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Can you sand a timber sleeper using an orbital sander?

kprasann1979

I'm building an outdoor seating bench using 50mm by 200mm sleeper timbers. I would like to have a nice and smooth finish, is it ok to sand them using an orbital sander? Google search tells me varied opinions citing it's poisonous and not to sand vs some people saying it's ok to sand with mask on. Either ways, appreciate any advice on achieving smooth finish, thank you.

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MitchellMc

Welcome to the Bunnings Workshop community @kprasann1979. It's wonderful to have you join us, and many thanks for your question about sanding sleepers.

Sleepers treated with CCA should only be cut to length wearing appropriate PPE gear and used in retaining walls. Any benches, play equipment or items you'll come in contact with regularly need to be constructed from non-CCA treated timber.

If you're planning on sanding sleepers smooth, I'd advise not using any that are treated with CCA. H4 Sienna MicroPro Sleepers would be an option, provided you wear a dust mask, as they don't have an arsenic-based treatment. A non-treated hardwood would also be safe to use for your project. If you want a smooth finish and are painting the seating, you could consider using H3-treated LOSP pre-primed timber. Have a read through this article on How to choose the right timber for the job, as I trust you'll find it helpful.

Please let me know if you have any questions.

Mitchell

kprasann1979

https://www.workshop.bunnings.com.au/discussion/comment/23518#Comment_23518

Thank you Mitchell, the product I bought from Bunnings is "

200 x 50mm 3m Treated Pine Sleeper H4"

The details page of the product says it can be used for DIY furniture and treatment says it's CCA, now your reply worries me 🙁 so Bunnings is wrong in that advice and CCA must be avoided ? Thank you.

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MitchellMc

https://www.workshop.bunnings.com.au/discussion/comment/74411#Comment_74411

Hi @kprasann1979,

I'll need to follow this up, and confirm the suitability of this product for garden furniture.

Many thanks for your patience.

Mitchell

MitchellMc

https://www.workshop.bunnings.com.au/discussion/comment/74411#Comment_74411

Hi @kprasann1979,

I've confirmed that CCA-treated timber can not be used to construct furniture. I've passed your feedback on to our team so they can adjust the product details on the website.

I apologise for the inconvenience. Please let me know if I can assist in returning the sleepers and selecting a more suitable product.

Mitchell

Jewelleryrescue

Too answer your question an orbital sand will work but will take you a longer time. Depending on the roughness of the timber I would use an electric planner, and or a belt sander finishing with an orbital sander. You can buy 5 meter rolls of sandpaper at bunnings for orbitals of different grades and you just cut them to length I just bought some spare. If sand paperover hangs side of orbital it is ok. In fact i fold the loose egde up 90 degrees and it is useful to sand into corners. I am about to do similar project on mine I will use foam cushion covered with water proof material basically upholster it I am olde so my older bones like it. lol Do they still use the arsenic-based treatment? Best to use safer wood too avoid problems right from the start, If you bought the wood from Bunnings you can get a refund on unused materials. Side noteThis is a huge advantage shopping a bunnings you can over buy your required materials for a project with out going crazy and any unused materials can be returned saving money too the next project. Slightly over buying is great a there is nothing worse than running out of materials to finish the job. eg I am tiling at the moment well what if i ran out of glue 3/4 through job its a pain having go get more. I would paint over CCA if in doubt as we have kids and pets around too. I would stain paint block the timber as undercoat. Any timber you use will need some sort of out door protection. Paint or clear finish I wouldnt use any high quality varnish out doors as it has in the past failed(peel) eventually and you will have to scrap and re sand it back to redo varnish a hellishing task (I have seen this at high end properties). I swear by bunnings sikkens cetol timber fininsh its a stain or cetol 7 is clear and UV stable it goes in as an timber oil soaks in but looks like and acts a varnish but in 10 years time no peeling simply re apply sikkens with brush etc and the timber is protected again soaking in like and oil finishes. Yes more expensive but worth it long term possibly easier maintinance.

