Testing chainsaw chaps

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48rob

48rob

Feeling the Heat
Oct 11, 2010
308
Illinois
Over the 30 some years I've been cutting, twice I've nicked my jeans with the saw.
I've never drawn blood, just put a hole or small tear in the jeans.

Last year I decided I probably should quit gambling, and bought a set of chaps.
Since I started wearing them, I think I've become more cautious, having the reminder strapped on.

I've always run a 16" chain, as it is ideal for the small to medium sized trees I deal with.
The "accidents" have been from laying the chain across my leg, just above the knee.
Seems the contact is made after having the saw up high, making a cut, then bringing it back down to idle position.
Fortunately, each time the saw was at idle, or running fairly low rpm's as the throttle was released at the end of the cut.

As one might guess, and I have concluded, after doing this the third time...I'm cutting too long at one time and becoming fatigued, letting my guard down/not being cautious enough.
Now I'm not a 20 year old gung ho kid, I really do attempt to be as safe as possible, and I do have a good deal of experience, but I'm going to have to be even more careful...

The latest nick was the same as the others, bringing the saw back down to idle or rest position, after cutting small brush from a 6' fence.
Got a little deeper than a nick...

ry=400.jpg


ry=400.jpg


Okay now, the moment you've been waiting for...the picture of the "damage"...



.

ry=400.jpg


I'm very pleased to report that the saw stopped instantly.
I felt it touch my leg and poof! It stopped just as if I threw the brake.
While embarrassing to tell, The best news is that my jeans still look like new, not a scratch or mark!

I think I'll have the good leg left from this set of chaps cut in half and sewn on to the new pair as extra insurance...

Rob
 
That's good to hear and am glad you did not get cut, been cutting wood for over 30 years with out chaps and now have some, this site has cost me some money but gave me piece of mind.
 
Thanks for posting. I will show this thread to my wife who bought my chaps for me.
 
Better a mass of synthetic fibers than a mass of your flesh :ahhh: . Sure am glad you weren't injured. These sorts of reminders are useful, I think. Thanks. Rick
 
Glad you weren't hurt. Setting the brake immediately after each cut is a good habit to get into.
 
Figure that has to be one of the cheapest investments in clothing or safety gear you've ever made.

Thanks for sharing your experience. I think I'll stop by the shop next weekend and buy myself a pair...
 
Setting the brake immediately after each cut is a good habit to get into.
Click to expand...

Actually wearing the chaps, and setting the brake each time I change locations is something I learned/decided I should do after reading stories here.

I do set the brake each time I move from one place to another, such as when I'm cutting stumps, and I carry the saw with the blade toward the back.
However, sometimes you just need to take a break more often, as all the safety minded thoughts and education don't help when you're tired and not paying the amount of attention you should be.
At least that's where I failed.

Thank you for the tip, always good to hear them now and again.

Rob
 
Thanks for posting, Rob!
Sooooo, how hard was it to clean that out of the saw? (or have you even tried?)
 
I bought a pair for my 76 yr old neighbor a few yrs back and he has almost worn them out and not from wearing. He never had an incident before and since he has them I can't tell you ow many times he has done what you did.
 
wkpoor said:
I bought a pair for my 76 yr old neighbor a few yrs back and he has almost worn them out and not from wearing. He never had an incident before and since he has them I can't tell you ow many times he has done what you did.
Click to expand...

Almost wore them out? They got worn out the instant the first tooth hit them.
 
Thanks for posting, Rob!
Sooooo, how hard was it to clean that out of the saw? (or have you even tried?)
Click to expand...


Dan, I thought it was going to be a real pain and take forever, but they came right out/off.
Took about 5 seconds...

Rob
 
48rob said:
Thanks for posting, Rob!
Sooooo, how hard was it to clean that out of the saw? (or have you even tried?)
Click to expand...


Dan, I thought it was going to be a real pain and take forever, but they came right out/off.
Took about 5 seconds...

