Mitre corners

[murphy]

I have been asked by a friend to make some raised beds from new wooden sleepers, he wants four made, four sleepers high, the sleepers are 8 x 4 inches, he wants the corners mitred, what is the best way to cut the mitre's, I have tried once before with a circular saw but it does not cut right through and had to be finished with a hand saw, I have also tried cutting from both sides with the circular saw but if it is not set up perfectly it leaves a ledge, I have 128 mitres to cut, anyone got any ideas

 

[johnnyb]

chainsaw

 

[Myfordman]

Mitres will offer no strength. Need to overlap the corners.

 

[johnnyb]

my advice is never ever cut sleepers. they rot very rapidly when cut.

 

[smackie]

Like the others have said, a mitre isn’t really ideal. I‘ve seen raised beds made like this by offsetting the sleepers on top of each other to make a really big finger joint. it works if the sleepers are roughly square (which I’m assuming as you’re attempting mitres). The sleepers were secured vertically with an corner interior batten and galvanized carriage bolts.

 

[NormanB]

lend him your hand saw.

 

[marcros]

Redesign.

Or a mitred capping piece on top

 

[murphy]

Thank you all for the replies, I will get in touch with him again and explain that mitre joints, in this case, offer no strength and that the overlap or large finger joints would be best, he will listen to advise, I have done this before about 8 years ago, and fixed the sleepers together with 12" long pieces of rebar, drilling holes through the sleepers, and 4" into the next one, with the right drill it is a nice tight fit, still as good as new today

 

[Stanleymonkey]

Same as above - surely only the top ones need to be mitred? Or a separate top piece about the size of a decking plank attacked and mitred.

Surely people will be looking more at the plants and flowers than the bottom three levels of sleepers??!!

 

[pcb1962]

he wants the corners mitred, what is the best way to cut the mitre's

There is a tool that's made for the job but it's kind of pricey

 

[marcros]

Thank you all for the replies, I will get in touch with him again and explain that mitre joints, in this case, offer no strength and that the overlap or large finger joints would be best, he will listen to advise, I have done this before about 8 years ago, and fixed the sleepers together with 12" long pieces of rebar, drilling holes through the sleepers, and 4" into the next one, with the right drill it is a nice tight fit, still as good as new today

this may be quicker Buy TIMco Index Screws 100mm From £6.46 Per Box | 100IN

they do them at 250mm long

 

[Fitzroy]

Used half-laps on mine drilled through and pegged with 1” oak pegs.

 

[Fitzroy]

In fact now I remember I made a post on here.
https://www.ukworkshop.co.uk/threads/raised-beds-oak-framing.100371/
There are pegs between the layers to stop them moving.
Fitz.

 

[TheUnicorn]

probably mitre isn't the way to go, however, if I was looking to get a load of mitres done I'd try and get it done by the supplier as a bespoke order.

By the way for support brackets I've been very impressed by "indoors outdoors" I've normally bought through amazon, but you can go straight to them Railway Sleeper Brackets and Fixings | Indoor Outdoors

 

[Spectric]

Hi

If you think about a mitred corner you end up with an edge that comes to a point, very vulnerable and allows rot to get in, like everyone says just butt them at the corners and alternate each level.

 

[murphy]

There is a tool that's made for the job but it's kind of pricey

Thank you, that is some saw, but slightly over my budget

 

[murphy]

this may be quicker Buy TIMco Index Screws 100mm From £6.46 Per Box | 100IN

they do them at 250mm long

Thank you marcros, I will give them a try, I did not know they did then that long, that will save some time

 

[Robbo60]

Just been reading a separate article about scaffolding boards and thought if you want a mitred finish, cap of with those. Rustic look and can replace cheaply when they rot??

 

[Roberto Flintofski]

I did mine with half lap joints, and tied all the corners in with m12 threaded rod. Lined the sides with really thick black plastic so the soil doesn't rot them, been good for 10 years now but they were only 3 sleepers high .. usage creeping in and I'm going to add another row in the spring

 

[Darrenp]

I think mitred sleepers is asking for big trouble !!!
they will open up within a week !!!