At a minimum, wear heavy Carhartt’s

My uncle learned this the hard way back in the 80's. He went to the local gas station after and Butch the owner said why you so pale. He had a towel wrapped around it and Butch almost passed out.
 
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hp468 said:
So my normal summer work attire of cargo shorts and flip flops are not up to your standards?
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As long as you employ the "safety squint" you're good!

John (who ended up in an ambulance last spring after a chain saw incident with a young hickory tree).
 
Chaps or newer safety pants are important , so is knowing how to use the saw and maintaining the chain well-lots of accidents happen with a poorly maintained chain and bar. From trying to force a dull chain to finish the work , to the other end with a chain that’s too sharp and very aggressive. A super sharp chain dulls super fast anyway, it’s all about balance and consistency.
 
17 staples in my left thigh...chainsaw won. Stupid I know but I still don't wear chaps. It was my fault and I know what I done wrong so I just don't do that anymore.
 
Wait, what shouldn’t I do?
Infamous1 said:
17 staples in my left thigh...chainsaw won. Stupid I know but I still don't wear chaps. It was my fault and I know what I done wrong so I just don't do that anymore.
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I was clearing lots for mobile home package deals. I had a big tree fall across about a 4" hickory and bow it up in about a 5' high arch with the top pinned to the ground. I was in a rush and neglected my foot placement and went to undercut the little hickory. I was about 1/2 way through it when the tree split kicking the bar into my outer left thigh. I remember looking at the denim threads hanging all out of the chain and thinking " man that was close"...nope. When I stepped back the inside of my boot felt squishy, thats when I realized I in fact did not escape unscathed. Well it didn't pay to be in a rush that day. Like was said earlier, have a sharp well balanced saw, pay attention to foot placement and pay attention to every cut.
 
Infamous1 said:
I was clearing lots for mobile home package deals. I had a big tree fall across about a 4" hickory and bow it up in about a 5' high arch with the top pinned to the ground. I was in a rush and neglected my foot placement and went to undercut the little hickory. I was about 1/2 way through it when the tree split kicking the bar into my outer left thigh. I
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This is what happened to me, except the business end of the tree-under-spring-tension clocked me across my eyebrows and split the skin to my skull. 3/4 of an inch lower and I'd be blind. And let me tell you, face injuries bleed a *lot* . Bamalance trip and 8 or 9 stitches got the leak stopped.

Now I know what it's like to be kicked by a mule. Apparently I need a chain mail balaclava .
 
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Infamous1 said:
I was clearing lots for mobile home package deals. I had a big tree fall across about a 4" hickory and bow it up in about a 5' high arch with the top pinned to the ground. I was in a rush and neglected my foot placement and went to undercut the little hickory. I was about 1/2 way through it when the tree split kicking the bar into my outer left thigh. I remember looking at the denim threads hanging all out of the chain and thinking " man that was close"...nope. When I stepped back the inside of my boot felt squishy, thats when I realized I in fact did not escape unscathed. Well it didn't pay to be in a rush that day. Like was said earlier, have a sharp well balanced saw, pay attention to foot placement and pay attention to every cut.
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I had a similar incident with a Pine tree. Trees can throw a saw with a lot of force. I kissed my knee and calf muscle. Luckily only ended up with 4 stitches and 7 staples.
 
Dad had a scar on the back of his thigh, down near the "armpit" of his knee. He was cutting a tree and hit an embedded nail inside. Flung the saw back around and whacked him on the leg. Just a little love tap. But it would have totally defeated chaps had he even been wearing them.

I don't care how nerdy people think I am--I wear chainsaw chaps every time the saw is in use.

Now if the chaps would only help protect the rest of my body...like my shoulder when the tree starts falling the wrong way and I foolishly think I can catch it and stop it!!!
 
Any recommendations for chaps? Would only be used for ground work. Chaps or Pants?
 
After 35 years of heating with wood I had my first close call. My Stihl Wood Boss gave me a quick little kiss on my left kneecap when I got tangled up in underbrush.
I didn't feel a thing. But, my BDU's had a tear about 2" long, so I pulled my pants leg up to take a look. That freshly sharpened chain made a nice clean slice straight across my knee, about 1/16" deep.
Now, I wear chaps EVERY time I use my chainsaw.
 
