Old Railway Sleeper
 

Pat Brown wrote:
I have some Railway Sleeper in the garden as a border. These were
put a couple of years ago and have now started to fade.

That reads like it's a problem.

I have been
told that I can't paint them as the oil in the wood would react
badly.

oh I see. I thought one of their most endearing features was that they
quickly fade to give a lived-in look and feel.

An oil based paint perhaps, but you should check the impact on a spare
sleeper. I imagine that anything you paint on a sleeper will fade and/or
chip quite soon. The result being worse.

I would like to return them to a darker natural wood shade
without risking any harm to the garden/wildlife. Can anyone suggest
the best way to go.

Replace them with 'new' ones I suppose.

Thought: Once again, I caution you should test on a spare, but a decent
application of linseed oil may bring out the effect you're after and,
obviously, will not chip, but it will fade.
--
William Tasso

Old Railway Sleeper
 

creosote is fine
david

"Pat Brown" wrote in message
...
I have some Railway Sleeper in the garden as a border. These were put a
couple of years ago and have now started to fade. I have been told that I
can't paint them as the oil in the wood would react badly. I would like
to
return them to a darker natural wood shade without risking any harm to the
garden/wildlife. Can anyone suggest the best way to go.

Many Thanks
Pat

Old Railway Sleeper
 

Yep, a fine carcinogenic compound.

JohnB


"conkbrite" wrote in message
...
creosote is fine
david

"Pat Brown" wrote in message
...
I have some Railway Sleeper in the garden as a border. These were put a
couple of years ago and have now started to fade. I have been told that
I
can't paint them as the oil in the wood would react badly. I would like
to
return them to a darker natural wood shade without risking any harm to
the
garden/wildlife. Can anyone suggest the best way to go.

Many Thanks
Pat

Old Railway Sleeper
 

In article ,
says...
"conkbrite" wrote in message
...
"Pat Brown" wrote in message
...
I have some Railway Sleeper in the garden as a border. These were put a
couple of years ago and have now started to fade. I have been told that
I
can't paint them as the oil in the wood would react badly. I would like
to
return them to a darker natural wood shade without risking any harm to
the
garden/wildlife. Can anyone suggest the best way to go.

Many Thanks

creosote is fine
david

Yep, a fine carcinogenic compound.

/me checks that "quotefix" really did 49 fixes on that bunch of posts

Again we come to the same 'risk assesment' lark we have with cat poo.

The risks associated with creosote are minimal for carcinogens. I'd
personally object to it as a cause of a stench. Any dark woodstain and
preserver would do the job should restore the effect you wish for.

Subject to screams from here.. I'd advise a dark oak water based stain
to resore depth of colour.

Warwick