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+-- Thread: Filling railroad tie holes (/showthread.php?tid=7358339)
Filling railroad tie holes - Dusty Workshop - 10-16-2020
I just installed a raised fire pit bed surrounded by railroad ties. One of the ties has several holes where the spikes used to be. The other day after a rain I noticed that they had filled up with water. I am thinking that to preserve the tie better it might be a good idea to fill these holes. My thought was to cut some pieces of pressure-treated and put them down into the hole up to about half inch from the top and then fill with Roofing flashing adhesive.
Any other ideas?
Thanks
RE: Filling railroad tie holes - Mr_Mike - 10-16-2020
(10-16-2020, 06:00 AM)Dusty Workshop Wrote: I just installed a raised fire pit bed surrounded by railroad ties. One of the ties has several holes where the spikes used to be. The other day after a rain I noticed that they had filled up with water. I am thinking that to preserve the tie better it might be a good idea to fill these holes. My thought was to cut some pieces of pressure-treated and put them down into the hole up to about half inch from the top and then fill with Roofing flashing adhesive.
Any other ideas?
Thanks
Drill the holes all the way through so they drain.
RE: Filling railroad tie holes - srv52761 - 10-16-2020
Stuff it with caulk backer rod, then sealant topping of your choice.
Assuming since they’ve been used that they were preserved with creosote or CCA.
RE: Filling railroad tie holes - EightFingers - 10-17-2020
Turn them upside down?
RE: Filling railroad tie holes - daddo - 10-18-2020
Metal cap?
If those catch fire, you'll never put them out.
We at the VFD have sprayed them with foam and they still smolder for days.
RE: Filling railroad tie holes - Stwood_ - 10-18-2020
Those ties will still be there after you croke...holes or not.
RE: Filling railroad tie holes - fredhargis - 10-19-2020
They would be home to mosquitoes if you don't do soemthing, is drilling them all the way through an option...that seems easiest.
RE: Filling railroad tie holes - Dusty Workshop - 10-19-2020
I like the backer rod idea. I think I will drop some gravel in first so I don't need as much backer rod. This tie is the top of a stack of 2 so I don't know if drilling through would work well.
The whole area is about 150 sq feet so the fire is not close to the ties. Shouldn't pose a fire Hazzard.
Thanks for the suggestions!
RE: Filling railroad tie holes - brianwelch - 10-19-2020
(10-19-2020, 06:24 AM)Dusty Workshop Wrote: I like the backer rod idea. I think I will drop some gravel in first so I don't need as much backer rod. This tie is the top of a stack of 2 so I don't know if drilling through would work well.
The whole area is about 150 sq feet so the fire is not close to the ties. Shouldn't pose a fire Hazzard.
Thanks for the suggestions!
Backer rod need not fill the entire void...Just enough to provide a "bottom" for the caulk...a piece slightly longer than the diameter, compressed so that it fits snugly in the hole, should be plenty.
BTW, you could accomplish the same thing by partially filling with sand/dirt, or stuffing paper or part of a plastic shopping bag in the hole...
Depth of caulk is up to you, not sure how well it will bond to the treated wood...
RE: Filling railroad tie holes - BrokenOlMarine - 10-23-2020
Put railroad spikes in the holes, they should fit, and would look too cool.
