Chainsaw Chaps

[displacedPA]

I have a question for the chain saw pros. Up until now i have not had chainsaw chaps. Dumb Idea I know. With our new woodstove and the ammount of wood i cut chaps are a must...

I have been looking at the Labonville chaps reg. or the full wrap one. does anyone have any input on these chaps or others? such as Husqvarna branded chaps.
I was also thinking about just using chain saw pants but I thought they would not offer as much protection.

Thanks

 

[trook]

I purchased the husqvarna chaps from Lowes. They may not be the best, and I am only an occasional user, but they have already saved my left thigh from a substantial injury.

 

[TripleR]

We bought ours from Stihl, so I don't know about other brands; saved my son from a bad injury and he has been using saws for a lot of years.

 

[displacedPA]

Im very familar with saws myself but it only takes and instant... and with the wood production im starting up i dont want to risk it...
I had looked at the husky ones from lowes. I would assume something is beter than nothing.

 

[jefwyn]

I saw a guy put the saw into his leg hard and the chaps turned into spaghetti. The saw stalled almost instantly and he was unhurt. I hate to think what would have happened, had he not been wearing them. I do a lot of cutting(not a pro by any means) and since seeing that, I always wear them.

 

[greasemonkeyok]

I have a pair of Labonville Chaps that have a UL listing for chainsaw protection. I guess the UL listing means they have been tested, but since I haven't had an accident can't say how they will do.

 

[Egon]

Think the chaps/pants come in different qualities. I prefer the pants.

Don't forget the Boots!:thumbsup:

 

[Ductape]

I have the ten ply comprtition chaps from LaBonville. They are a little stiff, but the best protection offered. I like that the LaBonvilles are made right here in New Hampshire, not overseas somewhere. I do recommend full wrap no matter what.

 

[RWTschoeke]

I just picked up the green Labonville from Bailey's for the same reason you have considered. Been cutting without them long enough and sooner or later my luck is gonna run out. with 110 acres of woods and brush to clean up from recent logging, safety is now for me a higher priority. Also pick up a helmet, face shield, earmuff combo. Have already bumped my head on larger branches and had whipping saplings fling across my face when loading the chipper. With the helmet/face shield, no worse for the wear.

 

[John_Mc]

Labonville makes some excellent chaps. My brother-in-law bought some on my advice and loves them. He got the wrap chaps (he did not get the "competition" model - that's overkill for his needs, and too hot and stiff for extensive cutting in warmer weather)

I have the Husqvarna Pro Forest Wrap Chaps, and like them as well. If I remember, these have one more buckle on each leg than the Labonville chaps, but I don't think that makes much difference.

Both Chaps meet ASTM 1897, as well as OSHA and UL requirements.

The full wrap chaps are hotter to wear than the non-wrap ("apron") style, but they provide significantly better protection. The non-wrap chaps can have a tendency to spin around your leg when caught by a chain, exposing your lower leg.

I also have a pair of Husqvarna Pro Forest Summer pants. They have just as good protection as the wrap chaps, and meet the same ASTM/OSHA/UL requirements. I find these cooler to wear than putting my wrap chaps on over a pair of jeans, but the chaps can be taken on and off quicker, so you can cool down quicker when you are taking a break from cutting. Which to use is really a matter of personal preference

John Mc

 

[Cat_Driver]

Don't stop at the chaps. Get helmet with screen guard, eye protection, LONG PANTS, hearing protection, Gloves, and steel toe boots.
I'm not kidding. When I use a chain saw I suit up like I'm going to war and each one of the protectors I mentioned above has saved me one time or another.

The one day I didn't use any gear for a quickie cut, I had cut off pants on, ****, sneakers. I made the simple cut, turned off the saw waited for the blade to wind down and started to set the saw down. Well it clipped my exposed leg and ( remember the machine was off and blade not moving ) it made a gash 6" long and I bled like a stuck pig.

I have that scar today and it was years ago. I never ever take using a chain saw for granted.

Gear up, it's worth it.

 

[big lar]

Worked for a profesional tree company for nearly 20 years and we were required to wear them; subject to being fired on the spot if you were cutting, or within 10 ft of the guy cutting. Now retired, but wear them as force of habit. Like they all say, it only takes a split/second. Don't know where my co. got them, but it would turn to shreds and stall the saw if a chain hit it!

 

[MarkV]

Another fan the Labonville chaps. I don't us the full wraps, there just too hot where I work. Good investment, order them.

MarkV

 

[Furu]

Don't stop at the chaps. Get helmet with screen guard, eye protection, LONG PANTS, hearing protection, Gloves, and steel toe boots.
I'm not kidding. Gear up, it's worth it.

X 2!!!

I like the chaps style, full wrap, 10 ply. Stihl makes good ones, Labonville Pro Chaps are also very good equipment.

Look at the video
Chainsaw Leg Protection - YouTube
You will see why you always wear safety equipment.

Cut Protection for Pro Saw Users

 

[displacedPA]

i thank you all for your responses... I think i will go with the lobonville. The husqvarna summer pants do catch my attention because they might cooler. However I think the wrap chaps will better protect me.

 

[newbury]

Well it's pictures like this that make me want to learn from others mistakes


rather than doing it myself.

I favor the full wrap Stihl, but they are warm at 90 degrees.

 

[phiferpharm]

+ 1 on all of the protective gear, not only for the chain saw, but also for weed wacking and using a pole saw. Even with safety glasses, I have been smacked in the face by stuff thrown up by the weed wacker and pole saw. Started using a helmet with face shield and it is much better.

 

[Baby Grand]

Another satisfied Labonville green/full wrap user.
Also, I highly recommend helmet/face screen/ear muff combo suggested by Cat_Driver & others.
The helmet/face screen/ear muff combo is a face/eyeball saver when using the PTO chipper, too.

 

[LWG]

Many of us have electric chain saws in addition to the gas ones. I just bought a protective shirt from Stihl. Stihl says that neither the protective chaps nor shirt will protect against an electric saw. The torque of the motor is such that the fill will not jam the sprocket as with a gas saw.

I agree with everything written before. I want as much protection as possible. I would also recommend the Stihl safety video on YouTube. I watched it last Saturday night, and did some cutting the next day. I had learned everything in the video, but having it refreshed saved me. I was cutting a springpole which didn't look like it had much force to it. I made a number of relief cuts just to be safe. The through-cut flipped the saw back a bit, but nothing serious. Had I not made the relief cuts, that saw would have come back right in my face.

 

[s219]

I have the Labonville full wraps, and they are great.