I make my ties using oak from skids. The good wood I use for new ties, and the really bad split and splintered wood I use for scrap/old ties. I use lamp black powdered dye, used to color mortar, to stain the ties, the a mist coat of water base urethane to seal. For scrap ties, I use dark walnut stain and no sealer to retain a dull worn finish. The first two photos are of new ties, and the last two are used ties. Obviously, these would not be appropriate for hand laid track, due to the density of the oak.
Don
