Any of your wifes/girlfriends use a chainsaw?

[Yamaha_gurl]

First year burning and we are having to buy wood, simply cause we just didn't calculate how much we would use. My parents bought almost 30 acres I can cut from, problem is, bf works all the time. I am currently in between jobs (woo, recession )and would love to go out there myself and cut some downed trees. I would just be cutting small maybe 3-5 " trees with a brand new Sthil gas powered chain saw. Good idea? Not a good idea? Is there any other tool I could use, can't use anything with electricity though...parents new house isn't build yet, and so now power. Just so you guys know, I'm a girly tomboy...I grew up in the garage with my dad, not literally but you know what I mean :coolsmile: I do lots of "guy" things, but my main concern here is safety.

Ideas? Suggestions?

 

[smokinj]

Ok grab the right gear chaps,helmet with face gauard and gloves and go for it! read the manuel it will give you some good tips.(my wife will run my stihl ms 180)

 

[drdoct]

The problem a lot of women run in to when trying to do a job that's male dominated is that they try too hard and too fast to impress. You know the whole... anything you can do I can do better bit. This can lead to dangerous situations. Read up on how to properly handle a chainsaw. There was a post a month ago on this I think. Start on stuff that's already down on the ground and small diameter. It takes a lot more strength and knowledge to handle a saw on a vertical tree. The key is to get comfortable using the saw and getting the motion down on how it likes to cut using the weight of the saw and not 'fighting' it. Dropping trees is a very risky dangerous job. When you think you know where it's going to go it will turn the other way and fall right where you didn't expect it. Make sure you never run your chain in the ground. This is hard to do sometimes when there is a big log on the ground, but avoid it because it will dull your chain if your lucky or it will ruin it beyond sharpening ability. Again, don't try to impress anyone with the whole girl power bit and be safe. There is no reason a woman can't run a chainsaw, splitter, or anything else dudes do.

 

[savageactor7]

I cut alone, it's not the smart move but I have experience as a hedge. I guess it all depends on your experience level and other environmental, equipment and terrain situations that would factor into any final risk assessment. Like cutting small already downed trees would be a good thing. And if you have to ask how to tighten a chain that would be a show stopping bad thing. It can be a very risky pursuit ...but it doesn't have to be.

I would hazard a guess and say if you've previously cut with the bf for a minimum 10 days and he was impressed with your cutting ability and skill and knowledge of the saw and other equipment then yeah why not? Just let folks know where exactly you'll be cutting and what time you'll be back. Once you're in the woods see what you can do in an hour...then return.

In the winter try not to think about production if you can sustain steady and deliberate you'll be happy with the results and you'll return safely. Keep in mind the best of the best tree cutters get hurt real bad on occasion.

 

[Titus]

Seems like a thread that needs pics (tasteful ones):

Chainsaw Mama Blues

To view this content we will need your consent to set third party cookies.
For more detailed information, see our cookies page.

Accept third party cookies

 

[fossil]

Neither my wife nor my girlfriend is comfortable using a chain saw. Rick

 

[ManiacPD]

Go for it. My wife always complains how she's the brush dragger/wood take awayer/four wheeler driver/wood splitter lever operator and never gets to join in the fun. When the new saw arrives she will inherit the rights and responsibility to operate the 345 and I will get to enjoy the show for a change!!

Like my father still tells me, even today at 31 years old...BE CAREFUL!

 

[fyrwoodguy]

Seems like a thread that needs pics (tasteful ones):

Chainsaw Mama Blues

To view this content we will need your consent to set third party cookies.
For more detailed information, see our cookies page.

Accept third party cookies

great post ! keep'em comming !

and all good advice so far too ! www.woodnsaws.org

 

[Wet1]

LOL, mine is a wild woman with the saw (note the PPE), I can't keep her away from them. For her B-day I gave her some PPE (conveniently in my size), and she was honestly excited about it... God I love here, lol!

