Just got back from the ER

[Treemonkey1000]

Sorry about the slice out of your finger Craig. I don't hardly use the non locking pocket knives any more. Cutting out a Pinewood Derby car long ago for Cub scouts the blade folded and cut off almost completely about a 1/4" of my finger. There was just a little hunk of skin holding it on. I put a couple of bandaids on it and kept working. It healed up fine.
Now your daughter may have had a bit of a scare with her episode. Cars are a huge learning curve. My daughter is just starting Drivers Education today. I told her if I ever see or hear of her texting or talking on the phone while driving she will lose her driving priviliges for a long time.
By the way I was working on the ground cutting trees up yesterday and took the extra 30 seconds to put on my chaps.

 

[Reg]

I never thought I'd get tangled up with a chainsaw, at least not due to being too complacent or not paying attention. I am always very careful and respectful of the business end of power tools. Well, not today. I was mired in brush in the woods right behind my yard, dropping and bucking up a few standing dead, and suddenly found my saw sucked into my thigh. The fact that I don't exactly know how it got there just shows how little attention I was paying at the time. From what I can gather, I had just dropped a 6" tree out of the middle of a bunch of little stuff. I was reaching through the brush, and holding the saw sideways (bar side down) - I had already let go of the saw with my right (throttle) hand, and I think I was looking over my left shoulder to see if the tree fell cleanly to the ground as I pulled the saw out - when I twisted my shoulders to the left, the saw must've rotated to the left, and the bar tapped my leg before the chain had time to spin down. The chain hooked up on my pants leg and the saw got sucked in. Pant leg turned into confetti, and I got 12 stitches across the middle of my left thigh - could've easily been way worse. Luckily I only got bit by residual momentum - my 036 Pro would've eaten my leg for lunch had the chain actually been under power at the time. Oh well...boy, do I feel stupid.

JayC

Congrats .....
I mean congrats for fessing up about it here and helping us all (HOPEFULLY) avoid it.
It ain't easy to admit to being the victim of your own misdeeds.
I wish you a speedy recovery - as you said, it coulda bin worse, MUCH worse.

 

[treman]

2 comments. All the contractors working line clearance around here wear chaps.
No one has mentioned the chain brake. I kick it on with a very simple wrist move forward the second the cut is finished. Chain stops before I move.
I just got a set of chaps, have to start using them.
I got 14 stitches across the top of my thigh with a coasting chain stepping over brush, 20 years ago. Very lucky.

I was surprised no one else had mentioned the chain brake before this. Chain brake on your saw is one of the most effective, non intrusive and simple safety checks that you can have. set it before you take a step and defiantly before you take one of your hands off the saw. And for the record any true professional tree care company will provide there employees with chaps, and hard hats eye and hearing protection. I know that I was given chaps when i started and when i need new ones b/c they have been hit i get a new pair no questions asked. Chaps are a must. Ive never had any problem with my mobility being hindered but that's just me i guess. Just think about how quick a saw could get to bone at full throttle. were talking a couple seconds from amputation. Now i know that I am guilty of the " its only one cut" thing but i try to tell myself that it could easily be your life. sorry for the soapbox just don't want to see anyone get hurt.


Hope your have a quick recovery and safe cutting.

 

[czechsonofagun]

Just reading it gave me the creeps, you are one lucky guy!

 

[Jay4200]

Epilog:

I took my stitches out after about 10 days, then put on steri-strips for a week to keep the scar from spreading. It's still a little pink, but my scar looks downright sexy. Yup, I'm going to have the fend the women off with a bat once shorts season starts .

JayC

 

[Elviscaretaker]

Sounds like it healed up well.:thumbsup:

 

[davygp38]

Epilog:

I took my stitches out after about 10 days, then put on steri-strips for a week to keep the scar from spreading. It's still a little pink, but my scar looks downright sexy. Yup, I'm going to have the fend the women off with a bat once shorts season starts .

JayC

Tell them you got the scar from a motorcycle crash, my brother in law gets no end of traction with that story.

 

[PILOON]

O.K.
I am sold on chaps.
Got a cataloge and will order a pair VERY soon.
I recieved an on line catalogue that I ordered from a link on this trend.
Thanks!

Not younger or as agile as I was once, but still have 2 chain saws that I won't retire.

Also aiding in my conviction was fact that 2 weeks ago I needed to phone EMR due to a plugged small intestine that required immediate surgury.
Was released just this AM minus about 4 ft of small intestine as I had developed a total blockage.
Not all that rare, I understand and survivable as long as caught in time.

 

[farmboyZ]

thats sure is some **** of luck that you didnt get your leg cut off. If you had been wearing shorts that mighta been a different story. Good thing youre ok though accidents always happen. I dropped my granpas old Stihl cast iron saw and about got my foot once I wasn't paying any attention

 

[Car Doc]

I am not so sure and I bet nobody else is about having bare legs being the less injury that has chewed their leg up I could be wrong?

It (pants) sounds like some protection but chaps are the only way or the special kevlar reinforced chain saw pants you can buy.

From my experience and most I read about the pants pulls the chain saw into your leg and I mean hard and fast!

To get loose from it you end up pushing the saw back down the leg unwinding the chain away from you in order to untangle the pants least thats how it happened to me 3 times over the years it wasn't a clean cut by no means. ymmv