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  1. 13th January 2017, 09:25 AM #1
    purplesnake
    purplesnake is offline New Member
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    Default Are these old railway sleepers??

    Hi all,
    Long time reader, first time poster.
    These had been sitting in my back yard for as long as we've owned the place, 5+ years
    After some significant harassment from the missus i thought i'd better put them in the shed
    Being that they had been outside on the ground in the elements i didn't have much hope for them
    as we live in a very termite intensive area....
    However, apart from the outside weathering they are next to perfect inside.
    I was hoping someone might be able to help me identify the species.
    They are heavy, very heavy, these 2 pieces are roughly 1400mm long and weigh about 35kg each.
    Hard as a rock, took 4 passes with the drop saw to get through the 70mm thickness.
    I thought they might be old railway sleepers but now i'm not so sure as RW sleepers are usually a lot thicker.
    Its possible its a wood native to this area (Bundaberg, QLD)
    I was going to make a simple bench seat out of them, but i think I'll make some super tough chopping boards if i can
    find a way to cut them through their thickness.
    Two.jpgThree.jpgOne.jpg
    Any idea on the species?
    Cheers.
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  3. 13th January 2017, 09:35 AM #2
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    Fuzzie
    Fuzzie is offline Franklin Ferrier
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    Default

    They look like Ironbark boards to me. Railway sleepers would be a much larger profile all around.
    Franklin
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  4. 13th January 2017, 10:46 AM #3
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    rwbuild
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    I would say 99% sure it is iron bark
    The person who never made a mistake never made anything

    Cheers
    Ray
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  5. 13th January 2017, 01:55 PM #4
    China
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    as above no spike holes and too thin not sleepers
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  6. 13th January 2017, 05:53 PM #5
    PJM16
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    Certainly not railway sleepers as there are no spike holes and to thin, most likely structural beams. I'm not sure on the species, I haven't seen ironbark so dark red as that before.
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  7. 13th January 2017, 06:17 PM #6
    jaksam
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    Is it possible to see a planed face ?
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  8. 13th January 2017, 10:07 PM #7
    purplesnake
    purplesnake is offline New Member
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    Default

    Thanks for the general concensus all....
    I'll see if i can clean up a face shortly jaksam, will post pics.
    Being that it is probably ironbark, would it make a good (albeit heavy) chopping
    Board?
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  9. 14th January 2017, 08:56 PM #8
    John.G
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    Clarksons Bloodwood: and I am quite positive about that identification. It would be locally sourced.

    I reckon it'd be hard alright. It makes the saws howl when it's green... It'll make lovely chopping boards.
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  10. 14th January 2017, 08:59 PM #9
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    Mobyturns
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    They look like "half sleepers" used for landscaping.
    Mobyturns

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  11. 15th January 2017, 01:54 PM #10
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    Bushmiller
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    "Real" railway sleepers are 8" x 5" and very heavy (60+ Kgs). I can't recall their length offhand, but I think it could be 7' 6". Just a bit short to use for a strainer post in farm fencing.

    Regards
    Paul
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