Chain saw safety

[6sunset6]

I will throw in my 2 cents. 30 years ago I swung a saw with an idling chain across a log and stepped over at the same time. 14 stitches 7 inside and 7 outside I was alone and lucky it was only muscle tissue and not deep. I was more careful I thought until I took a forest service course a couple of years ago in order to work as a volunteer on the Appalachian Trail. I learned a number of things most of what I knew by practice but now by theory. Like tension and compression and a cutting plan and look up before starting and the saw is either idle or full on . But the most important thing I learned was the chain brake. If the saw is not cutting wood the brake is on.

 

[firemanpat2910]

I found at Home Depot of all places a pair of Chain saw gloves. Bright orange and has the same Kevlar as the chaps do, on the back of the left hand. I haven't used them yet but I will report back when I have.

 

[Toyboy]

Every post up to this point seems to be about personal safety, but what about the helpers, onlookers and bystanders. I like a lot of you, have been using chainsaws for a very long time, and right now I have 4 of them in various bar lengths and power. I also have the safety equipment to go along with them.

But, how many times have you been cutting or cleaning up your place or someone else, and find someone directly behind you "helping" by picking up the cut wood? Anyone wanting to help me has the have minimum hearing and eye protection AND always approach me from the front, never from behind.

Years ago I was helping a friend cut up a downed oak and was limbing my way up the trunk when I switched hands with the saw to move a branch and rotated around missing one of the helpers head by inches, with a saw prior to chain breaks. From that point on I made the rule never approach from behind, and that's the first thing I tell helpers before the saw is ever started. I will let you know when to start picking up the cut wood.

 

[Kubotafan]

Guys, are you saying that cut branches high in the tree in sandals and shorts is a bad thing?

I went in to a store to buy chain saw chaps one hot summer day. When I saw them I remarked to the salesman (store owner) that they looked as if they would be very hot. He said he bought a pair once, and had them on for about 5 minutes - too hot! He suggested a pair of shorts and bare feet in sandals. He said when you are dressed like that you are careful!!!

 

[JDgreen227]

I went in to a store to buy chain saw chaps one hot summer day. When I saw them I remarked to the salesman (store owner) that they looked as if they would be very hot. He said he bought a pair once, and had them on for about 5 minutes - too hot! He suggested a pair of shorts and bare feet in sandals. He said when you are dressed like that you are careful!!!

If he actually said that, he was a big time moron...why would he, as the store owner, intentionally DISCOURAGE a customer from making a purchase? The idea of using a saw in shorts and sandals to make you careful is so absurd it defies common sense.

 

[Kubotafan]

If he actually said that, he was a big time moron...why would he, as the store owner, intentionally DISCOURAGE a customer from making a purchase? The idea of using a saw in shorts and sandals to make you careful is so absurd it defies common sense.

I think the biggest moron would be the person who took him serious.

 

[The Fred]

I have used saws for 40 plus years, my father in law was a logger all his life. I'm no pro but cut all our firewood from standing trees.
My father in law runs any saw WIDE OPEN throttle whenever limbing as he feels there is less chance of getting a kick back with the tip if the chain is at highest speed possible. Although maybe I don't agree it does make sense.

Another thing I use these days is a Stihl pole saw for limbing pine. STIHL Pole Pruners - Tree Trimmer, Fixed Length and Telescopic Pole Pruners | STIHL USA Mobile

It's a KM130 http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=qKjqCHgQEPI

I bought this to do lawn cleanup and sweep blacktop, I opted to get the pole saw to cut limbs around the yard, what I found is the thing works VERY well for limbing downed pine (large trees). The benefit is one can stand back out of the way of the bar and chain, and is less tiresome to use than a large saw. I bought the biggest powerhead offered. This thing is great and we use it all of the time.

Fred

 

[Bill Hoffman]

We had several trees taken down by a tree service. The trees were ones I wasn't
sure I could do safely, so I hired the job done. They used pole saws almost as much
as their regular saws. The owner said that injuries went way down as soon as he
got the pole saws.

Bill

 

[TomSeller]

I'm no pro but cut all our firewood from standing trees.

I have always cut them down first.

 

[murphy1244]

I have always cut them down first.

