Railway Sleepers Leeds

Railway Sleepers Leeds
In the good old days, before concrete and iron and when forests were abundant, railway sleepers were made of hard woods such as teak and oak. And as a DYI enthusiast you should really be grateful to the old railway barons for this as they have left you with an amazing source of hard wood timber at a bargain price.

Railway sleepers are graded A, B and C. The original sleeper size was 2740mm x 250mm x 180mm and it weighed about 90kg. Grade A sleepers will have some minor damage whilst the grade B and C sleepers will generally have three good sides and weigh a bit less. Prices vary depending on quality, wood type and transport.  The Railway Sleepers Leeds website shows prices at £24.95 for Grade A, £19.50 for B and £14.95 for C grade.

If you plan on making furniture or features which will be viewed from close up then go for Grade A sleepers. But if you are landscaping then go for C grade. Before you start a project discuss your railway sleeper needs with the suppliers. Traders like Railway Sleeper Leeds have been around a long time and will be able to advise you on how to go about your project and source the best railway sleepers for you.

There are many advantages in using railway sleepers: they are durable, weathered, will not warp, full of character, already cut and are generally well priced. A big plus is that you are doing “green” carpentry as the timber that you are using is essentially recycled!

Some of the projects that you can undertake with railway sleepers are – retaining feature walls, paving, steps, furniture, entrance features, bar counters, pool edging, decking and, hey, you could even use them on a railway line.

When using railway sleepers in a project there are a few things that you need to take into consideration. Firstly, the timber is extremely hard and can be difficult to cut, blunting the saw quickly. It might well be worthwhile to find a professional to cut the sleeper for you. Secondly, drilling can also be a problem, so use a sharp bit and keep the bit cool by drilling slowly and stopping every few minutes to let the bit cool.

Thirdly, the timber is old and will often have old nails, spikes and even small stones stick in the grain. These can damage your carpentry tools and also be dangerous. Always wear safety equipment and follow the power tool instructions carefully. Lastly, railway sleepers are very dry and when you want to stain or varnish them, you must use a timber sealer or else they will use an enormous amount of stain and varnish.

The supply of railway sleepers are still relatively plentiful but remember that they are heavy and bulky items and transporting them can be costly so take this into account when doing your costing. Again, talk to a reputable trader. Railway Sleeper Leeds, for example, will help you with your costings and find the best transport options for you.