Chain saw safety

[Kubotafan]

I have a Stihl forestry helmet and it stinks because I cannot get the mickey-mouse ear protectors to seal tightly against my head. I wear a 7 1/2 hat size, suggesting the helmets really stink for people with normal sized heads.

I have a size 7 1/2 hat size and my Stihl hat works well. According to your assessment I must not have a normal head. When I put my hat on and the ear protectors over my ears I push the ear protectors and hinge against my head and they lock in place just fine. Maybe, just maybe, it is the way you have them adjusted or are using them, unless Stihl just figured they would only make them for people without normal heads.

 

[JRobyn]

If your Stihl is made the same as (or made by) Peltor, the muffs have a "feature" where you have to push them in toward your ears after they are lowered to make them fit right against your head. There is a barely perceptible "click" in the swivel mechanism when you do this. I think it is supposed to make them easier to swivel up out of the way and then back down. Try it on yours and see if it makes a difference.

- Jay

(edit) Wow! Peltor/3M makes this hard to find!!
User Instructions : Peltor
Click the "Fitting Instructions" pull-down and then scroll down a bit to the "helmet mount" part.

 

[lakeside]

I posted a few years ago about what happened to me. First off, chain saws don't cut, they rip.

Late afternoon on a Sunday, worked all day and was tired, a friend then asked me to cut some trees. I cut about four or five trees and then inadvertently rested the moving chain on my left thigh. My almost brand new chaps took the hit and the Kevlar threads stopped the chain just as advertised. Total damage, one $85 pair of chaps and (almost) a new set of undies. I stitched up the old chaps and now wear them them over a new set, even though it's pretty unlikely I'd be stupid enough to lay a moving chain on the same spot as before. Even if cutting one little bitty tree I wear the chaps X 2 , Kevlar gloves, a Kevlar vest, helmet with face guard and steel toed boots. Overkill, maybe, OK sure but whenever I get cocky and think I don't need all that stuff to cut just one ole tree I look at my old chaps and get religious again.

 

[MortalWombat]

I sometimes wear my chaps and sometimes don't, but today I decided to wear them. The chain got caught when cutting a big branch on the ground and came off the bar and whipped around and hit my leg.

Needles to say, I will never not wear them again, no matter how hot and muggy it is.

 

[downsizingnow48]

Geez glad you were not hurt. After reading this thread I got a set of chaps. After reading this post will wear them without fail.

 

[chopped]

LOl what a picture..But im the same way..once had to cut a fallen tree and had on undies and slippers lol

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.

 

[TomSeller]

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.

You sound like a very bright guy. Bright enough to know he needs safety gear. I occasionally don't wear safety gear myself, but those days are getting fewer and fewer.

 

[MinnesotaEric]

I have a size 7 1/2 hat size and my Stihl hat works well. According to your assessment I must not have a normal head. When I put my hat on and the ear protectors over my ears I push the ear protectors and hinge against my head and they lock in place just fine. Maybe, just maybe, it is the way you have them adjusted or are using them, unless Stihl just figured they would only make them for people without normal heads.

No, I said that I have a Stihl forestry helmet that stinks because I cannot get the mickey-mouse ear protectors to seal tightly against my head. They click in but do not tightly seal.

 

[MinnesotaEric]

If your Stihl is made the same as (or made by) Peltor, the muffs have a "feature" where you have to push them in toward your ears after they are lowered to make them fit right against your head. There is a barely perceptible "click" in the swivel mechanism when you do this. I think it is supposed to make them easier to swivel up out of the way and then back down. Try it on yours and see if it makes a difference.

- Jay

(edit) Wow! Peltor/3M makes this hard to find!!
User Instructions : Peltor
Click the "Fitting Instructions" pull-down and then scroll down a bit to the "helmet mount" part.

Jay, thank you for making the extra effort. My helmet's mickey mouse ears do click inward but they do not travel far enough to seal properly. As a result, I wear my Army baseball cap and mickey mouse ears.

 

[Coyote machine]

I have a Stihl forestry helmet and it stinks because I cannot get the mickey-mouse ear protectors to seal tightly against my head. I wear a 7 1/2 hat size, suggesting the helmets really stink for people with normal sized heads.

It's not the helmet, it's your lack of ears, refer to your avatar pic, that makes the muffs inoperative.

 

[JRobyn]

It's not the helmet, it's your lack of ears, refer to your avatar pic, that makes the muffs inoperative.

