Asked on Feb 24, 2014
Re-purposing railroad ties
by
Laurie K
+3
Hello, We have garden beds surrounded by old railroad ties. Is there anyway to recycle these into furniture? Thank you!
6 answers
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I would steer clear of using RR ties or landscape timber of any kind for furniture. While the bulk size of the wood may be appealing, the chemicals used as a preservative not so much. Old landscape timbers, RR ties, deck boards and framing are considered hazardous waste when your done using them for the purpose that they were intended for and must be treated as such. The risk of getting splinters with the wood after its been treated is not worth it.
Woodbridge Environmental Tiptophouse.com
on Feb 24, 2014
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Thank you so much!
Laurie K
on Feb 25, 2014
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I agree. The chemicals in the wood are bad for gardening too.
Lynn
on Feb 26, 2014
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Rail Road ties were preserved with arsenic. Not something you want to sit on. If you want to make furniture, go to pinterest, and look at pallet furniture. Look for pallets that are heat preserved, not chemical preserved. It will say so on the mark on the pallet.
Linda Bailey
on Feb 26, 2014
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Personally I would also be very careful also with pallets. You need to know where they came from and if they were only used for that purpose. Many larger heavy pallets are used to ship chemicals that may have been exposed to them. I would never use the bottom boards that rest on the ground side of the pallet as again you do not know where the pallets were resting. This is not to say you should not or could not use them, But choose what pallet for what type of project carefully. You do not want to become exposed to something that could be harmful. And always when sanding or prepping pallets for use, wear eye, hand and breathing protection.
Woodbridge Environmental Tiptophouse.com
on Feb 26, 2014
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The railroad ties I had in my yard were treated with coal tar creosote - not a friendly substance for furniture! It stinks, it's sticky and gets black residue on things placed on or near them. It is considered a 'toxic' substance affecting the skin and liver. Please don't use railroad ties for furniture, near children play areas, or in vegetable gardens.
Jennifer G
on Feb 26, 2014
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