No little saws for her, if it's not the 880 or 3120, she's not interested!

Here's another since her face looks all distorted in the first (she'd kick my butt if she knew I had shown anyone that first pic)...

 

[kevin j]

first off, my daughter has run the saws, shoots guns, welds, rides observed trials motorcycle (probably better than me now) and all the fun stuff just like the sons. so it is not a girl issue.

that said, I would never recommend to cut alone as a newbie. I try not to cut alone even myself and I am pretty experienced. Even with chaps, tourniquets and maxi pads at hand. Being trapped under a tree might be an issue, but you could stay there a long time safely without it turning nasty. A chain accident is another story altogether. Too much chance of potential injuries turning life threatening if there is no one there to stop the bleeding and get help.

Odds are very small of anything happening, but the penalty is high.
Maybe do your cutting together, haul it in, and if you must go alone do the bucking alone, but at the home location?


k

 

[LLigetfa]

Her Majesty doesn't run the saw. She won't hual or stack either. She won't even pull the lever on the splitter even if I put the rounds on it for her. She will put a split on the fire if I bring them in the house for her.

One time she brought in two small splits when all I had in the house were larger ones.

 

[John_M]

wet1, your girl friend is magnificantly gorgeous. Her face has perfect proportions and color. Great choice of earrings, too. All the guys reading this thread will fall in love with her. You are one lucky dude! Her photo reminds me of the George Jones song about the corvette: "...Its the brunette in your 'vette that turns me on". If she can handle that Stihl you'd better not ever get her mad at you; even once.

Best wishes and good health to both of you.

John_M

 

[kenny chaos]

I don't like the flavor of her lipstick. :coolsmile:

 

[Valhalla]

I taught my wife to use and respect my saws.

She loves them!

 

[kenny chaos]

Gurl friend- You are concerned about safety issues but not scared. You can run my saws. From too many years of too hard of work, the easiest way to get hurt is when you're too tired. Do what you can comfortably or maybe slightly uncomfortably (while realizing in your mind you need to start being more careful) and then quit.
God I love the tomboys!
Get at it!

 

[EatenByLimestone]

My wife has swung the maul a few times, I think more to say that she has. I've never seen her hold, much less run a saw. Not really her thing and that's ok. She keeps me well fed.


Matt

 

[mainstation]

Never cut by yourself if your as "green " to it as your post indicates...
If your confident in running the saw, then grab your mom and a book for her to read and both of you go out to the bush...
Safety first.

 

[Titus]

Plenty of saws, some powered, many run by women at Timber Tina's Shows:

(broken image removed)

(broken link removed to http://www.mainelumberjack.com/index.html)
(broken link removed)

 

[Titus]

This guy brags about his wife using the chainsaw. How many safety violations can we count?

To view this content we will need your consent to set third party cookies.
For more detailed information, see our cookies page.

Accept third party cookies

 

[John_M]

Yamaha Gurl, Almost all of us here can relate your desire to get out and cut. If you are going to use a gas powered chain saw I would recommend you start with a smaller, less powerful saw. You can use this smaller saw for cutting small limbs, etc. later on when and if you progress to one of the mid-sized saws. Wear Personal Protective Equipment (PPE) even if you are using a small saw and are cutting with others. Wear sturdy leather boots about 8" high that provide good ankle support. While cutting, remain focused on the cutting task at hand. Do not allow yourself to be distracted by outside sources while cutting. If you must carry on a conversation, etc, shut down the saw, take a break and talk. When you return to work refocus on the cutting and forget about the talking. Do not cut when the cutting site is wet. Wet grass, trees, and limbs are slippery as grease and your chances of falling are greatly increased.

I strongly recommend that you do not cut alone unless you are in clear view from the house, etc. Please turn the saw off if you must carry it more than 15 feet or so to another cutting place. While cuting, at one time or another, you will experience saw kick-back, the saw bar being pinched in a cut (do not try to "horse" it out), trees or limbs falling, you falling, a twisted ankle, and other dangers which you do not anticipate.

