Patent ID: 7632557

Claim:
A method for restoring at least one means defining a railroad spike hole located in a used railroad tie, so that the restored railroad tie can be reused in subsequent rail replacement operations, said restored railroad tie being capable of having a railroad spike penetrate and be retained within the confines of the restore railroad spike hole means without substantial bending problems, which comprises: providing said used railroad tie having at least one means defining a railroad spike hole located therein; and forming in each said means defining a railroad spike hole, a polymeric plug formed of a polymeric material including a plurality of flexible, readily deformable micro-inclusions which allow for spike insertion pathways for the railroad spike as it is driven into a material thereby facilitating introduction of said railroad spike into said polymeric plug, said micro-inclusions comprising polymeric micro-balloons, said polymeric plug infiltrating and tightly bonding with the railroad spike hole means to prevent moisture infiltration thereby impeding substantial tie rot due to moisture, and to dam the leaky railroad spike hole means to enable filling thereof.