At Home In The Woods

[Obed]

We bought a new stone for sharpening kitchen knives. My wife likes them sharp. If you look closely, you can see she is dripping water on the stone while she sharpens the knife.

 

[Obed]

My log pile got overgrown this summer. It didn't take long to clean it out with my Stihl.



I was extremely fortunate. While cleaning out the briars and saplings, I got a little careless while moving around in the mess with my chainsaw. After I had cut a sapling, I started walking while the chain was still moving. The moving chain caught the top of my pants just above the knee. Instantly the pants were ruined and I had the slightest scratch on my skin. I was a fraction of an inch away from having a serious injury.

 

[Larro Darro]

I never heard of that. Of course we don't have a lot of oyster shells in Tennessee.

Obed, they would have used limestone in your neck of the woods. I've written some stories set in 1718 Bath Town North Carolina, and I wanted to learn how it worked. The Indians had ate shellfish for thousands of years, so there were huge piles of shells all along the bays. {plus there was no limestone around}The settlers used them to make mortar and concrete. Here is a link to the fun part of the job. You do not want to try this in a plastic container.

 

[jdonovan]

The moving chain caught the top of my pants just above the knee. Instantly the pants were ruined and I had the slightest scratch on my skin. I was a fraction of an inch away from having a serious injury.

Get some saw chaps. please.

and wear them.

 

[MotorSeven]

Finger out of the trigger guard unless "shooting/sawing"...get in that habit. I can't remember if I mentioned Sympathetic Response yet. It was discovered to be the cause of accidental shootings, particularly Police shootings where the Officer had his finger on the trigger and either fell, tripped, or was struck & his handgun discharged. What happens is that the exterior trauma causes instant involuntary tightening of the grip/fingers. It happens to all of us, trained or not, so when not actually cutting, take your finger out of the trigger guard. That way, if you trip...like most of us do after falling a tree while stepping over and under the branches, you won't rev the saw at the same time, which really hurts and gets blood everywhere when the chain contacts any body part. Here is a pretty good article on the phenomenon: A Fighting School Yes, wear your saw chaps too!

 

[Tororider]

I third chaps. They are cheap and definitely worth not losing a leg.

 

[Coyote machine]

Yes to chaps, chainsaw gloves with Kevlar, and chainsaw boots too.
Lock the chain whenever you are not cutting, and hold the handle only with the bar/chain facing reward while walking forward.
When your near miss occurred did you have the bar/chain facing the direction you were walking?
Glad you did not cut yourself.
I also wear a helmet with ear and full face screen. One cannot be too careful with chainsaws. Never work alone without someone with in easy access to and knowing where you will be. I make sure my phone is charged and on me at all times when cutting. And a walkie talkie is backup- within easy reach, wife on other end at house/yard/barn...
BTW, if your chain is running for more than a few seconds after letting go of the trigger you may have to make an adjustment to make it stop. It should not run on without any operator input to the trigger.

 

[bem1965]

After I had cut a sapling, I started walking while the chain was still moving. The moving chain caught the top of my pants just above the knee. Instantly the pants were ruined and I had the slightest scratch on my skin. I was a fraction of an inch away from having a serious injury.

Dear gods Obed!
I have a responsibility towards my family to try to keep all my body parts functional as long as possible! I do a lot of dangerous stuff but try to minimize the risks!
I melt lead in the backyard for bullet casting and shoot guns. So I have a screened in smelting place and use protective clothing and a face mask while smelting and hearing protection and glasses while shooting.
I drive my tractor a lot but recognize that it is a very unforgiving beast! 10 m safety zone for the kids and no one closer without visual OK from me while the engine is turning. The kids and my wife all throw rocks or pine cones at the FEL to get my attention

The chain saws....... It is a pain in the neck, but I never start the saw without the protective pants and boots on. I really hate wearing the protective clothing in summer I have literally poured sweat out of the boots! I try to do my work in the woods in winter time! It also is a pain to put on all the clothes just to do a few cuts around the house.... I have many friends who have been extremely lucky, one cut all the flesh of his knee cap but only touched the bone in the cap, you can bet he was thoroughly congratulated on his luck by the surgeon stitching him up. It's not like fingers or arms grow out again is it?
The chain saw is a lot more dangerous than a gun, the gun is menacingly black and the barrel intimidating, my chain saw is orange and almost cute and cuddly in comparison.

I never climb on the roofs at our farm, never at all! I have vertigo and it just is to high up for me! When doing jobs on the roof on our house in town I use ropes and helmet and work really slow! In climbing I know you are an expert and just leave it there....

I have stopped riding my motorbike since my wife works as a physiotherapist, there just is no way to ride safely!

I don't want to come at you as the safety nazis, but you do have a sweet little daughter that really needs a dad with all his limbs in place!

/All the best from Sweden
//Lars

 

[Obed]

I didn't have my finger in the chainsaw trigger. I was cutting sapplings and briars. After making a swipe with the saw, I took a couple steps while the chain was slowing down but hadn't yet come to a stop. The chainsaw was in my left hand. Next time I'll probably make sure the chain is not moving before taking any steps.

Yes, chaps would definitely be safer.

With regards to safety equipment, sometimes I find certain safety devices "less safe" than not having them. For example, I was using a circular saw, I think, the other day and put on safety goggles. The goggles quickly fogged up making visibility with the saw almost impossible. I ended up chunking the goggles and relied on my regular glasses for eye protection. Safety goggles don't help much if you can't see while using a dangerous tool.

Obed

 

[Egbert]

I saw an unbelievable video a year or so ago. Some guy developed a table saw that would stop INSTANTLY when the blade came in contact with flesh. He actually did a personal demo ... amazing.