are sleepers treated?

[Edzers]

Hi
We have a flower bed (approx 9 foot) made of sleepers. I would like to paint them. How do I know if they have been treated? If they have been can I paint them using something like cuprinol? I'd like them a colour as opposed to a stain.


Thanks

Edzers

 

[Leo]

The likes of cuprinol will work well on those. It may not cover what looks like paint marks on the upper right one, so sand those off in advance.

 

[Edzers]

The likes of cuprinol will work well on those. It may not cover what looks like paint marks on the upper right one, so sand those off in advance.

Thanks!

 

[Leper]

The wood segments as per the picture are not railway sleepers*. Most likely they were cross-beams supporting cement blocks or other timber. It appears to me that the wood is not treated or if it has been treated the treated product has worn off. I would see no harm in brushing on cuprinol or some other similar substance, but (a) I would wash the "sleepers" beforehand with sudsy water and (b) brush on some white spirit to kill any algae etc.

*All wooden railway sleepers would have been treated with creosote which even years on would give off a creosote smell and they would keep the brown creosote colour. (Apologies for the repetition).

 

[RedOnion]

The wood segments as per the picture are not railway sleepers*.

Correct, they were never used as railway sleepers.
Under current legislation, actual used railway sleepers are generally treated as a hazardous waste because of the chemicals they are treated with. This has been in place for the last 15 years or so.
What's shown in the photos is what's sold as 'sleepers' for domestic purposes. Generally new treated wood, the same dimensions as sleepers.

 

[Drakon]

Genuine used railway sleepers usually have traces of toilet paper and other passenger detritus attached to them. Possibly more toxic then anything used to treat them.
Personnel, any time I see wooden railways sleepers I think of journeys on packed CIE trains. No seats left so standing between the carriages. The train would stop here and there in the middle of no where. And blobs of toilet paper strewn everywhere between the rails. But especially noticeable on the blank sleepers.
Still sends shivers through me.

 

[Leo]

Genuine used railway sleepers usually have traces of toilet paper and other passenger detritus attached to them. Possibly more toxic then anything used to treat them.

The creosote on older sleepers is a carcinogen and far more toxic than anything dumped on the tracks.

 

[RedOnion]

The creosote

Yep, along with the heavy metals, and a thing called arsenic... Strangely the EU legislators didn't focus on the long washed off piece of toilet paper.

 

[Drakon]

Arsenic? I’m well familiar it. I worked in a place before where one of the instruments contained arsine.

 

[RedOnion]

Yep, Chromated Copper Arsenate.

The OPs question has been answered at this stage.

I'd suggest you research directive 2003/2/EC if you've any more questions about why used railway sleepers are treated as hazardous waste.

 

[Drakon]

...can I paint them using something like cuprinol? I'd like them a colour as opposed to a stain.
View attachment 4706

Ronseal Garden Paint is also worth a consideration. It comes in a wide range of colours. (My neighbour used cornflower, it looks surprisingly good on his shed).

https://www.amazon.co.uk/dp/B00T457DXO/ref=cm_sw_r_cp_api_i_8Jz8EbZK5VK3H
(I’ve no affiliation with Ronseal or Amazon).

Those salvage yards that sell reclaimed materials like Victorian red bricks, Bangor slates, etc, often have genuine railway sleepers. (Or they used to anyway). They look worn, especially on the edges and the have holes and imprints from the pins and clasps.

I'd suggest you research directive 2003/2/EC if you've any more questions about why used railway sleepers are treated as hazardous waste.

Will do (next lockdown).

 

[RedOnion]

Those salvage yards that sell reclaimed materials like Victorian red bricks, Bangor slates, etc, often have genuine railway sleepers. (Or they used to anyway). They look worn, especially on the edges and the have holes and imprints from the pins and clasps.

Yes. And if you read the above mentioned legislation or guidance, you'll know for what purpose they can sell them.

It's the same situation with creosote. Your local Garden centre can't sell it, but your agricultural co-op can.

 

[Drakon]

...for what purpose they can sell them.

Apparently a lot of hipsters use them in their gardens because they’re “authentic”.

 

[Brendan Burgess]

I worked in a place before where one of the instruments contained arsine.

You appear to have absorbed a lot of it.

Brendan