Not so, any timber set into earth will rot at ground level, therefore protection needs to extend above that level, heat shrink wrap can be obtained to do this or just simply bitumen, but this is prone to damage when strimming etc:
New project for work
- Thread starter Stigmorgan
- Start date
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Stigmorgan
Established Member
Would 50mm not be too much into a 100mm (probably actually 90mm) sleeper?
The area will be woodchipped so use of a strimmer would be minimal and by myself so that wouldn't worry me too much, I plan to paint with bitumen then use a heat gun to get it soaking into the surface as much as I can.
The area will be woodchipped so use of a strimmer would be minimal and by myself so that wouldn't worry me too much, I plan to paint with bitumen then use a heat gun to get it soaking into the surface as much as I can.
Trextr7monkey
Established Member
We cut the trench on a radial arm saw so it was a snug fit then put 9 or 10” coach screws straight down a drilled hole then capped with a wooden plug. We put about 10 benches in place all well tested by the enthusiastic supporters, nothing has moved yet !!30mm doesn't sound enough to me, deeper and tight joints will help resist racking. Timberlock or other long screws will help with that too of course driven in from below at an angle, but the more depth the better really.
Think I did mine about 40mm or 50mm, as deep as I could easily manage with the tools I had and without compromising the depth in ground and finished height
Phill05
Established Member
Stig, we used to burn the leg's that would be in the ground then soak the ends for a week in old engine oil and before they were dropped in the hole a good dose of bitumen.
Fencing posts also had the same they last for years and years.
Stigmorgan
Established Member
I won't have time to leave things to soak, I will only have the half term week to get it done as well as letting contractors into the building and keeping an eye on holiday club.
Stigmorgan
Established Member
As in kicking the bottoms out or twisting on the vertical axis?
Jameshow
Established Member
Kicking the bottoms out?
Stigmorgan
Established Member
Diagonal / rather than vertical I
accipiter
Established Member
With the mention of 'burning' - a Japanese wood treatment method you may/may not know of - it may be worth considering as it can be used on oak and other timbers. This may be of interest to you
https://www.instructables.com/How-to-Burn-Stain-Wood-Aka-Shou-Sugi-Ban/
Phill05
Established Member
Back in the 60's I lived and worked on a farm and the old feller used to have a fire pit and he'd put Oak and Ash stakes and posts over it to burn the ends that went in the ground then a week soaking in oil before stacking point up ready to take out on a job.
He also used to take Oak chippings and shavings put in a cloth bag and hang it in his barrel of beer said it gave the best taste ever, nothing was ever wasted.
He also used to take Oak chippings and shavings put in a cloth bag and hang it in his barrel of beer said it gave the best taste ever, nothing was ever wasted.
Stigmorgan
Established Member
So apparently as we claim the VAT back i had £130 left from the money the pta gave for this project so I've added 3 more oak sleepers to the delivery as I have an idea that, if it works, will be a nice surprise for everyone, in Jan 2023 a large Ash was felled across the road from school and I managed to snag a lot of it, among this stash was a (not well cut) cookie, I painted both sides and have had it stood on edge since then, rotating it every now and then, I've have an idea to use it as a table top if I can get it cleaned up and fairly flat, this is proving easier said than done, I spent all afternoon on the better of the 2 sides with my electric plane and started the 2nd side, it's hard going in the middle where the wood is still hard, I may dig the chainsaw out tomorrow and remove the bulk that way, hopefully I won't find another nail like I did with the plane, I'm hoping tonhave around 2.5 inches of thickness once it's done.
If I get it flat (ish) I will then have a go at doing some bow ties for the bigger cracks and leave the smaller ones, I have some old oak sleepers i can make them from. I'm thinking an oil finish would be best but on the other hand the spalted areas are quite punky so perhaps saturating with CA then a yacht varnish finish
If I get it flat (ish) I will then have a go at doing some bow ties for the bigger cracks and leave the smaller ones, I have some old oak sleepers i can make them from. I'm thinking an oil finish would be best but on the other hand the spalted areas are quite punky so perhaps saturating with CA then a yacht varnish finish
Stigmorgan
Established Member
So today I got one bench roughly done (too many kids around to take pictures) it's not great as my little circular saw is rubbish, luckily the oak is quite wet so cuts fairly easy, I'll take some pics over the weekend to show what I'm not happy with, maybe you guys will have suggestions.
This afternoon I used chainsaw to remove the bulk of the extra material on the Ash cookie, some of the spalted areas are tearing out a lot so gonna have to stabilise them before removing more material, I think k I've worked out placements for bowties and have cut some scrap oak to make them from. Once I have the wood stabilised and bow ties installed I'm thinking of making up a router sled to flatten the cookie.
This afternoon I used chainsaw to remove the bulk of the extra material on the Ash cookie, some of the spalted areas are tearing out a lot so gonna have to stabilise them before removing more material, I think k I've worked out placements for bowties and have cut some scrap oak to make them from. Once I have the wood stabilised and bow ties installed I'm thinking of making up a router sled to flatten the cookie.
Looking good stig
