Sleeper saw?

[alladinsane]

Anyone any idea what I could cut ten inch thick, one foot wide sleepers with please, these are in my allotment so no electricity, they are the real McCoy and hard as the proverbial rock. When cutting them with a cordless multisaw it takes 20 mins one side to the middle the sawdust is reddish, however that is all I know, got twenty to do, tell me would a petrol chainsaw do the trick, for I fear with the strain this multisaw will burn out.

[Handyman in Sussex]

A chainsaw will do it, but it will only do one or if you're lucky two before needing sharpening again. There is a special wheel for a 12 inch petrol grinder for cutting sleepers etc, diamond tipped and with very large teeth. You could hire the grinder from a local hire shop, but you'd need to buy the wheel for the job...... It's not going to be cheap though...
Here you go, I've found a link:
http://www.fisher-direct.co.uk/product/ ... -300mm-12/
All the best

[kellys_eye]

Chainsaw for sure. Hand sharpening the chain isn't difficult or hard to learn. Either ask someone who owns a chainsaw (buy them a new chain as compo - costs around £10) or get one yourself - they aren't that expensive in the scheme of things (if you consider paying someone £50 to do the job then I'd buy my own).

[alladinsane]

Chainsaw for sure. Hand sharpening the chain isn't difficult or hard to learn. Either ask someone who owns a chainsaw.

Interesting what you say, my missus wouldn't agree with you though, she says I hoard things [no more so than others imho] however your rationale is exactly how I have got loads of tools, maybe used only once or twice because of the costs of jobs quoted to me, which I found really excessive, I say bgr that, and go and buy the tools and have a go myself.Saves a fortune in money but alas it is not a good strategy for the ear when you hear those immortal words 'hoarding again', my missus never takes into account the money saved just the need to declutter the space. Tell her to bgr off I hear you say, not much good that but I do try lol

[alladinsane]

A chainsaw will do it, but it will only do one or if you're lucky two before needing sharpening again.
All the best

Hmmm,thoughtful, I heard of a tool called a tyrannosaur [saw] haven't a clue what one looks like or where to find it and of course how much it costs, trawled the bay and only found dinosaur related items, but, no saw, tell me what you describe as a 12 inch grinder, is that a tyrannosaur [saw],or is it just this terrasaur blade, it looks like a stihl saw to me? Cost if I was to hire or buy and I would rather buy, would then a D W Alligator saw do this job, I see pics of it all over the bay, expensive but second hand there are bargains to be had, but will it cut these sleepers? Bearing in mind these sleepers are a three man lift there will be no chattering or slipping away of the work item whilst cutting [the sleepers] whether or not this has a bearing on the tool of choice, I think it might of had they been a lighter item, but probably not this one.What about kick back, got quite a bit of that using this multisaw, need to try and avoid that. Another thing though,if I got a 1000 watt two stroke generator would an electric Alligator saw work with it or would it not, bearing in mind the 110v application on a step down transformer, could that be used from a petrol generator?

[dewaltdisney]

Just a note about cutting old railway sleepers, make sure you wear a mask as well as gloves and eye protection. Old sleepers have been drenched in sewerage from train toilets er the years

DWD

[kellys_eye]

Generally you need a genny that's rated twice the power of the tool you're using due to loading and start-up currents (which can easily bog down/stall the smaller gennies).

Kick back happens but most chainsaws have a kickback device that 'stalls' the chain when one happens. Best avoid kickback in the first place so getting some lessons in proper chainsaw use would be a good idea if you aren't familiar with them.

Tool collecting isn't hoarding - it's investing. If my missus can do it with crotchet, colouring books, kitchenware, make-up and clothes, I can do it with tools.......

[Handyman in Sussex]

A chainsaw will do it, but it will only do one or if you're lucky two before needing sharpening again.
All the best

Hmmm,thoughtful, I heard of a tool called a tyrannosaur [saw] haven't a clue what one looks like or where to find it and of course how much it costs, trawled the bay and only found dinosaur related items, but, no saw, tell me what you describe as a 12 inch grinder, is that a tyrannosaur [saw],or is it just this terrasaur blade, it looks like a stihl saw to me? Cost if I was to hire or buy and I would rather buy, would then a D W Alligator saw do this job, I see pics of it all over the bay, expensive but second hand there are bargains to be had, but will it cut these sleepers? Bearing in mind these sleepers are a three man lift there will be no chattering or slipping away of the work item whilst cutting [the sleepers] whether or not this has a bearing on the tool of choice, I think it might of had they been a lighter item, but probably not this one.What about kick back, got quite a bit of that using this multisaw, need to try and avoid that. Another thing though,if I got a 1000 watt two stroke generator would an electric Alligator saw work with it or would it not, bearing in mind the 110v application on a step down transformer, could that be used from a petrol generator?

Yes I mean a Stihl saw, or a 12 inch petrol disc cutter, Stihl is a just manufacturer like Husqvarna, Makita etc, but somehow we've adopted the name Stihl saw for the tool. I don't think it's worth you buying a £400 - £500 tool for this job which is why I said best to hire it, but you'll need to buy the wheel. I have cut quite a few sleepers with a chainsaw, and although it will do it the sleepers are full of cr@p as DWD said, and they also contain a lot of tiny iron filings not to mention nails and bolts etc, which will blunt a chain in no time. This disc is purpose built for the job and the best thing for it, I'd forget about trying with aligator saws and multisaws and the like, give it a go with a chain first if you like but it won't cut after doing the first sleeper.

