Best tool to cut garden sleepers?

[scz4]

I have 15 sleepers to cut, they are 2400mm x 200mm x 100mm.

I tried my brothers circular but had to attack from both sides.

I found this, but it has a max cutting of 230 x 65mm, so even that's not big enough.

https://www.screwfix.com/p/evolution-r210sms-210mm...

240v is fine, don't need battery powered. Would rather not spend more than £100-£120 on a tool.

[Turn7]

Chainsaw .

[OutInTheShed]

Chainsaw?
Mains one from toolstation is not expensive.

[monthou]

yep. Electric chainsaw. <£50.

[scz4]

Didn't realise they're so cheap. Might be a bit of a test to get a straight cut though.

Would it be recommended to have "chainsaw" trousers even for cutting sleepers? Shouldn't get any kickback.

[Byker28i]

Just done mine with a 7" circular saw and finished the cut with a hand saw.finished

Line all around, cut both sides, then big handsaw

[Jamescrs]

I’ve done this before and used a Circular saw too, just measured carefully and cut from both sides

[Grumbler]

A decent handsaw? Take five minutes, precise, decent finish.

[JoshSm]

scz4 said:

Would it be recommended to have "chainsaw" trousers even for cutting sleepers? Shouldn't get any kickback.

No one ever spent their life regretting that they *did* wear PPE.

The equipment is cheap and the potential injuries nasty.

[biggiles]

Very hard to get a straight cut with a chainsaw (especially if you haven't used one before), and the ends will look ragged.

Circular saw is probably the easiest, just watch out for the sides probably not being parallel, so any ends on display will need tidying.

If they are typical "garden centre sleepers" a handsaw will also get through them pretty fast.

[DonkeyApple]

Chainsaw will be hard to get a good cut if that's required. If you need square ends then line up the sleepers in batches, say of 5, run a circular saw over them with a straight edge, flip and repeat and if there is any sign of a mismatch in measurements then finish the ends with a surform.

[Simpo Two]

Grumbler said:

A decent handsaw? Take five minutes, precise, decent finish.

Yay, the old-school way! Not too difficult on modern 'fake' sleepers and you'll get fit and grow muscles too!



Yet we buy power tools and then buy gym memberships because we have arms like pipe-cleaners

[Byker28i]

biggiles said:

Very hard to get a straight cut with a chainsaw (especially if you haven't used one before), and the ends will look ragged.

Circular saw is probably the easiest, just watch out for the sides probably not being parallel, so any ends on display will need tidying.

If they are typical "garden centre sleepers" a handsaw will also get through them pretty fast.

They weren't big enough for my use so I went with ex railway, which are bigger...and a lot heavier.
New blade in the circular saw made short work of the cut. Finishing with the hand saw took a lot more effort Those things are tough

[thebraketester]

Grumbler said:

A decent handsaw? Take five minutes, precise, decent finish.

This. 200mm x 100mm isn't going to take long with a brand new and sharp handsaw.

[Another project]

Years ago I had 200x100 oak sleepers in my garden, I used a combination of recip saw and a hand saw

[p1doc]

tried chainsaw-as others said ragged cut so ended up using handsaw-sweating by end but looks much better

[OIC]

Wife's tongue.

[sherman]

A reciprocating saw with a decent blade will easily do it too.

Edited by sherman on Tuesday 10th March 17:51

[ferret50]

OIC said:

Wife's tongue.

Yes!
Usually plenty sharp enough.....

[_Rodders_]

I bought a chop saw with a 100mm depth of cut. Means you can do it in one chop so to speak.

100% worth it. I sold it after doing the job for decent amount which meant it cost me under £100.