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  AndyCharles-EnborneGardeningCo October 21, 2010 at 7:37pm

  I have a friend who bought a second-hand BT chainsaw - massive electric thing - that was used specifically to cut telegraph poles. So a chainsaw would seem to be an answer as the poles are very similar to sleepers. I'll ask him the make & model when I see him
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  Mick Gammage October 21, 2010 at 8:14pm

  I use a dewalt 718 Mitre Saw what has a 305mm dia blade, it ha a cutting capacity of 327mm x 90 mm at 90 degree's
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  Mick Gammage October 21, 2010 at 8:19pm

  i know especially when its mounted on the FREE stand i got with it
  
  http://www.dewalt.com/tools/machinery-miter-saw-workstations-dw723....
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  Lisa Valentine October 21, 2010 at 9:46pm

  I'm really sorry but I don't know anything about makita circular saws. I've been looking at them but in all honesty I've no idea what I'm looking at - this is a huge learning curve!!!! Is there a particular model number or a particular size blade we'll need. Watching Reggie Perrin as doing this and know how he feels!!
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  Eco-Maze October 21, 2010 at 10:03pm

  lisa
  
  A brave choice tackling a scope of works that you've never undertaken before, perhaps a few quotes from local landscapers could be a thought and way forward.
  
  Good luck
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  Kieran Ray October 21, 2010 at 10:13pm

  I used to use my circular saw for cutting sleepers, I now use my chainsaw as its a damn site quicker! Maybe not as safe though, we all know the inherent dangers of using them.
  
  When I used my circular saw thought we used to hark up to length with a set square so we could follow the line around and not get the step in them.
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  Kieran Ray October 21, 2010 at 10:35pm

  Yer it can get a little warm in the summer! What I tend to do is work out all of the cuts and get them done in 1 go.
  
  Pro Gard said:

  If its softwood then I use a chop saw, I hire a DW 718 for £30 a day from the local hire shop and have my own blade for it, cheper than buying outright for the ocasional use it would get.
  
  Chainsaw is fine but a drag having to wear saw protection and not sutch a good cut imo.
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  Boxelder Landscapes October 22, 2010 at 6:33am

  a sliding compound mitre saw is the only way to go. A chainsaw would not give you the accurate cut you need.
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  Mick Gammage October 22, 2010 at 7:43am

  tools you could use to cut sleepers in no particular order
  
  1.. sanvik 244 hand saw
  a brand new hand saw will give a decent cut but you still need a bit of skill to keep it in a straight position when moving forwards and backwards and to follow the lines you have marked on the sleeper
  
  2..bow saw
  fine for cutting a tree down but you will end up with a cut on the end of the sleeper like a dogs hind leg
  
  3.. chain saw
  will still give you an average cut and you have to know how to use one as they can snatch into the wood and kick back
  
  4..cross cut saw
  will give the best finish out of all the above tools but you will have to turn the sleeper over as all the cross cut saws will not cut all the way through a 8 x 4 or a 10 x 5 sleeper
  
  5..reciprocating saw
  similar to a bow saw finish but mechanised
  
  whatever tool you decide to use always aways aways be very careful when using power tools and keep you hands clear
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  Jeff Bradley November 2, 2010 at 6:45pm

  I have finally found the advert I was looking for!
  Check out this link: http://www.professionaltool.co.uk/protool-univers-ssp-200
  Basically it's a chainsaw in a circular saw stylee and can apparently go to 60 degrees
  If I remember correctly from a timber frame course I took a while back there are attachments, mainly in the U.S., that you bolt onto your chainsaw. It's like the baseplate of a circular saw and acts in much the same way.