oak mantle piece

[BTS]

i want a nice looking oak mantle piece was thinking about using railway sleeper and varnishing etc has anyone done this and any advice on how to get best finish would be very helpful cheers

[farmer rod]

i want a nice looking oak mantle piece was thinking about using railway sleeper and varnishing etc has anyone done this and any advice on how to get best finish would be very helpful cheers

 

you may find it is soaked in nasties from the railway and kicks up a bit when you light the fire. I used a top rail off an oak gate to make a hearth surround, when we put the planer on it it stank of creosote, even thou to look at it was just a beautiful oak colour.

[BTS]

i was thinking getting new untreated and trying to plane down etc

[Chippy]

I used a old sleeper, left it outside for a month and jetwashed it about a dozen times then used a belt sander to remove all the tears and bolt marks.

I did have a few concerns about diesel smells and weeping but its been in all winter and the fire has not been out, no smells or drips at all.

Looks good too go for it

[Pumpy]

I've done this with a new untreated sleeper, I used a 1" gouge all over the visible sides to "rustic" it up a bit, looks proper old school (took a while mind), quick bit of sanding to take the sharp bits off/smooth it out a bit, then applied an oak colored wax, looks even better 4yrs on.

 

If you need to return the sides to make it wider at the ends for a false chimney breast cut a slot with a decent circular saw for a hardwood stringer underneath and glue it up well, sleepers still hold a bit of moisture and may spread/crack at the join otherwise

 

Edited March 6, 2013 by Pumpy

[Alycidon]

Avoid any crerosoted timbers, the treatment goee pretty well all the way though. Some of the milling boys here will have a suitable untreated product. Failing that pm me, I sell oak beams.

 

A

[muttley9050]

Get some nice English oak. Where in country are you and what length do u need?

 

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[DM TREES]

I used a piece of 4 x 4 standard pine from local wood yard

Took a 36 grit soft grinder to it the shaped it out with 40 80 120 ..... grade

Then using a scotchbrite sanding pad I rubbed soot into scalloped out bit for patina

[Copford sawmill sussex]

We have hundreds of old oak beams seasoned and ideal for a fireplace, and all English. Some are straight edge and some are full of charector

 

 

Copfordsawmill.co.uk

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