Sawing up old RR ties

[MikeRock]

I have to cut up more than 30 old RR ties to make cribbing to hold up a barn. Redoing the basement wall, it's a bank barn and didn't have stock in it for several years. They tend to collapse then.
So.....buy a carbide chain or just plan on wasting several old chisel chains? Never used a carbide chain before.

Just got out of a an ER visit, then a week in IC..... sepsis even in my toes..... temp peaked at 105 for a few hours.......holy ****............

 

[SimonHS]

just plan on wasting several old chisel chains?

This^^^^^

But semi-chisel will stay sharp longer.

Or do you have a saw that can pull .404 chain? That will last a lot longer between sharpenings.

 

[Del_]

Check closely for rocks in any cracks in the RR ties where your cuts will be made.

It would be well worth your time.

 

[JRM]

I just used an old semi chisel.
Granted, i only made 12-15 cuts but it didn't ruin even one (used) chain.
As said look over your cut areas thoroughly for metal or other foreign objects.
Hard to say what else they've been used for in their lifetime.

 

[sliceoflife]

Aren't rr ties absolutely soaked in tar/cosmoline-like material? Feels like it would bog down a chainsaw like crazy, I'd lean towards a big circular/cutoff saw ... could probably make your marks and go halfway down, flip it and finish.

 

[JRM]

Creosote. I've never cut a new tie but yes I imagine they'd be gummy. I've only cut old retired ties that are mostly dried out. Probably should have clarified that above.

 

[pioneerguy600]

Being careful where you cut one can get 30 or more ties cut in two using a chipper chain, I had to cut up 50 ties one day and only sharpened the chain once, they cut like regular dry hardwood. Planned each cut and did not hit rock or metal.

 

[Fordsoll]

If your chain is nice and sharp you should be good but don't cut those when your chain is dull because the smoke from that is poisonous and don't burn the cutoffs.

 

[Bubster]

Rocks, dirt, or sand, creosote alone will dull a chain. I have built many cattle pens out of them and they play hell on a chain.Luckily the weather is cooling down and they actually cut better when it is colder outside. Buy a good semi-chisel and forget about the carbide chain. Too expensive and if you hit a nail, the cost to sharpen will outweigh all advantages .

 

[ElevatorGuy]

Creosote. I've never cut a new tie but yes I imagine they'd be gummy. I've only cut old retired ties that are mostly dried out. Probably should have clarified that above.

those are the cleanest used ties I’ve ever seen! All we get here is rotten junk that they now want $25 each for. I built 2 different retaining walls with them at my house when they were about $8 each.

 

[JRM]

those are the cleanest used ties I’ve ever seen! All we get here is rotten junk that they now want $25 each for. I built 2 different retaining walls with them at my house when they were about $8 each.

See if there is a railroad maintenance crew in your area. They do tie jobs, switch replacements, etc and end up with a ton of good used ties. My buddy runs the yard for a local outfit (Delta Railroad). I got the buddy price for 2 bundles like this, $6 each. I forget what the regular sale price was but do know they will sell to the general public.

 

[Breckinridge Elkins]

I scored a bunch of those one time. About the same condition as yours. I got truckload after truckload until I ran out of.places to stack them. I built walkways with them, retaining walls, cribbing, all kinds of stuff. Most were cut with an 029, some with a worm drive. I didn't have to sharpen as much as you might think. Buttered the cuts with creosote. No PPE with that stuff. Maybe it will kill me someday. My grandpa was convinced it killed him. Alas. Wear a dust mask in the very least.

 

[heimannm]

Be careful where you cut them, the creosote will kill grass and other plants where the sawdust/chips accumulate.

No special chain is needed, but as mentioned semi-chisel would tend to hold an edge longer.

Mark

 

[serdie]

Be careful where you cut them, the creosote will kill grass and other plants where the sawdust/chips accumulate.

No special chain is needed, but as mentioned semi-chisel would tend to hold an edge longer.

Mark

Make sure not to do this on a hot day creosote is a killer if inhaled and it’s caustic on skin

 

[Oletrapper]

Years ago I bought 30 at $8.00 ea. Stored them in my off site barn for future use as fence posts. When I got around to building the fence, some scum bags had stolen them. Still haven't built the fence. OT