LizardKing said:
Any recommendations for chaps? Would only be used for ground work. Chaps or Pants?
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I bought these in 2018. Still going strong. Granted--I've not "tested" them, but they work otherwise! I bought the 40" long version. I'm 6'3" with a 34" inseam. They fit perfect.

Amazon Link
 
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I always wear jeans and safety toe boots when I use a chainsaw.

I have never once caught myself with the chain except one time on the toe of the boot and that’s because I was a little lazy since I knew it wouldn’t cut through and used the boot to prop up a limb I was cutting.

Most accident happen with kick backs which are usually caused by cutting a log bigger than the saw.

As long as you have respect for the equipment and use some common sense you can avoid most problems.

Then there are the situations where you do everything right and still get hurt. But those are generally tree related injuries. Good times.

@JohnFreeman this was the result of a tree deciding to swing at me like a bat when we were cutting it up to log out after we pushed it down.

BEC6BD91-1180-4ACF-8E84-8359E1817A80.jpeg
 
JohnFreeman said:
Now I know what it's like to be kicked by a mule. Apparently I need a chain mail balaclava .
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I haven't had a bad chainsaw incident yet. Have the chaps and helmet that I should be using. But, I did have a run in with a 1.5hp disk sander with about a 20 grit disk. Went through my jeans like there weren't there and left me with a case of bleeding road rash across my right thigh.
 
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I need to get a set, as I get older I know that my strength and balance aren’t what they once were, and that leads to increased risk.

BTW, never stand in line with your saw. Mine got caught one day and kicked hard just when I happened to be relaxed, entire saw came up and passed my head on the right. Didn’t go flying, but I’ve heard of it happening.

I’m thinking of buying a Milwaukee electric saw. No less dangerous I suppose, but lighter.
 
Few years ago the 044 cut through my overalls and boxers like they weren't even there. Got very lucky and just ended up with a tiny scratch.

The only heat we had in our house growing up was a woodstove. I've spent a lot of time on saws. Watched my dad go from someone who could throw any tree anywhere he wanted to a guy that got "too fast" once he reached a certain age and had a couple of significant accidents with his saw.

I don't think I'm quite there yet, but I can feel it coming. I probably need to order some chaps before too much longer.

This thread is a good reminder. Wonder if they make safety overalls? LOL

vegggies 038 (2).JPG


vegggies 039.JPG



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Back when I fell trees for a living …

I dropped a big oak and it hung up in a 6” diameter snag. The snag was bowed over almost to the point of explosion.
I figured to touch it a little with the 2100 and down she’d come. Well the oak was up about 12 foot, so I snuck in there and touched it. It snarled a little and the tree was now at about 8’, just over my head.
Well being young and quick, I snuck back in, touched it again, a little harder this time. Bam, the snag exploded and the mighty oak crashed to the ground.
Standing there looking at it and happy it didn’t kill me, I felt warmth running down my left leg. I looked down and yup, she sprung a leak. My coveralls were soaked. Hmmmm how’d that happen?
When I was coming out from under the oak I had swung the saw in an arch right into my left knee.

The doc said it was like stitching hamburger back together. He also said I’d need to stay off it for a minimum of two weeks for the stitches to hold.
I asked him if he could pay my bills while it healed. He told me he was sorry but he couldn’t do that. I then told him I was sorry and his request was also a no go.

Wrapped that pair of bloody coveralls with duct tape, for extra support and went right back to it.

Peg legged it thru the woods for some time before that mush healed.
 
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JimB said:
I need to get a set, as I get older I know that my strength and balance aren’t what they once were, and that leads to increased risk.

BTW, never stand in line with your saw. Mine got caught one day and kicked hard just when I happened to be relaxed, entire saw came up and passed my head on the right. Didn’t go flying, but I’ve heard of it happening.

I’m thinking of buying a Milwaukee electric saw. No less dangerous I suppose, but lighter.
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On a lark, I bought the Harbor Freight 40v chainsaw and I like it for it's convenience, if not power. Pick it up and go. Went ahead and bought a couple of the other tools too. I've got a Stihl for heavier work.