[Job and Knock]

Hmmm,thoughtful, I heard of a tool called a tyrannosaur [saw] haven't a clue what one looks like or where to find it and of course how much it costs,

Probably somebody mistaking the DW alligator saw....... They will cut sleepers (well, I've use them to cut 200 year old 12 x 4in pitch pine beams before now), but they require a substantial generator and the blades don't last overly long (4 to 8 cuts we found - less if you hit metal so a metal detector is a must). They can be hired, and at least then they'd come with freshly sharpened blades. They are also somewhat safer to use than a chain saw or a Stihl saw IMHO

[alladinsane]

Generally you need a genny that's rated twice the power of the tool you're using due to loading and start-up currents (which can easily bog down/stall the smaller gennies).

Kick back happens but most chainsaws have a kickback device that 'stalls' the chain when one happens. Best avoid kickback in the first place so getting some lessons in proper chainsaw use would be a good idea if you aren't familiar with them.

Tool collecting isn't hoarding - it's investing. If my missus can do it with crotchet, colouring books, kitchenware, make-up and clothes, I can do it with tools.......

Hmmm, again thoughtful, I have just remembered I have a Bosch reciprocating saw[forgot I had it] but, hear is the million dollar question, would this 500 watt tool work with a 900 2 stroke generator,for generator aside I have used this to cut down conifers and it whipped through 60 0f them and trimmed the branches too, in fact from what I recall this tool was so much better than a chainsaw for this task as there was far less bounce when cutting thinner spindly branches, ah but with the correct blade would this saw cut these sleepers, well I really don't know, but maybe all things considered it might be as well to give it a go as the cost of a stihl saw and terrasaur blade is prohibitive and mighty off putting and to be frank so is hiring, as I still have to buy the blade at round about 100.00 quid each. Anybody any experience with these reciprocal saws cutting wood that is like granite, yes thanks you all for the safety tips too, one other thing that comes to mind is my age 66 next birthday and a 2nd stage COPD sufferer so not as strong as I used to be lol, but I will indeed give it a go regardless.

I'm with you on the investing side of things, with a shed, a garage and an outhouse full of tools for this that and the other, how on earth can we be without them, my missus tells people that my favourite day out is a trip to the new Sunday morning church that is BQ looking at the tools, true, sad this isn't it lmao

[Job and Knock]

Anybody any experience with these reciprocal saws cutting wood that is like granite, yes thanks you all for the safety tips too, one other thing that comes to mind is my age 66 next birthday and a 2nd stage COPD sufferer so not as strong as I used to be lol, but I will indeed give it a go regardless.

Yes. On my current refurb I've been cutting out floor joists in pitch pine which are 150+ years old and rock hard. They can also be full of iron parts such as cut nails, wrought nails (up to 6in long), old iron screws (biggest so far about 16 gauge) and very occasionally wrought iron bolts of up to 1in diameter. I've cut the lot, however, my recip saw is a 1300 watt "monster" Bosch GSA1300PCE which unlike many less expensive models has a much more aggressive orbital action. The difference is probably speed of cut - the GSA goes like a rocket and has been nicknamed "The Beast" by guys on the team. For example this afternoon I've shortened three 12 x 3in pitch pine joists in situ to form a service void (another 5 are coming out tomorrow). The GSA ate them in under ten minutes with a fresh blade and cut reasonably straight, although not perfect. The other part of this equation, though, is the blades. I've been using Bosch S 1210 VF demolition blade (see here and scroll down). These are specialist blades for demolition work and are excellent, however they are a tad expensive at £31+ for five, however the cut capacity is up to 250mm. There are shorter versions of this blade available, the S 1110 VF (175mm) and the S 610 VF (150mm) which may suit your needs better (and at £26+ and £19+ respectively for a pack of five are more affordable) and having used them I have to say they are equally good. The only comparable quality blades I've come across were some deWalt Xtreme rescue blades, although I have to say that IMHO they aren't as fast or true cutting as the newest Bosch offerings. I've tried Milwaukee and Makita wrecking/demolition/rescue blades quite recently and the Bosch outperforms them comfortably. As for cheap blades such as Toolpak - they're a waste of time on jobs like this. The only way you'll know if these blades would suit your task (and if your saw is man enough for them) would be to buy a pack and try them. BTW from experience a generator ideally needs to be rated at 2 to 3 times the power of the biggest tool to be used to ensure that the tool doesn't slow down in use

Oh, and age? I'm 62 and built like a wet dishcloth (i.e. "slim", or rather "built like a racing budgie"). It's more about technique than build, I'd say

For anyone interested Sabre Saws UK and its' sister site Jigsaws UK is/are a subsidiary of Banson Tool Hire (which may be useful for some) and have a heck of a wide range of blades available off the shelf. The sites also have very useful applications guides (ideal to print-out and paste up somewhere, I'd say). Recommended

[alladinsane]

Yes. On my current refurb I've been cutting out floor joists in pitch pine which are 150+ years old and rock hard. They can also be full of iron parts such as cut nails, wrought nails (up to 6in long), old iron screws (biggest so far about 16 gauge) and very occasionally wrought iron bolts of up to 1in diameter. I've cut the lot, however, my recip saw is a 1300 watt "monster" .[/quote]

Wow just what I need but don't have, so I will drag the generator and said reciprocal saw plus blades to my allotment asap and hope that this will cut these sleepers, thing is once I drag the generator up there I cannot leave it, same as I cannot leave anything else for fear it gets stolen.I will give it a bash and let you know soon as I can, might take a while though as other things are just as pressing.