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Finish recommendations for old railway sleepers?

Hi all.
We’ve been working on a letterbox project using old railway sleepers and was wondering if anyone has any recommendations on what to use to finish & more importantly protect the sleepers both in & out of the ground.
We’ve used Betta Bitumen Membrane on the surfaces in the ground and taken the membrane up approximately 70mm up from the ground on the vertical faces. The rest of the sleepers have been given 2 good coats of Linseed Oil.
We intend to make a couple more sleeper projects in the future and are wondering if there’s better alternatives to what we’ve used this time around.

Thanks in advance

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MitchellMc

Hi @WaynoandChez,

I can’t see anything wrong with your current approach at all. It’s fantastic that you’ve sealed the base of the sleepers to prevent water and moisture ingress below the soil, and Betta Bitumen Membrane is exactly what you want to use for that purpose. That part I wouldn’t change at all.

Using linseed oil above ground is also perfectly fine. It gives a lovely natural, nourished look to the timber and helps preserve its character. Like any oil finish, it will need to be reapplied periodically, but that’s normal for maintaining the timber’s protection and appearance.

If you ever wanted a longer-lasting topcoat, you could look at switching to an exterior timber oil designed for outdoor use. These products tend to last a little longer than pure linseed oil and often contain added UV protection.

Otherwise, your method is very solid, and I’d be sticking with it unless you’re after a different aesthetic. If you do want to adjust the look, you could consider a stain and oil in one to change the colour while still keeping that rich, natural finish.

Please let me know if you have any questions.

Mitchell

WaynoandChez

https://www.workshop.bunnings.com.au/discussion/comment/59286#Comment_59286

Great options, thanks Mitchell.
Yes I have resigned myself to the fact I’ll be oiling the sleepers annually at a minimum

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