Chainsaw kickback and safety

fishman · Apr 26, 2005

I have experience kick-back many years ago. In 1987 I was selectively cutting undesireable trees on a wildlife management area using a Stihl 029. It was my first job away from home and I wasn't eating properly and working very hard. The day it happened I didn't feel too good but went ahead and started work. A short time later I went to cut a small (less than 1" branch) from the side of a tree to get past. In the blink of an eye the chainsaw hit me just to the right of the center of my chest at full throttle. I was wearing hardhat/earmuff/face screen protection at the time which was a good thing. My chin was numb and I put the saw down and walked over to the truck mirror, VERY afraid of what I might see. Fortunately, there was a gash in my chin, but nothing else. I probably should have gotten some stitches, but the scar reminds me every morning to BE CAREFULL.

Had a pretty good bruise on my chest too. The most important contributing factors to this accident, in my opinion, were fatigue and lack of experience.

SkyPup · Apr 26, 2005

Last year I took out a 100 foot tall loblolly pine that was about 4 feet in diameter that had been killed by lightning.

I was using my Stihl 046 Magnum with a full chisel 32" chain. While I was doing a plunge cut the entire length of the bar into the trunk, suddenly the chain snapped and hit the chain guard and dropped out at my feet. /forums/images/graemlins/blush.gif Apparently, the tree had been tapped for turpentine many years ago and I had hit a steel nail which ripped the 3/8" chain in half.

I finished up the tree with my Husquvarna 372 with a 28" 3/8" semi-chisel bar-chain.

The bonfire of that ten tons of pine trunk looked like an Iraqi oilwell on fire! /forums/images/graemlins/blush.gif

PineRidge · Apr 26, 2005

I'm on my second chainsaw, wore the first out clearing part of our plot for the house and pond. Had lots of trees but never had a kickback from the chains while cutting.

The other day I was firing up the Stihl and the motor burped while starting and the starter cord recoiled before I could let go. Didn't think too much about it until later that night when my finger turned almost dark blue from the bruise under the skin. Happened way to fast to react. Guess I'll be wearing my work gloves to start her from this point forward.

BB_TX · Apr 26, 2005

Something just don't look right about those photos. Massive neck wound, would completely bleed out, but no obvious puddle of blood on the ground. And the "body" almost appears as if laying on the ground to be most comfortable. /forums/images/graemlins/confused.gif And I am not even from Missouri. /forums/images/graemlins/crazy.gif

SkyPup · Apr 26, 2005

Absolutely no doubt these chainsaw accidents were faked then, huh? And published in a peer reviewed professional medical journal too?

That sure looked like a real Husquvarna 346 chainsaw with .325 steel H30 full chisel chain, but then again it could have just been a plastic imitation childs play toy..... /forums/images/graemlins/shocked.gif

Perhaps these were just a "fake" plastic corpses, like the ones medical students practice on when they are in school?

Try phoning the medical examiner, his telephone number is printed at the end of the document and see if he is guilty of malpractice on a mutilated corpse.... the chainsaw manufacturers and the victims families and attorneys would all like to know what happened here??? /forums/images/graemlins/smirk.gif

Varmintmist · Apr 26, 2005

( I was reading through my safety manaul of the new saw and never realized that chainsaws were so dangerous.
I respect equipment but im kinda afraid to use it after doing some research on the web. I was reading somewhere that the chainsaw is most dangerous tool to use on the farm. )

If you take to heart all of the warnings of possible harm you can recieve, wiht all the equipment and chemicals you use, then you better get yourself a bubble built cause you wont be able to walk outside.

Yes chainsaws can cut you, if they couldnt then they wouldnt be much fun rubbing against trees till the tree fell down, would they? Even the light ones are to heavy to do that with. /forums/images/graemlins/grin.gif

You probaly are not going to plunge cut for a while. In fact make it a point not to, until you are comfortable with the saw.

You will see kickback, period. Hopefully it will only be a inch or two the first time or two, then you will know it. For firewood, you will see it if you cut with the top of the bar near the tip, around the tip to the middle of the bar. There should be a diagram in your book that shows the kick area. link with kickback area shown

Now, you say "I'll never cut with the kick area" Good, you are 1/2 way there. However you will pinch the kick area when you cut through a log and it binds the tip. Same difference.

Buy plastic felling wedges. Even if you are not felling, you can keep your bar from getting bound by using these on already felled trees. They are cheap and they cut nice /forums/images/graemlins/shocked.gif spread little peices of orange plastic all over the woods. Keep your left hand wrapped around the handle, always. Buy chaps, wear saftey glasses and ear protection at a minimum, a loggers helmet if you want. Good gloves and BOOTS. Good boots for traction, if you want you can get saftey chainsaw boots. A sharp chain is a safer chain.

BB_TX · Apr 26, 2005

No need to get excited skypup. I never said the accidents were faked or did not happen. I just commented that the photos looked strange. Sorry if I offended you. /forums/images/graemlins/frown.gif

JINMA224XR · Apr 26, 2005

I was reading through my safety manaul of the new saw and never realized that chainsaws were so dangerous.
I respect equipment but im kinda afraid to use it after doing some research on the web 

Hey goodoleboy,

Good, Now that you are thoroughly afraid, that is a good thing, that you can use to your advantage.

Fear, is one of the most useful tools that God gave unto us. But Fear is a Tool to be used to our advantage, but not to prevent us from doing useful work or completeing our projects.

A chainsaw is a powerful tool and almost any versatile and powerful tool can injure the operator severely, unless we use proper safety operating procedures.

I personally worry most about cutting my feet, legs or hands, but the saw can also snap back and cut the head, neck, ears, or anywhere on the upper or lower body.

When I am cutting a tree down in close proximity to a structure, I always us a chain and comealong and force the tree in the direction that I want it to fall. The chain and come along technique has never failed for me. I cut a little and then tighten up the come along, until the tree falls in the direction that I need it to fall.

The bigger the chainsaw motor, the more dangerous it becomes to the operator.

Use the fear that you have and go forward with your cutting plans. Most likely now, you will not get hurt, but it can and does happen, but usually when we forget to use proper safety operating procedures.

Also I might add,, please keep others a safe distance from you, while you are using your saw. We worry about ourselves and forget about little children or others that are in close proximity to us and the chainsaw.

Fear is a useful tool,, Use it to your Advantage.

Have a nice day,
Joe /forums/images/graemlins/smile.gif

YanmarFever · Apr 26, 2005

BBtex
I assume that you have never been to an autopsy.
When they take pictures, they need everything cleaned up.
mostly to show fine details.
When you go fishing do you wash off the fish after cleaning them ? Of course you do, specially if your going to take a picture with it.

This is not a pretty subject !

BB_TX · Apr 26, 2005

When they take pictures, they need everything cleaned up. 
OK. One last comment. No I have never been to an autopsy and have no desire to. And I made no comment on that. I was commenting on the appearance and placement of the body on the ground. And I never made any comment about saws not being very dangerous or the possibility of this happening. I apologize to anyone who takes offense to my comment about the photo.