Rob
Click to expand...
Good to know. (not that I plan on doing it myself anytime soon.)
 
Rob, I think the chaps are done. Not that they have lost all there protection but it pulls fibers out up and down the whole leg. Thanks for posting the story for all to learn from. You can't say it enough, know where bar is at all times.
 
I bought a pair for myself for Christmas. I finished cutting up some small branches last week. I didn't get the chaps out but was extra careful to not cut myself with a pair of new chaps under the Christmas tree. When I tried them on to see how they fit, our seven year old daughter pointed out that the crotch is not covered. I told her that I would have some serious problems if I cut myself in the crotch. Let's hope that that never happens to any one!
 
I'm on my way to the store, so I don't have an image to post. If you do a google search you'll see several different charts that show an outline of a body with dots or marks or something where most chainsaw injuries occur. Where Rob got it is pretty common, so is the left hand (another forum member just did that one, too) right leg gets fewer injuries, right hand usually is safe and so is torso. Can't remember how many dots were in the crotch area! Hopefully not many!
 
You're not the first to be lucky enough to nick the jeans and then buy chaps. If you've seen pictures of cuts worse than a nick, you would never be without chaps in like new condition.
 
48rob said:
Over the 30 some years I've been cutting, twice I've nicked my jeans with the saw.
I've never drawn blood, just put a hole or small tear in the jeans.

Last year I decided I probably should quit gambling, and bought a set of chaps.
Since I started wearing them, I think I've become more cautious, having the reminder strapped on.

I've always run a 16" chain, as it is ideal for the small to medium sized trees I deal with.
The "accidents" have been from laying the chain across my leg, just above the knee.
Seems the contact is made after having the saw up high, making a cut, then bringing it back down to idle position.
Fortunately, each time the saw was at idle, or running fairly low rpm's as the throttle was released at the end of the cut.

As one might guess, and I have concluded, after doing this the third time...I'm cutting too long at one time and becoming fatigued, letting my guard down/not being cautious enough.
Now I'm not a 20 year old gung ho kid, I really do attempt to be as safe as possible, and I do have a good deal of experience, but I'm going to have to be even more careful...

The latest nick was the same as the others, bringing the saw back down to idle or rest position, after cutting small brush from a 6' fence.
Got a little deeper than a nick...

ry=400


ry=400


Okay now, the moment you've been waiting for...the picture of the "damage"...



.

ry=400


I'm very pleased to report that the saw stopped instantly.
I felt it touch my leg and poof! It stopped just as if I threw the brake.
While embarrassing to tell, The best news is that my jeans still look like new, not a scratch or mark!

I think I'll have the good leg left from this set of chaps cut in half and sewn on to the new pair as extra insurance...

Rob
Click to expand...



Every cut I have seen is all a few inch from that spot. Mainly happens with a saw that likes to spin after letting off the throttle.
 
jebatty said:
You're not the first to be lucky enough to nick the jeans and then buy chaps. If you've seen pictures of cuts worse than a nick, you would never be without chaps in like new condition.
Click to expand...


I think those are his chaps.. just in blue like jeans... if that is what your talking about?
 
48rob said:
Rob, I think the chaps are done. Not that they have lost all there protection but it pulls fibers out up and down the whole leg.
Click to expand...

Yes, I agree.
I've already bought a new pair!
Cheap insurance indeed.

Rob
Click to expand...
maybe next time nick the other leg and then you can sew the two good legs together! (or better yet, don't nick them at all!)
 
jebatty - 12 December 2011 04:46 AM
You’re not the first to be lucky enough to nick the jeans and then buy chaps. If you’ve seen pictures of cuts worse than a nick, you would never be without chaps in like new condition.
Click to expand...

I think those are his chaps.. just in blue like jeans… if that is what your talking about?
Click to expand...
Click to expand...

Patrick,

The chaps I cut into are blue in color, but I also nicked two pair of regular jeans before deciding it would be wise to wear chaps...

Rob
 
yep, that's what I was referring to earlier.
 
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