How to Cut Railroad Ties

by Jason D. Turner

In railway tracks, the rectangular support made of wood is known as railroad ties. Creosote, a wood preserver, is used to cover these railroad ties. It is an extremely toxic oily compound of dark brown color.

“How to Cut Railroad Ties” is a very common question with a not-so-common answer. If you have ever tried cutting railroad ties before, you know that it can be a daunting task at best. Ripped gloves, chipped blades and ripped pants are just some of the many injuries that can result from trying to cut ties with an ordinary saw.

I’ve used your standard hacksaw, reciprocating saw, and chainsaw to cut ties. And each tool seemed like it was more dangerous than the last! But I pushed on because I needed the ties for my backyard railroad. Finally, after much research and trial-and-error, I found a tool that works to make the job safe and painless.

In this article, we will discuss the best ways to cut the railroad ties and some tips to avoid injury.

Reciprocating saw

A reciprocating/circular saw with a metal cutting blade is used to cut railroad ties. The results are quick, clean, and safe. For demolition and remodeling, the reciprocating saw is most commonly used. It can cut wood, metal, and nails. It is sharp and quick, which is why you should use a pencil or marker to mark the cutting line. After marking it, cut it one by one from each side. At last, cut it entirely from the bottom.

The chainsaw or Sawzall

The chainsaw or Sawzall is still the primary cutting tool for railroad ties because it’s fast, powerful, and designed for cutting wood. But even using this, you risk chipped teeth on your blade (or worse). Also, small bits of cut wood can get loose and fly into your eyes. Plus, you have to deal with the kickback of a running chainsaw. The tip to avoid injury is that you should go slow while cutting.

Things to notice

When cutting railroad ties, the blade should be rotated and moved in a sawing motion. The power of the cut is controlled by how much pressure you apply to the tie using your arm and wrist. It’s important to use an appropriate-sized blade for each job because blades that are too small will require more effort while larger blades can cause unnecessary wear on machinery.

Conclusion

To have the delightful consequence of cutting railways our the present post on how to cut railroad ties since Railroad ties are one of the hardest, very much made, and extended design assets that we can utilize our work.

From the get-go, it might appear to be troublesome in the finish, yet when you start and proceed with persistence, it won’t be simply extreme. It is ordinary to become scared to work with a wide range of huge pieces of wood.

Jason D. Turner

Hi there! My name is Jason, a keen enthusiast in power tools and their mechanisms and the sole mastermind behind the Noisy Tools. Working in a multi-national construction firm in Brooklyn for over a decade, I have developed a fair flair for different construction devices, gadgets, and their diverse operational aspects. By the dint of this platform, I have researched and reviewed various tools with utmost details of even the most trivial matters that will provide valuable insights for any prospective user.