Hardwood Sleepers

**Graham99** · 25th July 2006, 09:24 PM

Hello Everybody,

I have been looking at sources of timber that I could use to make cabinetry from and one idea that has cropped to mind is using sleepers. I have seen on the Turtle Nursery website that they have hardwood sleepers for $22ea, which is cheap IMHO. Drove past the place the other day and they seemed to have thousands of them.

I converted timber when I was in Nil Zulland so have done it before. That time it was heart Rimu which was in 300 x 300 x 2400 from the building frame of an old sawmill. (There was tons of the stuff).

What hardwood is commonly used as sleepers in Australia, and is it useable for furniture and cabinetwork. Any ideas greatly appreciated.

Regards
Graham

**Gumby** · 25th July 2006, 09:29 PM

You sure it's hardwood and not treated pine ?

**Graham99** · 25th July 2006, 09:38 PM

Hi Gumby,

They state hardwood on the website but I would have to check it out. They advertise pine ones as well in the same listings. They also had B, A, AA and AAA grade hardwood railway sleepers, priced between $18 and $36. What is the difference in grade, and is it worthwhile converting into something nicer than a sleeper.

**Graham99** · 25th July 2006, 09:39 PM

Hi Gumby,

They state hardwood on the website but I would have to check it out. They advertise pine ones as well in the same listings. They also had B, A, AA and AAA grade hardwood railway sleepers, priced between $18 and $36. What is the difference in grade, and is it worthwhile converting into something nicer than a sleeper.

Regards
Graham

**himzol** · 25th July 2006, 09:55 PM

What hardwood is commonly used as sleepers in Australia, and is it useable for furniture and cabinetwork. Any ideas greatly appreciated.

Forest redgum.. needs to be put away and dryed for a few years as it's very green. I've used it to make a coffee table, though mine was "dug out" from my garden.

I have a couple of lengths that I baught and have had for a few years as well.
the table is shown in the following thread.

http://www.woodworkforums.ubeaut.com...ad.php?t=19081

I remember that Zathras also made an entertainment unit out of the stuff shown here:
http://www.woodworkforums.ubeaut.com...ead.php?t=8123

hope this helps.

H.

**E. maculata** · 25th July 2006, 10:00 PM

G'day Graham I know of at least 22 species of "hardwood" that we cut into sleepers, and that's just the Northern NSW ones:eek: .

**Wizened of Oz** · 25th July 2006, 10:28 PM

New hardwood sleepers will be CCA treated. I don't think you'll be wanting to make furniture from that.

**Graham99** · 26th July 2006, 06:40 PM

Hi everybody,

Looking at the replies the sleeper option could be 50/50. I am going to buy one and rip it into planks to see what it looks like. If it's crap then it's not too big a financial outlay.

The other way I would explore is using demolition flooring which would also be a great way to reuse some hardwood timber.

Thanks for all the great replies, they have been much appreciated.

Regards
Graham

**greg jacob** · 23rd November 2011, 10:22 PM

I think the grading is to do with second hand sleepers.

**dai sensei** · 23rd November 2011, 10:35 PM

Now there's a post from the past

**garym** · 25th November 2011, 01:45 PM

Originally Posted by Graham99

Hi everybody,

Looking at the replies the sleeper option could be 50/50. I am going to buy one and rip it into planks to see what it looks like. If it's crap then it's not too big a financial outlay.

The other way I would explore is using demolition flooring which would also be a great way to reuse some hardwood timber.

Thanks for all the great replies, they have been much appreciated.

Regards
Graham

I know this is a very old thread but if you are still here how did you go with this?

**dai sensei** · 25th November 2011, 09:49 PM

Hasn't been on the forums for almost a year, but you never know, he might come back

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