Pressure Treated Lumber for ties

[grandpopswalt]

Has anyone else tried using PTL ties for handlaid track?

I haven't seen any mention of PTL ties on any of the forums since I joined. I've made several 6' sections using code 250 brass rail and PTL ties cut on a tablesaw. I encountered no problems in the process. PTL seems like the logical choice for this application.

Hope to hear some comments, pro or con.

Walt

[Anonymous]

Grandpopwalt, pressure treated lumber is the double edge sword, Its made from southern yellow pine which has a tendency to warp, bow twist etc. It's wonderful for structural framing on a deck or for the required sill plate between the concrete foundation and floor joist on a house. This is why a lot of the finish millwork, screen doors and moldings are made from Spruce, Fir,Pine or SPF it has a tighter grain than the PTL. SPf however unless it is treated wityh a wood preservative it wood rot within a year or so. I would use Redwood or Trex(composite) you can find a link in Olddads FYI post. Hope I've been helpful[?]

[grandpopswalt]

Thanks Matt,

The ties I've made so far were ripped from 2X4's that had been exposed to weather for several years. So far the ties have not warpped. Do you think using well seasoned PTL boards might get around the normal PTL warpping problem?

Walt

[Anonymous]

Walt, yes, If the wood is seasoned any warping that was going to occur has. I would however retreat with a semi transparent stain. People often wonder why their decks with Ptl start to split and twist and look old, the preservitive wears off form the the outside inward.If your ties start to look really weathered Gray and not green it might be a good time to retreat. Semi transparents stain wears instead of building up. Maybe before the seasonal reballasting of ther track take a pump up garden sprayer filled with stain and spray the ties, then wipe off the rails with rags and then reballast. Hope this helps. Another note PTL manufactured after the first of this year does not contain the arsenic the older stuff did, you can tell the difference by slight blue streaks mixed in with the green color. Some off the older stuff may be found until it is all sold. It's more health and EPA freindly.

[grandpopswalt]

Thanks Matt,

I appreciate your input. I'll also take your advice and use redwood for the ties in the future.

Walt