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Joined: Nov 2006
Posts: 857
Campfire Regular
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OP
Campfire Regular
Joined: Nov 2006
Posts: 857 |
I was going to use railroad ties to build a retaining wall to level my side yard.
*Where do I get a drill bit long enough to penetrate a rr tie? What size bit do I use if I'm drilling to drive rebarr through the hole to connect multiple (up to three) rr ties toghether? *Where do I get rebar and what do I cut the rebar with? *What do I cut the rr ties with? Will the creosote mess up a chain saw? Should I use a circular saw or sawzall? A handsaw?
Thanks a bunch!! Btw, rr ties are on sale for $5 each on S. Birchwood next Saturday via the AK RR.
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Joined: Feb 2001
Posts: 50,651 Likes: 2
Campfire Kahuna
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Campfire Kahuna
Joined: Feb 2001
Posts: 50,651 Likes: 2 |
Bailey's Rentall on the Old Seward can hook you up with ties anytime for about that...
If you can wait a couple weeks I can loan you a few auger bits long enough for the job. And a HoleHog if you do have an adequate drill motor. Rebar should just barely be driveable with a big hammer...
Cutting them is nasty business...
Mark Begich, Joaquin Jackson, and Heller resistance... Three huge reasons to worry about the NRA.
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Joined: Apr 2007
Posts: 32,312
Campfire 'Bwana
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Campfire 'Bwana
Joined: Apr 2007
Posts: 32,312 |
I was going to use railroad ties to build a retaining wall to level my side yard.
*Where do I get a drill bit long enough to penetrate a rr tie? What size bit do I use if I'm drilling to drive rebarr through the hole to connect multiple (up to three) rr ties toghether? *Where do I get rebar and what do I cut the rebar with? *What do I cut the rr ties with? Will the creosote mess up a chain saw? Should I use a circular saw or sawzall? A handsaw?
Thanks a bunch!! Btw, rr ties are on sale for $5 each on S. Birchwood next Saturday via the AK RR.
A sawzall isn't too terrible for cutting rebar, fresh blade and a vise, but of course that shear they make for the job is better, in a teeth rattling kind of way. I've cut RR ties with a chain saw. It's very hard on the bar and chain and is nasty and toxic to boot. I'd advise minimizing the cutting however possible.
The CENTER will hold.
Reality, Patriotism,Trump: you can only pick two
FÜCK PUTIN!
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Joined: Jan 2005
Posts: 57,494
Campfire Kahuna
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Campfire Kahuna
Joined: Jan 2005
Posts: 57,494 |
I was going to use railroad ties to build a retaining wall to level my side yard.
*Where do I get a drill bit long enough to penetrate a rr tie? What size bit do I use if I'm drilling to drive rebarr through the hole to connect multiple (up to three) rr ties toghether? *Where do I get rebar and what do I cut the rebar with? *What do I cut the rr ties with? Will the creosote mess up a chain saw? Should I use a circular saw or sawzall? A handsaw?
Thanks a bunch!! Btw, rr ties are on sale for $5 each on S. Birchwood next Saturday via the AK RR.
A sawzall isn't too terrible for cutting rebar, fresh blade and a vise, but of course that shear they make for the job is better, in a teeth rattling kind of way. I've cut RR ties with a chain saw. It's very hard on the bar and chain and is nasty and toxic to boot. I'd advise minimizing the cutting however possible. Toxic?
We can keep Larry Root and all his idiotic blabber and user names on here, but we can't get Ralph back..... Whiskey Tango Foxtrot, over....
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Joined: Jun 2006
Posts: 46,194 Likes: 8
Campfire 'Bwana
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Campfire 'Bwana
Joined: Jun 2006
Posts: 46,194 Likes: 8 |
A wise man is frequently humbled.
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Joined: Aug 2002
Posts: 19,129 Likes: 2
Campfire Ranger
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Campfire Ranger
Joined: Aug 2002
Posts: 19,129 Likes: 2 |
Not sure how big of rebar we are talking, but for smaller a Hand grinder and a metal cutting blade will work fine. Harbor freight has cheap ones that I use a lot, and they do a good job even on harder steel. Use eye protection. miles
Look out for number 1, don't step in number 2.
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Joined: Aug 2003
Posts: 19,825 Likes: 3
Campfire Ranger
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Campfire Ranger
Joined: Aug 2003
Posts: 19,825 Likes: 3 |
Not sure how big of rebar we are talking, but for smaller a Hand grinder and a metal cutting blade will work fine. Harbor freight has cheap ones that I use a lot, and they do a good job even on harder steel. Use eye protection. miles That's how I do it, too. As to drilling the holes, I have some old, long auger bits for the hand augers that I just chuck up in a 1/2" hammer drill and go to town. A 3/4" hole for 3/4" rebar. Add sledgehammer, sweat, and eye protection. I have never cut RR ties, so I have no idea whether a chainsaw would be appropriate or not. Ed
"Not in an open forum, where truth has less value than opinions, where all opinions are equally welcome regardless of their origins, rationale, inanity, or truth, where opinions are neither of equal value nor decisive." Ken Howell
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Joined: Jan 2005
Posts: 57,494
Campfire Kahuna
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Campfire Kahuna
Joined: Jan 2005
Posts: 57,494 |
I figured, been around it all my life in power poles and the like. Cut power poles all the time with chainsaw. Have never cut a RR tie that I can recall though. But I believe them to be of oak so wood would be harder. I wouldn't call having to cut a creosote post toxic though... at least IMHO.
