yep heard that one before too

"oh no theres nothing in them" ... vrrrooommmm ... bang .. "i dont know how that got there" .. "thats right i hung that gain gauge on teh tree last christmas.

Some time a few years back, I read in the Australian Woodworker a chap in Kenya or at least some ware in Africa had set up a sucessful business Machining Old discarded Jarrah Railway sleepers and manufacturing out of it Rustic Furniture which he was exporting to USA, Europe and other locations. The chap had set up special machinery to cut up the old sleepers, I think he used diamond tipped blades
Those members who reside on the other side of Aus may not be aware that many years ago Jarrah sleepers were exported to many countries around the world, hense the restriction now on Jarrah because of the depleted forests.

Way back in the 60ies Jarrah was only sliced and made into veneers by one company who had complete control of the market. Then in the 70ies someone got the bright idea to export Jarrah sleepers into Taiwon and low and behold over there they were sliced into veneers and reinported into WA and sold as Touge, funny thing the veneers only came in a odd length , you guessed it the same as a rail way sleeper.
Regards.
Mac