How the General Public Uses Chainsaws

Partly because I'm chicken, and partly because I'm just careful, I read up on and follow all the safety information concerning chainsaw use.

So, it's always interesting to watch how a regular guy uses a chainsaw. My neighbor got his chainsaw out, and:

No hearing protection
No helmet,
No chaps,
No gloves
Regular shirt
Throw started it
Chain was way loose
Chain was remarkably dull
Idle was so high that the chain was spinning

I ended up volunteering to cut his wood for him with my saw.

Sounds like a result!

Just watch a couple youtube videos......

I just sold a chainsaw to a guy that showed me his 100 stitch scar on the back of his left hand. Made me realize i need order some Kevlar chainsaw gloves.

That's why we essentially don't allow anybody to cut on our farm. No PPE; no cut tree!

I am guilty of lack of PPE too.. I usually do wear safety glasses, work gloves and steel toe boots and that's about it.. On occasion I will wear earplugs but they end up coming out lol.. I do try to be careful and pay attention to body position and my surroundings but I usually do not drop trees just buck them up..

Ray

I wonder what vintage of saw he was running? Many modern saws have designed shapes into them to prevent the chain from wrapping around like that. That's one reason the bottom section of the back handle on most saws is flat and wide.

Even bucking logs there is potential for kick-back, kick-out, chain failure and other dangerous situations. Chaps man. The #1 safety item for chainsaw work.

He said it was a poulan, not sure how old but it had a chain brake. The chain brake handle actually snapped in half and his hand went into the chain.

Holy crap you need a suit of armor based on that injury diagram!

Ray

This is a good reminder for all of us. Thanks!

Or at least gloves, chaps, boots, and a hardhat. They make special shirts too but I'll admit I don't own one.

I have these gloves, which are sold as protective:



but I'm pretty sure they aren't very protective.

I've had regular-old-chaps for years, but I've been upping my protection and bought these 10 layer chaps and really like them:

http://www.amazon.com/dp/B004MLUEOU/ref=pe_175190_21431760_3p_M3T1_ST1_dp_1

I even bought a protective shirt, which hasn't arrived yet:

http://www.cspforestry.com/SwedePro_Chain_Saw_Protective_Shirt_p/chainsawshirt.htm

I realize that almost no one uses a protective shirt, but I don't see any downside except for the cost (it's never hot here).

I figure that the helmet is the best protection. If there's a kickback that throws the saw against my face, I'd like something to slow it down.

I have the helmet, chaps and these boots
http://www.husqvarna.com/us/accesso...-and-insoles/protective-boots,-functional-28/

They've held up well for 3 years and have Kevlar padding on the top of your foot.

Been planning to order a husky jacket as well. And gloves. These lumber work gloves get good reviews.

http://www.amickssuperstore.com/LumberWorks_Chainsaw_Gloves_p/lumberworks chainsaw gloves.htm

Easier then calling 911

I don't own the shirt or the gloves. Hardly ever see the shirt for sale anywhere. Labonville doesn't even offer a shirt. For gloves, I am using the cheap Atlas Fit gloves. I know they offer no protection from a chain, but I love their grip. Figure if I have more control of the saw there will be a lot less chance of it getting out of control.

This just reminds me of the "Natural Selection" video posted on here recently. I could not believe the guy took his left hand off the saw while it was running full throttle in the wood.

We shouldn't be scared of these saws, but we should give them the respect they deserve. Be smart while you are working out there, and that goes for all tools (e.g., tractors, trucks, welders, hand saws, drills). As my dad says, "Parents close and eye and forgive. Tools take an arm, leg, or life and do not shed a tear nor care one bit."

Not really. Running a chainsaw for several hours versus hitting 9-1-1 on the phone isn't even close work wise. Might be harder on the heart and conscience to dial 9-1-1 though. Certainly easier on the neighbor all the way around for him to cut the wood.

That is one of my big problems. I cannot find gloves that fit my small hands very easily. I wear "S" size in Atlas gloves and Mechanix wear gloves. Those chainsaw gloves are offered in L and XL.

I hardly ever cut wearing a coat, so don't know if that would be any help. However, would love some suggestions on a shirt.

http://www.baileysonline.com/PDF/sizing_guide2.pdf

Baileys has Youngstown gloves in medium. Don't know if small are available or not.

My wife and kids got me chaps for my birthday last week. Never used them in the past and never had a close call but will use them from now on. We were in town and had to pick them up at home depot. We couldnt find them and asked two employee ladies, both of them had husbands that had chainsaw injuries to the leg and both said they never cut now without them, surprised me a bit.

It isn't the close calls I am worried about. It is skipping the close call and going right to flesh and bone that scares the hell out of me. The savings on the utility bill gets completely wiped out with one trip to the hospital and time off of work. A lasting injury or fatality makes it completely not worth it. Remember, accidents occur when you least expect them. Be smart about this stuff. Use safety equipment. Do the most dangerous stuff early in the day. I tend to saw, split, and then load the truck in that particular order. No way I am sawing an entire day straight until severe fatigue sets in and/or it becomes mind numbing such that I am not paying attention to what I am doing. Changing up activities tends to keep your mind fresh.

Maybe because I'm in the hearing business, Audiologist, try and wear hearing protection.
When you're 70 or 80 it will come back and bite you. Hearing aids are very small nowadays
but pretty expensive

Lack of chaps is one reason I haven't ever used the 2nd hand 'lectric chainsaw that sits in my garage. That, and its old enough that it does not have a chain brake at all. I've thought of selling it to get back the $25 I paid, but then I thought about how guilty I'd feel selling it to some yokel who won't even think about PPE before using it. So there it sits.

Peace,
- Sequoia

Same here except I need XXL in many gloves.... I don't even have big hands.

So far only time I needed chaps was when I caught the end of the saw dawg on my leg while moving my 460. (have a set of big "western" dawgs on it) The chaps didn't do a damn bit of good, tore right through them and got my leg.

Just FYI, chaps wont stop an electric saw. Go ahead and sell it if thats whats holding you up. Take the 25 beans, put it towards some shaps and go cut!

My thought is that injury would be less with chaps that without. That is, if I were using an proper electric saw with a brake, etc. However: Stihl MSE 140 - $350. Chaps - $100. Helmet system - $65. Chainsaw gloves - $45. Plus sales tax on all that comes out to over $500. Yes, some of these can be found for less on Azamon, but I think I will stick to letting other folks buck the wood, i.e. tree guys and gardeners who stick pre-cut wood on the curb, or advertise it on CL. Even if I have to pay for wood sometimes, the outlay at any one time is far less. And since we just use the fireplace to warm up the den, it's not mission critical.

I have a lot of respect for you guys that do this properly. I just don't want to make the investment to do so, and I'm not willing to to "cut corners" with a chainsaw. Not ever.

Peace,
- Sequoia