So, if you absolutely insist on cutting alone make absolutely certain that if you have a cell phone, you have it with you and that it is turned on.

Never compromise on safety.

Best wishes, safe cutting, and good health.

John_M

 

[Biglumber]

No(answer to original post).

She will load rounds for an hour or so. Makes for hell when I'm cutting half of the day.
She goes along and will help when needed but won't touch a chain saw or maul.

As for the previous pictures. Action shots say it all. A gal who can drop a 60 foot pine in the direction intended is priceless.

Peace

 

[mjbrown]

when i was burning wood, i came home from work one day with plans to split the wood i had cut up the nite before. i was buying my wood tree length and working it up myself. anyhoo, i got home that nite from work, and the wife had already split half of what i cut the nite before. i asked how she got the splitter going, and she said "duh, dont take a dummy to watch you start it , and run it.i watch thru the window because i know you wont show me how to do it." so...i looked at her and asked if she wanted to learn how to run the saw? she left me standing there... a few minutes later she was back with the saw. i spent some time with her, explaining all the safety stuff and then showed her how to start the saw.

afterwards she set the saw down and said dinner time...i want that thing to cool down so i can start it cold. after dinner, we went back out and she started the thing right up. we worked on the cutting aspect a bit, showing her how to cut without cutting into the ground and she took over with my watchful eye of course.she did damn good for about an hour , then she said" holy crap, now i know why you crab about your back", so we called it a nite.

the next day when i came home, she was out there with the 13 yr old daughter...she was cutting, and the daughter was splitting, and the neighbor was watching from the living room window at his house( he is an E.M.T for the local ambulance). he said they did a fine job, and were constantly watching each other , so no one got hurt.

i had to stop burning wood and go to pellets be cause they scared the crap out of me

all joking aside, there is nothing wrong with a woman wanting to learn how to cut wood, just please make sure you get proper training and never work alone. even thought the wood may be blow downs, ANYTHING can happen. good luck to you, and be safe. if you are unsure, stop, and get someone to help you.

mike

 

[Yamaha_gurl]

Thanks for the great replies! I've never used a chainsaw for more then 5 minutes cutting 1inch "sticks". I think I'll get some practice here at home, we still do have some logs that need to be cut. Once I've mastered that then I will think about going out on my own. :smirk:

 

[savageactor7]

^better off waiting and get some quality apprentice time in then...good intentions though.

 

[Gooserider]

Absolutely no reason as such that a woman can't do any tool using task that a guy can, including running a saw - and the same safety rules, guidelines, etc. apply regardless of gender...

There ARE physiological differences (mostly wonderful ones far as I'm concerned... ;-P ) that may make the job harder for some women, such as the average upper body strength (which isn't to say that a large woman can't be stronger than a small guy) but that is something that you have to judge for yourself - it may be a factor in picking your saw, and suggest that you'd want to go for a lighter / shorter bar machine, but again it depends on the individual... If you are able to race bikes the way your avatar picture implies, I wouldn't expect it to be a huge issue.

The other problem you MAY encounter (and there may be easy solutions) is that seeing as how chainsaw work tends to be male dominated, you may find it a challenge to get PPE sized to fit the female figure, sort of like it used to be in the motorcycle world (I'm told it's a lot better these days) - I'd expect to have to get your chainsaw boots in a guy's size (I like the Matterhorn boots, expensive, but more protection than any others I've seen, and very comfortable) and might go to Labonville for chaps as I understand they do custom sizing, depending on how you are in the "hip department"... As I said, never having tried to by chainsaw gear for a woman, I don't know how much of a problem it really is. (My GF will feed the stove, but does not have the physical strength or stamina to do the wood processing - she also can't ride a motorcycle, got tossed from the MSF course as a danger to herself and others...)

Bottom line, look at the advice in this thread and elsewhere on "chainsaws for newbies" and go for it if you feel comfortable...

Gooserider