Interesting thing I read about electric and chaps is that electric can go though chaps. Seems the safety of chaps is that the fibers bind up the chain and shut down the gas engines, while electrics can keep on going if the trigger is held down.
 
georgel said:
On a lark, I bought the Harbor Freight 40v chainsaw and I like it for it's convenience, if not power. Pick it up and go. Went ahead and bought a couple of the other tools too. I've got a Stihl for heavier work.

Interesting thing I read about electric and chaps is that electric can go though chaps. Seems the safety of chaps is that the fibers bind up the chain and shut down the gas engines, while electrics can keep on going if the trigger is held down.
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Dear lord, I hope those things never really become a part of real life.

Nothing will replace the sound of a big old Husqvarna idling in the woods. That sound is like music to the ears.
 
Got 4 stitches in the knee clearing lots in college. End of day, tired and the lady in Banner Elk wanted me to clear some small pines out of a nature area. I go in swinging a saw like it was a weed wacker (again, young, dumb and tired) Small tree hung in the teeth of the saw and when it hit the saw it kicked the bar back. Damn chain was not even spinning and my boot was full of blood by the time I got my pants down to look. Somewhat related, same time frame, got my skull fractured, nose broke, three teeth knocked out and a dislocated shoulder. Another end of day, we had been cutting timber and a guy wanted some trees out of a pasture. Buddy was supposed to drop them, I was going to limb them and then we would take the firewood. Last tree he starts cutting is leaning down hill away from me, so I start limbing. Hear a high pitched yell and another buddy is pointing straight above me. I pitched the saw and got about 2 steps when the very top (and rotten) laps hit me. Tree had spun completely on the base and fell up hill. I still run a saw and heat with wood some, but I am older, maybe smarter and a hell of a lot more careful. There is no such thing as "too careful" when running a saw.

edit, but I don't like the weight of chaps, so I still wear jeans.
 
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georgel said:
But, I did have a run in with a 1.5hp disk sander with about a 20 grit disk. Went through my jeans like there weren't there and left me with a case of bleeding road rash across my right thigh.
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Ran over my thumb with an air sander running 80-grit when I was a teen working at a body shop. Still got the scar.
 
Me. said:
I ditched my chainsaw and went to using a Sawzall.

I‘m a basic homeowner. A Sawzall will do 99.999% of the work I’d ever use a chainsaw for. Slower for sure.

I‘ve even cut down a couple of 12” trunk trees this way. Takes a big blade and time, but it can be done.
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Way too damn much time spent near a big heavy thing that could fall over in any direction it chooses. Hell naw.
 
BrettB said:
Chaps or newer safety pants are important , so is knowing how to use the saw and maintaining the chain well-lots of accidents happen with a poorly maintained chain and bar. From trying to force a dull chain to finish the work , to the other end with a chain that’s too sharp and very aggressive. A super sharp chain dulls super fast anyway, it’s all about balance and consistency.
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This, and knives.

I don't know what it is about some people that they just HAVE to believe keeping a knife (or saw) sharp is more dangerous than not. My mother-in-law was like that, not a sharp knife in her kitchen.

A sharp chainsaw is definitely safer because you don't have to "force" it to do the work...you guide it an "let" it do the work.
 
thrillhill said:
This thread is a good reminder. Wonder if they make safety overalls? LOL
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Sure they do! Close enough, anyway!

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RetiredUSNChief said:
This, and knives.

I don't know what it is about some people that they just HAVE to believe keeping a knife (or saw) sharp is more dangerous than not. My mother-in-law was like that, not a sharp knife in her kitchen.

A sharp chainsaw is definitely safer because you don't have to "force" it to do the work...you guide it an "let" it do the work.
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Nothing worse than dull chains and dull knives.
 
9outof10mms said:
I bought these in 2018. Still going strong. Granted--I've not "tested" them, but they work otherwise! I bought the 40" long version. I'm 6'3" with a 34" inseam. They fit perfect.

Amazon Link
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I'm not figuring out the sizes of these things. I'm 6'2", also with 34" inseam. The "small" is 35", medium 37", and long 40". How can they not drag the ground?
 
What about when you're running a chainsaw and step knee-deep in a yellowjacket nest? Carhartt you say?
 
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