We can keep Larry Root and all his idiotic blabber and user names on here, but we can't get Ralph back..... Whiskey Tango Foxtrot, over....
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Joined: Aug 2003
Posts: 17,491
Campfire Ranger
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Campfire Ranger
Joined: Aug 2003
Posts: 17,491 |
I wouldn't call having to cut a creosote post toxic though... at least IMHO. They know things in California that regular mortals don't. Cutting them? Stihl chainsaws are not always the best choice....not when you can grab a Poulan for $90 off Amazon and not worry about fouling stuff up with creosote and grit.
Sometimes, the air you 'let in'matters less than the air you 'let out'.
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Joined: Aug 2002
Posts: 19,129 Likes: 2
Campfire Ranger
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Campfire Ranger
Joined: Aug 2002
Posts: 19,129 Likes: 2 |
Have never cut a RR tie that I can recall though. But I believe them to be of oak so wood would be harder. Lots of them, in fact most here are made of Sweet Gum. It is hard when dry though. miles
Look out for number 1, don't step in number 2.
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Joined: Jan 2010
Posts: 32,130 Likes: 1
Campfire 'Bwana
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Campfire 'Bwana
Joined: Jan 2010
Posts: 32,130 Likes: 1 |
If you put Taco Bell sauce in your ramen noodles it tastes just like poverty
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Joined: Oct 2005
Posts: 13,065
Campfire Outfitter
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Campfire Outfitter
Joined: Oct 2005
Posts: 13,065 |
If you have both a metal cutting and a wood cutting blade then you can use the same machine to cut the ties and the rebar. Mike
Always talk to the old guys , they know stuff.
Jerry Miculek
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Joined: Jan 2010
Posts: 32,130 Likes: 1
Campfire 'Bwana
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Campfire 'Bwana
Joined: Jan 2010
Posts: 32,130 Likes: 1 |
If you have both a metal cutting and a wood cutting blade then you can use the same machine to cut the ties and the rebar. Mike Pedal Powered Power Hacksaw!!!!!!!!!!!!! That's awesome.
If you put Taco Bell sauce in your ramen noodles it tastes just like poverty
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Joined: Jan 2005
Posts: 57,494
Campfire Kahuna
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Campfire Kahuna
Joined: Jan 2005
Posts: 57,494 |
About what I figured, nothing to worry about.
We can keep Larry Root and all his idiotic blabber and user names on here, but we can't get Ralph back..... Whiskey Tango Foxtrot, over....
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Joined: Dec 2003
Posts: 1,456
Campfire Regular
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Campfire Regular
Joined: Dec 2003
Posts: 1,456 |
I have used plenty of ties to build retaining walls and deck or shed foundations. Cutting them with a chainsaw has never been a problem.
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Joined: Jan 2012
Posts: 26,598 Likes: 4
Campfire Ranger
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Campfire Ranger
Joined: Jan 2012
Posts: 26,598 Likes: 4 |
I have used plenty of ties to build retaining walls and deck or shed foundations. Cutting them with a chainsaw has never been a problem. This^^
FJB & FJT
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Joined: Jun 2006
Posts: 46,194 Likes: 8
Campfire 'Bwana
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Campfire 'Bwana
Joined: Jun 2006
Posts: 46,194 Likes: 8 |
About what I figured, nothing to worry about. Basically. Where it's a problem is large-scale wood treatment operations with soil and groundwater contamination. Kind of like gasoline. You can work around it, spill it on yourself, or wash your hands with it but you don't want to live next door to a leaking tank of you have a well.
A wise man is frequently humbled.
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Joined: Jan 2005
Posts: 57,494
Campfire Kahuna
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Campfire Kahuna
Joined: Jan 2005
Posts: 57,494 |
Never did much with it without work gloves on, it'll burn your skin eventually so we just worked a hair smarter around it. Saved splinters too mostly.
We can keep Larry Root and all his idiotic blabber and user names on here, but we can't get Ralph back..... Whiskey Tango Foxtrot, over....
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Joined: Dec 2008
Posts: 2,031
Campfire Regular
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Campfire Regular
Joined: Dec 2008
Posts: 2,031 |
Chain saw is the way to go. I have built retaining walls up to 5 feet tall using used railroad ties. Watch out for embedded stones in the creosote especially on the ends and in any cracks. It's tough on chains and resharpening or replacement chains are needed. A cutoff blade on a 4 inch grinder works well for cutting rebar to length. I used 1/2 inch rebar with 2 foot 1/2 inch wide spade bit. You can go smaller on the size of rebar and spade bit. Spade bit needs to be sharpened occasionally also. I used what I had on hand. Keep the chain saw bar well oiled. Tom
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