Was cutting today and finished the notch and straightened up with saw in my left hand. A sapling that was bent over popped up and hit the bar and sent the still moving chain right into the chaps just above my knee. Made about a 4" clean cut in the chaps and the kevlar fuzzed up and stopped the chain. Would have been a bad one as I had just finished sharpening the chain prior to the cut. Found another smaller cut at about ankle height that I wasn't aware of. Best 70 bucks I've spent in awhile. Don't have any pics as camera isn't handy at the moment but let me just say that chaps are a good thing.
Money well spent
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LLigetfa
Minister of Fire
I got to get me some of those. I've taken to setting the brake whenever I don't have both hands on and in a cutting position.
I would be interested to see if these chaps can stop a full speed chain, such as lay a damaged pair down on a log and lower a saw at full speed on them.
I would be interested to see if these chaps can stop a full speed chain, such as lay a damaged pair down on a log and lower a saw at full speed on them.
TreePointer
Minister of Fire
brian89gp said:
Well, ain't this your lucky day!
Chaps on a log:
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=52N9YPfFkcw
Chaps on a ham:
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=pilcLXpdJK0
Boots...to boot:
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Pequmgt21Lw&feature=related
brian89gp said:
Personally done that demo. It's possible for a 50+cc saw to just poke thru 5-6 layer chaps but that's off of a direct, very hard bounce. I know my 034 ain't goin' thru the 9 plys I have on....
Beer Belly
Minister of Fire
I've been wanting to buy Chaps for a while now.....Wife sez "No.....just be careful"....I hope she remembers those words if she ever needs to drive me to the hospital...IN HER CAR >:-(
Gasifier
Minister of Fire
Beer Belly said:
Buy the chaps. I bought a pair of Stihl chaps for $69. Tell your wife sometimes accidents happen. No matter how careful you are. I am always careful when doing any kind of work with a saw of any kind. And equipment. I have a small tear in my chaps. I am glad the small tear is there instead of my leg. Buy the chaps B.B.! Then wear them all the time. Like KYRob said. Money well spent.
I havent had the pleasure of testing mine. I'm sure it'll happen someday.
Now, Beer Belly - 28 February 2012 12:20 AM
I’ve been wanting to buy Chaps for a while now…..Wife sez “No…..just be carefulâ€....I hope she remembers those words if she ever needs to drive me to the hospital…IN HER CAR
You sir, just need to go buy them and print off some pics of what chainsaw injuries look like. Then tell her these are just the ones who lived.
Now, Beer Belly - 28 February 2012 12:20 AM
I’ve been wanting to buy Chaps for a while now…..Wife sez “No…..just be carefulâ€....I hope she remembers those words if she ever needs to drive me to the hospital…IN HER CAR
You sir, just need to go buy them and print off some pics of what chainsaw injuries look like. Then tell her these are just the ones who lived.
firefighterjake
Minister of Fire
Beer Belly said:
Grew up my entire life not wearing chaps and I have not had any injuries by "being careful" . . . that said . . . I know too many people -- newbies and veterans alike -- who have been injured from chainsaws. Seems like $70 is a small price to pay for valuable protection . . . think of it as a cheap health insurance policy since I suspect most ER visits and insurance deductibles are going to be more costly . . . not to mention the pain, being out of work or just plain laid up for a bit.
Seems to be telling a person to just be careful is a lot like saying that you don't need to wear a seatbelt when riding in the car as long as you're careful . . . the problem is . . . the unexpected can happen.
And yeah . . . after many years of not having chaps . . . I will be buying a pair. I just figure I've beat the odds and done well all these years . . . no sense tempting fate . . . besides I find that I'm getting more and more clutsy the older I get.
I have a fire extinguisher in my home....I don't plan on having a house fire.
I keep a loaded firearm in my home....I don't plan on an agressive break-in while home.
I wear chainsaw cutting chaps while using power saws....I don't plan on cutting myself.
One of the best things said to me about getting a pair of chaps was..."It's a lot cheaper than a visit to the ER."
Stay safe.
Cheers.
I keep a loaded firearm in my home....I don't plan on an agressive break-in while home.
I wear chainsaw cutting chaps while using power saws....I don't plan on cutting myself.
One of the best things said to me about getting a pair of chaps was..."It's a lot cheaper than a visit to the ER."
Stay safe.
Cheers.
Beer Belly said:
I don't start the saw without the chaps on.
You might want to check and see if she has recently bought more life insurance for you.
firefighterjake
Minister of Fire
I've been thinking . . . there still might be a way to safely run the chainsaw without wearing chaps . . . removing the chain. 
jimbom
Combustion Analyzer
That is what I do. Once I got the teeth cut in the bar, it was all down hill. Man it takes a long time to cut a cord, even with the bar oil going full drip.firefighterjake said:I've been thinking . . . there still might be a way to safely run the chainsaw without wearing chaps . . . removing the chain.
The guys at the VFW assured me the oil was necessary to help the bar slide through the cut. I am not so sure.
The saw manual says to flip the bar every so often. What a pain. Had to cut teeth on both sides. Guess it is worth it, because the wife says she is proud of me.
She keeps taking pictures and sending them to tweetbook or something. Her sister posts them. Every time we go over there I can never find this book where they are posted.
fox9988
Minister of Fire
Just bought a pair of Husky chaps off Amazon ($54.99 shipped); they should be here tomorrow in time for me to use them this weekend. A quick Google of "Chainsaw Injuries" convinced me. Ive been cutting all my life and never wore chaps, but now I've got a wife and two kids who count on me for their well being. No sense in putting the family through unnecessary hardship just because I'm too stupid to wear PPE.
I have used chaps for 15 years and have given one as a gift top my brother, he had to replace his after few cuts, mine are still fine.
The one hassle I have is that the darn things ride down especially when I am limbing. One of these days I will get a pair of suspenders for them as its a real pian something to keep having to pull them up.
The one hassle I have is that the darn things ride down especially when I am limbing. One of these days I will get a pair of suspenders for them as its a real pian something to keep having to pull them up.
Got Wood
Minister of Fire
Buy them AND wear them. How stupid would you feel if you had an accident while the chaps were sitting in the garage. I have had a few times where I thought, I just have a few minutes of cutting to do, why bother.... and then the smart half of the brain kicks in and I put the chaps on.
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