What is the easiest way to cut railroad ties?

For other projects, after you have taken the necessary precautions, try one of the three methods below to cut railroad ties.
  1. Chainsaw (The Best Way to Cut Railroad Ties) The fastest — and best — way to cut railroad ties is with a chainsaw.
  2. Circular Saw and Reciprocating Saw.
  3. Reciprocating Saw (Sawzall)

What saw do you use to cut railroad ties?

You‘ll need to elevate your railroad tie when you use a circular saw to cut. You can set up your scrap wood about 3 feet (0.91 m) apart on the ground to lift it up. Make sure the ground is as evenly as possible when using a circular saw. This will make the cutting proceed more quickly, safely, and smoothly.

Is cutting railroad ties dangerous?

Treated railroad ties can cause skin blistering with prolonged contact or respiratory damage when inhaled during burning or cutting. Chemicals can seep into soil and groundwater, contaminating local ecosystems.

Why are railroad ties illegal?

A: The reason the EPA has made illegal the use of treated railroad ties in vegetable gardens is the fact that they are treated with coal tar creosote, a pesticide registered both with the EPA and the state of Oregon.

Is using railroad ties illegal?

Every EPA site said the same thing about the main preservative in old railroad ties: “Creosote is a possible human carcinogen and has no registered residential use.” So it’s actually illegal to use old railroad ties in a home landscape. There are no approved residential uses of creosote treated wood.

Can I use railroad ties for a retaining wall?

And perhaps the easiest way to build such a wall is with used railroad crossties. As you know, ties are 6 x 8 feet x 8 inches (more or less) chunks of pine, redwood, or oak treated with wood preservatives (usually creosote but sometimes also pentachlorophenol).

How long will railroad ties last?

Average life of hardwood ties is 20 to 25 years.” Kevin Haugh, president of CXT Inc., provides somewhat shorter estimates of tie service life: about 40 years for concrete versus a range for wood tie life of from 8-10 years up to 15-25 years dependent on the climate and wood type.

What is the cheapest way to build a retaining wall?

The cheapest types of retaining walls are wood and concrete blocks, followed by concrete and stones or bricks. Each material has benefits and drawbacks, including strength, longevity, and attractiveness.

What can I use instead of railroad ties for landscaping?

Pressure-treated lumber is the closest alternative to railroad ties for landscaping your garden and creating planters.

Are railroad ties good for landscaping?

When it comes to landscaping, railroad ties, it seems, can do it all. The U.S. Environmental Protection Agency says that creosote, the chemical used to treat the ties, can be hazardous to your health and to the health of some plant life. Ties treated with creosote are not recommended for residential settings.

Do railroad ties contaminate soil?

Repurposed railroad ties may seem like a fun idea, but they are often contaminated with creosote. Creosote from treated wood can leach into the soil, or volatilize. It can even exude or ‘bleed’ onto the surface of treated wood especially during warm weather. This makes contact with the wood a potential harm.

Do railroad ties make good fence posts?

Railroad ties can make a sturdy fence that matches rugged terrain on large properties. Get ties from a reputable lumber source in your area, and inspect them before you make your fence. Older recycled ties may be rotted or have critter infestations, reducing the life of your fence.

Do railroad ties attract snakes?

Do railroad ties attract snakes? Also, retaining walls made of loose stone, such as limestone, or old railroad ties offer ideal hiding spots for rodents and will attract snakes. Replace with solid retaining wall bricks and seal breaks if they develop.

Does Lowe’s sell railroad ties?

Severe Weather Railroad Tie (Actual: 7-in x 9-in x 8.5-ft) in the Railroad Ties department at Lowes.com.

How do you make locust fence posts?

Should you debark fence posts?

Large diameter posts are fun to split into posts, don’t debark, unless you just don’t have anything better to do.

Does honey locust make good fence posts?

Honey Locust isn’t a good choice for a post, they rot fast. Black locust is one of the best rot and insect resistant posts, with osage orange and white cedar, 20 to 25 yrs. Honey locust is said to be very good, like 12 to 15 yrs. Depending on what fencing you use, 7′ is probably the minimum length.

When should I cut my locusts?

I say anytime as long as you let it cure long enough. I know some people that cut Locust in the spring only to have them sprout, die and rot with in a few years. We have some locust post I know of that have been in the ground (wet and dry) for 50 years.

Is black locust hard to cut?

Cutting green Black Locust with LPX chain NOT going so well. Black locust is hard but it’s no harder than EAB killed ash and certainly not as hard as shag bark hickory .

How do you cut black locust?

Black locust stems can be cut at the base with brush-cutters, chainsaws or hand tools, followed by treating the stump with a 20-percent solution of Roundup. While the Roundup label recommends a 50- to 100-percent concentration of herbicide for stump treatment, a 20-percent concentration has proven effective.