Chain Saw - Safety

[Ridgewalker]

They have saved me once already from getting nicked...

Plus, they are great for picking blackberries! You can just bull right in the patch with no worries!

 

[Oleozz]

I was cutting with a large group of men on a church project, not one fella had chaps on. I had mine in the tractor but didn't need them since I was running the log splitter. Very few people in this area seem to use them and that's sad!

 

[turnkey4099]

I admit I am getting a bit lax about wearing them when working with the saw. Been cutting 10 plus cord year for over 30 years and only got the chaps about 8 years ago. Only cut myself once - through the boot and just scratched the side of my toe. Steel toes didn't help, the cut was behind them.

"It isn't if, but when" is true. Most cuts are minor but the bad ones are a 'will you survive it'.

I can't think of one good reason _not_ to wear them.

I also wear them working around the splitter or manually splitting. My old legs are scarred from ankles to knees from using them as backstops for dopped, flying chunks and tools. The chaps do a good job of protection.

They are also nice when tending my brush pile fires. Can work right up next to the pile without getting that 'hot pants leg against skin'.

Once I have them on, I never notice them at all.

Harry K

 

[WayneB]

Regarding safety gear I have always said I should but in most cases I didn't, now I am a prime candidate for hearing aids. I had a hearing test last month and there is no doubt that my lose of hearing is due to the loud equipment that I have operated over the years without any ear protection. As for chain saw safety I do wear glasses, helment and now hearing protection. A little protection just a little too late.

 

[Beltzington]

Appreciate your experiences, looks like I have been beating statistics for the last several years. More likely my 8lb. Echo with 16 blade is easy to control in most situations. Great saw by the way, it has lasted 22 years and still going strong. The reason I started to consider chaps is I recently purchased a 20 used Stihl 310 for cleaning-up some large downed trees on my property the Echo isn稚 up for. Having started the Stihl after cleaning and tuning it was apparent this was a completely different animal then my old trusty Echo.

Any recommendations as to the brand and wearing of safety chaps?

Soap Box - For any younger readers who are not wearing hearing protection I can tell that having a constant ringing in your ears after 40 is something you want to avoid if possible. Since I never work professionally around noisy equipment without hearing protection the only logical assumption has the damage was caused by my off-time hobbies. Wear earplugs!

 

[RobertN]

I'll second that. Tinnitus SUCKS!

Soap Box - For any younger readers who are not wearing hearing protection I can tell that having a constant ringing in your ears after 40 is something you want to avoid if possible. Since I never work professionally around noisy equipment without hearing protection the only logical assumption has the damage was caused by my off-time hobbies. Wear earplugs!

 

[beenthere]

I get my chaps from Forestry Suppliers
http://www.forestry-suppliers (dot) com/

 

[Arky217]

Please do yourself and your family a BIG favor and never, I repeat, NEVER, operate a chainsaw without not only chaps, but all safety equipment.

When I was young, I never heard of chaps. I once nicked my shin a little; still have the scar. I can hardly believe how lucky I have been during all those years that I didn't use safety equipment (started 50 years ago).

Now, even if I have to make a quick cut that I forgot, I still put on the safety stuff first.

It only takes a split second for something to go wrong. A hidden limb kickback, a stumble, a log or limb suddenly relieving it's stress in a surprised way.

Sure, chaps are uncomfortable, especially in summer, but compared with the agony of an injury, weeks in a hospital, big financial loss, and what about your family if it's a fatal injury ?

You may be the best in the business, have the most experience, think you're strong enough to control the saw in any circumstances, but accidents do happen and even though you may think these things may make you immune, an accident CAN happen to you !

Be safe,
Arky

 

[mbohuntr]

Only one accident, I was triming out a new fence line, and my saw would stall if I let it idle, so I would gently rev it while using the other hand moving thru brush. Yep, swung it behind me, and lifted my leg to step over a branch...Luckily, all I did was catch my jeans, and put a small scratch on my calf... Lesson learned. I have been lucky, and now seldom use a saw. I would think hard now before doing some things I used to do without the right gear.

 

[dmccarty]

When I bought a saw I bought chaps and a helmet with face shield and hearing protection. Already had eye protection and gloves.

Not really sure HOW I knew to buy this stuff since this was before TBN.

I have a nick about 4 inches long in the chaps from the saw. It did not cut through the outer layer of the chaps just nicked it. Not sure how this happened.

In two cases I have had the chain pulled off the running saw by branches under tension. In both cases the chain whacked me in my thigh which stung a bit. It would have hurt quite a bit without the chaps. I might have been cut. The first time this happened I was cutting some branches in a downed tree top. One of the smaller branches was under tension and when cut it just pulled the chain off the bar.

The second time I was cutting up a downed tree and Russian Olive bush was in the way. These are very invasive and have lots of branches growing from the "stump." This one was kinds big and had a few large stems that might have been and inch in diameter. I just lean over and gave the whole bunch of the a quick cut so I would have room to work. Somehow the stems pulled the chain off the bar and my leg got whacked.

I keep the chain tight per the manual too.

The chaps are very helpful in wading into brush as has been mentioned. Before I had a DR Mower I would wear the chaps when brush cutting with the Stihl weed wacker when using a saw blade.

Chaps, helmet, gloves and eye protection are cheap insurance.

Later,
Dan