Then burn them.. LoLs. good one Tom..

 

[arrow]

I have always cut them down first.

What can be dead and still stand?

 

[dougtrr2]

Red elm can be dead and still stand and does not rot very fast. Oak, ash and hickory will stand for a while but start rotting on the stump.

Doug in SW IA

 

[arrow]

Red elm can be dead and still stand and does not rot very fast. Oak, ash and hickory will stand for a while but start rotting on the stump.

Doug in SW IA

This was a riddle I asked of my 8 year old grandson. He asked for a clue and I said "they're all around you". Since we live in the woods, he looked and with a sly smile stated "a tree". He ran in the house and riddled his father who works for a large pharmaceutical company. When the father didn't know, he gave the same clue I gave my grandson. He still didn't know.

 

[slaken]

Took the Game of Logging class up through level 3. Best money ever spent. It should be mandatory for anyone with a chainsaw.

Chaps, helmet, steel toe boots are required not optional.

 

[JDgreen227]

Took the Game of Logging class up through level 3. Best money ever spent. It should be mandatory for anyone with a chainsaw.

Chaps, helmet, steel toe boots are required not optional.

OP here, I respectfully disagree....have never worn a helmet nor chaps but then I have very rarely cut STANDING trees down and what I do cut up is usually done with a 16" or 14" bar. If I did a lot of felling I would armor up more than I do, so for really extensive cutting I agree your safety precautions are common sense.

 

[dave1949]

OP here, I respectfully disagree....have never worn a helmet nor chaps but then I have very rarely cut STANDING trees down and what I do cut up is usually done with a 16" or 14" bar. If I did a lot of felling I would armor up more than I do, so for really extensive cutting I agree your safety precautions are common sense.

Bill, I think limbing and cutting up downed trees, messing with brush and saplings, is more dangerous chainsaw work than felling a tree. You have trunks that may roll or shift as you limb them, branches and limbs under tension, bent backwards, speared into the ground, etc. The footing can be dodgy with plenty of things to trip on. You are more apt to be reaching with the saw or in some other unstable footing stance. With leaves, you can't always see real clearly what is going on with the tree.

Proportionally, much more time is spent cutting up a tree than felling it. Hence your exposure to the two types of activity is greatly different.

 

[cqaigy2]

I'd have to agree with dave1949, the chaps would be some protection from the chainsaw, regardless on what you are using it for. Takes a split second for a saw to really mess you up, permanently.

 

[slaken]

OP here, I respectfully disagree....have never worn a helmet nor chaps but then I have very rarely cut STANDING trees down and what I do cut up is usually done with a 16" or 14" bar. If I did a lot of felling I would armor up more than I do, so for really extensive cutting I agree your safety precautions are common sense.

I also wear my seatbelt in a car and helmet when riding. Everyone has there opinion on risk versus reward. I guess not losing and eye us worth a $59 helmet, not needing stitches is worth $100, and keeping my toes worth $200. Taking a class from experts who discuss safety and how to be safer is worth it to me. They also say falling trees is much safer than limbing and bucking. Most injuries are caused with kickbacks when doing ground work.

Hopefully I've got 40+ years so keeping my parts is still important to me, but we all have our own lines.

 

[Deere Dude]

After reading these posts I see I see to reassess my safety concerns. I have been cutting down 12-24" trees with blue jeans and tennis shoes for about 25 years at maybe 5 chord a year. Most of the time when it is hot out I will wear shorts and tennis shoes and no shirt. I just cut down a couple trees this afternoon dressed like that. But saw chips stick to the socks so I will stick to blue jeans to cover the socks. I use 50 and 55cc saws with 20" bars for felling and limbing.

I was always careful to make sure nobody was around me, cable the trees so they can only fall one direction and have a good escape route.

I know I just need to bite the bullet and get chaps and other safety equipment because accidents aren't planned. Maybe I just dodged the bullet so far. I don't know. I did get a helmet with earmuffs for cutting shagbark hickory because those where murder on the glasses.

Good learning tips from TBN users. Thanks.

 

[Toyboy]

To each their own, myself I prefer to wear safety gear although I don't have the steel toe boots, I still wear boots. If you feel like dancing with lady luck have at it, but sooner or later you will get another partner.