"never cut above your head" the warnings read

[RonMar]

Cutting on a branch or tree that is hung up in more than one location is probably one of the most dangerous operations you can perform with a saw. You may be able to take an educated guess as to what forces are on the branch or tree, but untill you release it, you don't actually know what forces there were and which way it will actually move. In these cases, I try and remove the variables by applying a known force to the tree or branch such as lifting or pushing the downed end with the FEL or pulling with a chain to the drawbar. Or in the case of one tree leaning into another, I try and pull to one side or the other to try and free the tree tops so the tree I am removing is hanging under it's own weight and the tip is not effected by the other tree it was hung up on. This puts a known force on the branch or trunk and you now have a better idea which way the wood will move when you start cutting. With a broken branch, you may by pulling be able to finish the break and not even have to cut up high.

Standing in the bucket is not a good idea as it cuts off your avenues of escape. If you have a lot of this to do, may I suggest one of these STIHL Incorporated United States -- Products -- Pole Pruners -- Manufacturing and Selling The World's Number One Chain Saw This will keep your feet on the ground and your options open.

I have a cordless sawsall that I use attached to the end of a pole which also works pretty well for the light duty stuff.

 

[Deerlope]

I am glad that you are ok. My rules when using a chian saw are this, Never take your eye off the running chain because if there is any way to hurt you it will. I worked today with 2 other guys and I was the only one with a hard hat and ear muffs.

 

[Robert_in_NY]

I am glad that you are ok. My rules when using a chian saw are this, Never take your eye off the running chain because if there is any way to hurt you it will. I worked today with 2 other guys and I was the only one with a hard hat and ear muffs.

My dad laughed at me when I bought the hard hat with face guard and ear protection when I bought my pole saw but I have never regretted it. I learned real quick to wear goggles under the face guard though as the fine saw dust will find its way into your eyes no matter what

It is part of my load up when I start loading equipment to either trim the apple trees or cut the tree lines on the edges of my fields. I usually load it before I load the saw as I love that helmet. It does a great job protecting my noggin to as I had one small limb hit me (2.5") and it rang the hat but didn't hurt any.

I gave up on trying to look cool at the expense of safety. I want a pair of chaps and most likely will get a pair but I really don't do much cutting on the ground as I have no use for firewood so when I do cut it is usually just to cut big limbs into more manageable lengths so I can toss them into the woods or into lengths so my grandfather can take them.

That just gave me a great idea, I am thinking when I get my UTV finally I will build a small log type trailer for hauling limbs behind the utv so as I cut them I can haul them out at the same time. Maybe design the stays so they will fold down and I could use them for a ramp to roll the heavier limbs up.

 

[gemini5362]

Workin I was in tulsa over christmas and was amazed at the amount of wood that was down from the ice storm. I went to help my father in law cut up the trees that were down at his house. I took my 16 foot trailer with two foot sides and chain saw. We filled the trailer about half full with just the bigger stuff from his yard. I went around his neighborhood and a lot of people had the wood cut up and told me to help myself to the bigger stuff and that fema was going to come get the brush. I filled my trailer up once and a couple of days later had to go back up there and filled it half up again without ever leaving his neighborhood. I am glad you did not get hurt too seriously.

 

[workinallthetime]

worked all day and not trip to the ER and no "close calls". After looking at the limb that jacked me up yesterday i really have no idea what happened, the actual cut is clean but there is a limb that splintered about 24" from the cut on the same limb, thats the one that hit me in the face and i have no idea how. unless when it fell this was jamed in the ground and came back to give me this kiss on the cheek.

a note:
#1 i went to 4 places to try and buy a stihl pole saw, everyone was sold out, not to mention the 500.00 price tag. I will buy one as soon as the market around here cools down. I can get a poulan but i dont want to go that route.
#2 as far as standing in the bucket that was my only option unless i wanted to be standing on a ladder which would have been knocked out from under me or knocked me off the thing.

I learned my lesson just like someone else said on here, its hard to calcualte the forces involved with a damaged tree. the first one that hit me in the chest tought me to unload as much as i can of the "pressure" when i can. I did this, the limb was reduced to a bare 14" x about 15 foot long piece. everything i could reach from the ground was off.