kprasann1979

https://www.workshop.bunnings.com.au/discussion/comment/23563#Comment_23563

Thank you for the tips

kprasann1979

https://www.workshop.bunnings.com.au/discussion/comment/100786#Comment_100786

Thank you Mitchell, have put the sleepers aside for now, too bad I realised after cutting them all at various angles , so doubt if I can return to Bunnings. Will check in-store for any alternate options as the bench I was about to make based on a YouTube channel called Rouge Engineer is really good and drives me to DIY esp when I have all the tools with me. Appreciate your inputs and clarification.

kprasann1979

https://www.workshop.bunnings.com.au/discussion/comment/23518#Comment_23518

Am going ahead with H4 Sienna MicroPro Sleepers as you mentioned, thank you much

MitchellMc

https://www.workshop.bunnings.com.au/discussion/comment/117305#Comment_117305

Hi @kprasann1979,

We'll be refunding those sleepers for you, and it's not an issue that you've cut them. Let me reach out via private message to get some details from you and next time you're in-store, I'll get the team to return them for you. No need to bring the cut pieces back, either.

Mitchell

reececlack

https://www.workshop.bunnings.com.au/discussion/comment/126825#Comment_126825

Hi @MitchellMc

I've just seen this post and I am now really worried. I went into a Bunnings store over the weekend and I asked for a timber I can use to make into a desk or table and I was advised of the 200 x 50 Pine Sleeper to use as the table top. Now I'm reading that H4 timber is poisonous and I've now cut it up and sanded down the timber!! I also have a newly pregnant wife at home. I'm actually quite annoyed that I was given this advice and spent all this money and now because I've cut it up and sanded it I now can't return it. I'm also now worried about my health due to possible ingestion of the poisonous saw dust.

what would you suggest I do?

Jason

https://www.workshop.bunnings.com.au/discussion/comment/133432#Comment_133432

@reececlack,

Many thanks for your message.

Please note that in @MitchellMc's first reply in this discussion, he cautions not to sand any timber treated with CCA but recommends H4 Sienna MicroPro Sleepers as they don't have an arsenic-based treatment.

I will send you a private message to get details of the product you purchased and your store so the team can assist you.

Jason

Glenn83

https://www.workshop.bunnings.com.au/discussion/comment/23518#Comment_23518

Gday Mitchell, I have a question about the sienna micropro, I’m using them to build my sons sandpit, now would I sand them back to be able to paint them, or just paint as is ?
they are quiet rough in places so just curious.
located Perth west aus

cheers

EricL

https://www.workshop.bunnings.com.au/discussion/comment/84568#Comment_84568

Hello @Glenn83

If the surface has loose splinters and could cause possible injury it would be best to slightly sand that area to smooth it out. However, please make sure you are wearing personal protection such as throw away overalls and gloves a heavy-duty mask and goggles. It's important that you sand the timber in an isolated area of your property where the sanding dust will not flow into your house or the area where your child will be playing in.

If you need further assistance, please let us know.

Eric

MariaO

https://www.workshop.bunnings.com.au/discussion/comment/137239#Comment_137239

Hi,

I just purchased and had cut in store 2 of these timber sleepers with the intention of making them into a table before reading this post of the dangers of sanding them down at home. I have 3 children at home so really cannot use these, the website still says they can be used for DIY projects despite the message from Mitchell back in 2022.

If I cannot refund this is there a way to dispose of them responsibly?

EricL

https://www.workshop.bunnings.com.au/discussion/comment/140873#Comment_140873

Hello @MariaO

Welcome to the Bunnings Workshop community. It's wonderful to have you join us.

Please allow me to contact you through private messaging so that I can assist you further.

Eric

MitchellMc

https://www.workshop.bunnings.com.au/discussion/comment/140873#Comment_140873

Hi @MariaO,

I've spoken to the team at Bunnings Leppington, and they are more than happy to return those sleepers for you. Please speak with Bridgette, a manager, or Jesus, a team member from the timber section. To ensure a streamlined process, please give the store a quick call before you head in to ensure they are working. I do apologise for this inconvenience.

I just wanted to let you know that I’ve flagged this with our team. We're currently working on resolving the issue related to this product being incorrectly labelled as for furniture. Please note that this is a separate matter from the issue reported earlier.

Thank you for bringing this to our attention.

Mitchell

MariaO

https://www.workshop.bunnings.com.au/discussion/comment/142451#Comment_142451

Thank you Eric and Mitchell for your help with this. Really appreciate it. 🙂

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