Yes. Surface preparation is always recommended to ensure maximum adhesion between the eWood and paint. Roughing the eWood® surface up with sandpaper is an important first step.
There are a number of specialised paints for plastic that work extremely well with eWood. Acrylic and urethane-based paints (i.e. plastic/oil-based paints) designed for outdoor use or a vinyl paint recommended for cars are the best paints to use.
Yes. A good quality, sharp hand saw will cut eWood. Pro tip: use a lubricating hand saw wax for ease of cutting.
No. The composition of eWood® is much too hard to nail, either by hand or using a nail gun. Using a nail gun can create a potential lethal flying hazard as the nail can bounce off the eWood.
We recommend using bolts and nuts or screws. Pilot holes should always be drilled first and sized accordingly to the screws or bolts being used – ensuring that the flights of the thread are biting into the eWood.
Yes. Various glues are suitable for use on eWood, including styrene and polychloroprene based adhesives. As with paint, surface preparation will always improve the glue effectiveness.
eWood® will start to soften at 75C-100C and start to melt 130C-150C.
The best way to cut eWood® is to use a circular saw with a lubricated and/or cooled blade. When using a standard circular saw, ensure that the blade does not heat past 75C as this will potentially melt the eWood.
Always allow the blade to cool down between cuts, if multiple cuts are required and use a sharp blade for easy cutting.
The same principles apply to using a drill. Ensure the drill bit you are using is sharp and do not push too hard on the drill. Allow the drill bit to cool down before drilling again. We recommend using a water or oil cooled blade, if possible.
We always recommended cutting/drilling in a well-ventilated area, as fumes can be generated when the eWood is heated.
The lifespan of eWood is 50 years or more. As with all products exposed to the elements, eWood may lose some of the ‘sheen’ over time and start to lighten. This does not affect the structural integrity of the eWood.
If no allowance is left for thermal expansion or if the eWood is positioned in direct sun while being put under constant flexural load, the eWood sleepers may end up bowing or bending.
Most of the recycled plastic used as eWood feedstock is black. eWood is made from recycled plastics that are generally black or grey in colour.
Note: eWood can be painted using specialised paint intended for plastic products.