If i had to do it again i would reduce the limb much more before the final cut from the tree, take sections out of it till i got to the trunk instead of trying to hurry up and get to the next one.
just another lesson

 

[Robert_in_NY]

worked all day and not trip to the ER and no "close calls". After looking at the limb that jacked me up yesterday i really have no idea what happened, the actual cut is clean but there is a limb that splintered about 24" from the cut on the same limb, thats the one that hit me in the face and i have no idea how. unless when it fell this was jamed in the ground and came back to give me this kiss on the cheek.

a note:
#1 i went to 4 places to try and buy a stihl pole saw, everyone was sold out, not to mention the 500.00 price tag. I will buy one as soon as the market around here cools down. I can get a poulan but i dont want to go that route.
#2 as far as standing in the bucket that was my only option unless i wanted to be standing on a ladder which would have been knocked out from under me or knocked me off the thing.

I learned my lesson just like someone else said on here, its hard to calcualte the forces involved with a damaged tree. the first one that hit me in the chest tought me to unload as much as i can of the "pressure" when i can. I did this, the limb was reduced to a bare 14" x about 15 foot long piece. everything i could reach from the ground was off.

If i had to do it again i would reduce the limb much more before the final cut from the tree, take sections out of it till i got to the trunk instead of trying to hurry up and get to the next one.
just another lesson

I know some people love Stihl but look at the Husqvarna pole saw also. It is a real nice saw and if you don't have a helmet with face guard already, get one when you buy a pole saw and where goggles as it will keep the big chips and fine dust out of your eyes. Plus the ear muffs keep the crap our of your ears too

 

[RedDirt]

I know some people love Stihl but look at the Husqvarna pole saw also. It is a real nice saw......

My friend is a semi-retired logger, BIG timber, forever Stihl operator. He "would never own a Husky". Well he rented a Stihl pole was and it broke down. Went back and all they had was a Husqvqrna. Against his creed he took it to finish the job at hand. Was he surprised! He said it was a far better saw than the Stihl (blasphemy), was more maneuverable and comfortable to use and had plenty of power. I trust his judgment on these things. If I was to buy a pole saw I'd look at the Husky.

About injuries...I've run various machinery all my life, decent sized tractors to fast high speed cutting tools, been injured a few times, been "lucky" not to have been injured more than a few times. One thing I try to remember to do before I perform most risky tasks is ask myself the mental question, "now what could go wrong with this" then correct anything that raises a red flag.

Ken, the logger says, "There are three times in the career of a logger when he gets killed or maimed.

1. When he is green and doesn't know what he's doing.
2. When he's very proficient and becomes cockey.
3. When he's done the job so long it has become routine.

 

[jimmer2880]

When I'm cutting everything, when I'm close to the finish of the cut, I cut very very slowly. That way 1) If for some reason a kick-back occurs, not as much force 2) if things start to move in a direction other than I was prepared, I can get prepared and 3) I'm not good enough (and probably never will be) to get everything right the first time without making small adjustments.

 

[turnkey4099]

On the subject of chaps. I have been using saws for 30 years currently and a few years back in my teens. Been doing 6 to 10 cord firewood every year plus the usual clean up. Never wore chaps until last year. One reason was my age and I am stumbling more working through the brush. I, also, thought they would be "in the way", or "clumsy", or "hot". Nope. I notice them when I first put 'em on at the start of the work and not after that. In the wood lot they go on in the morning and come off only when I am finished for the day whether I am brushing, bucking, falling, whatever.

One benny that they didn't design them for is shin gaurds. My shins are scarred from ankle to knee from being barked on logs, scraped on equipment projections, etc. I now wear the chaps whenever I am working with the wood even it if is just moving it into the shed or splitting it.

Injuries from saws? None yet from a chainsaw but I cut my thumb to the bone using a bow saw in pruning and a 'whip' came straight down out of a tree like a spear when I was using a pole saw - left a scar on my cheek just missing my eye.


Harry K

 

[Robert_in_NY]

Those were some of my main concerns with the chaps as I am usually doing this work when it is hot and I kept thinking the chaps are going to be heavy like coveralls or similar. When I go see my Husqvarna dealer I will ask if he has a pair handy and look them over.

Also, the helmet with face shild does a great job at protecting your face from chips and limbs. I use to worry about how goofy I would look but then I gave up on the looks aspect as I started worrying about safety a lot more since Ava was born