Tough crowd!!

unch:
uch:

- Jay

 

[Threepoint]

Tough crowd!!

unch:
uch:

- Jay

I happened to have lunch today with a buddy who works for the regional park authority. I mentioned the problem Eric described, and he said they have several of the Stihl helmets with integral earmuffs/safety screen, and they don't seem to fit any of the guys very well. Looks like YMMV, whatever a normal size head is.

 

[Coyote machine]

Unless one is German, or English, with a large skull packed with excessive grey matter, Stihl helmet muffs may not fit your smaller skull features. Allow me to suggest the alternative helmet design from Sweden, for those with less matter: Husky helmets, to go with their less robust saw line!

 

[cqaigy2]

Unless one is German, or English, with a large skull packed with excessive grey matter, Stihl helmet muffs may not fit your smaller skull features. Allow me to suggest the alternative helmet design from Sweden, for those with less matter: Husky helmets, to go with their less robust saw line!

And then the fight was on. :laughing:

 

[Threepoint]

Unless one is German, or English, with a large skull packed with excessive grey matter, Stihl helmet muffs may not fit your smaller skull features. Allow me to suggest the alternative helmet design from Sweden, for those with less matter: Husky helmets, to go with their less robust saw line!

You're trying too hard, Dude.

 

[JRobyn]

I kinda like how we can turn even a safety thread into a kerfuffle!

- Jay

 

[joeyd]

After 30 years of using chainsaws on a regular basis I retired to a home in the forest. While cutting some saplings on the hillside around the house I "gently" touched my left leg with the saw after cutting down through the trunk. I looked down, saw the damage to my workpants and was thankful my leg was still there. A few minutes later I noticed my foot felt sticky in my boot, needles to say after 6 stitches below my knee I bought a pair of chaps and ALWAYS wear them when using the saw along with eye and hearing protection. Watch out for cutting at odd angles or positions that are not completely level or stable!

 

[Threepoint]

Further on the issue of hearing protection, I've worn various earmuff-style protectors for years, but last year started using DIY custom-molded earplugs. They work great for chainsaw noise, shooting activities, and running our little open-station tractors at full throttle. Main advantages over muffs are less bulk, cooler on hot days, and you can wear any brand of hard hat, or a full-brimmed hat for sun protection. Can also be worn under the muffs for extra protection, but I've not found that necessary. One disadvantage is that you don't want to be taking them out and putting them in repeatedly if you can't wipe your hands reasonably clean beforehand. You can have a conversation without taking them out if both people speak loudly.

The kits are from Radians, and many online vendors sell them for around $10 to $13, incl. shipping. I've made two pair for myself, one for my wife. Here's one link:
Amazon.com: NEW Radians Custom Molded Earplugs ORANGE ear plugs: Home Improvement

 

[cqaigy2]

Further on the issue of hearing protection, I've worn various earmuff-style protectors for years, but last year started using DIY custom-molded earplugs. They work great for chainsaw noise, shooting activities, and running our little open-station tractors at full throttle. Main advantages over muffs are less bulk, cooler on hot days, and you can wear any brand of hard hat, or a full-brimmed hat for sun protection. Can also be worn under the muffs for extra protection, but I've not found that necessary. One disadvantage is that you don't want to be taking them out and putting them in repeatedly if you can't wipe your hands reasonably clean beforehand. You can have a conversation without taking them out if both people speak loudly.

The kits are from Radians, and many online vendors sell them for around $10 to $13, incl. shipping. I've made two pair for myself, one for my wife. Here's one link:
Amazon.com: NEW Radians Custom Molded Earplugs ORANGE ear plugs: Home Improvement

Very Nice!

Thanks for the idea and link.

 

[Happy Gilmore]

Further on the issue of hearing protection, I've worn various earmuff-style protectors for years, but last year started using DIY custom-molded earplugs. They work great for chainsaw noise, shooting activities, and running our little open-station tractors at full throttle. Main advantages over muffs are less bulk, cooler on hot days, and you can wear any brand of hard hat, or a full-brimmed hat for sun protection. Can also be worn under the muffs for extra protection, but I've not found that necessary. One disadvantage is that you don't want to be taking them out and putting them in repeatedly if you can't wipe your hands reasonably clean beforehand. You can have a conversation without taking them out if both people speak loudly.

The kits are from Radians, and many online vendors sell them for around $10 to $13, incl. shipping. I've made two pair for myself, one for my wife. Here's one link:
Amazon.com: NEW Radians Custom Molded Earplugs ORANGE ear plugs: Home Improvement

Looks interesting, I've never been too fond of the tapered disposable ear plugs. They always seem to work their way out.