Chainsaw Chaps *bloody pics for emphasis*

[TerryD]

I don't post much, but thought this needed shared. Most everyone who has camped or off-roaded has needed a chainsaw at some point. Be it a small trimming saw or a 20"+ bar piece, the need for safety is imperative. I learned my lesson today while cleaning up a large willow that had fallen in our yard with last weeks storms here on the east coast USA. I was using a 20" McCulloch that I put a new chain on this morning. We had already hauled off two dump trailer loads of wood yesterday and one this morning. After a quick water break, we went back at it, moving larger sections of trunk into the trailer before piling brush on top of it. I had cut a larger section up already and was working on getting a section that was across our fence into the neighbors yard free where I could possibly drag it into the yard. Probably 10-12" diameter sections. I finished a cut on a branch and as I was pulling the saw back over the log to go back to work on the trunk, the still running chain tagged me on the knee. At first I wasn't too concerned, thinking "man that was close, gonna have to be careful." I took a step back to shore up my footing for the next cut and noticed my pants were indeed cut, and blood was covering the knee.

I am very lucky that I had been off the throttle and my pants pretty much stopped the chain, but not after it dug in a little. I've heard of many worse cuts and amputations, so I'm very thankful that I basically just got grazed. However, it still took 13 stitches to close it up and cost me a ER visit. Probably put me about a week behind on cleanup work as well. A stupid price to pay considering a set of chaps cost about $60-$80 USD and would have easily prevented this.

Not so terrible, but still a waste of a few days getting to where I can use it again. Here's hoping you never get bit.

 

[burnoil]

Holy crap...glad it wasn't more serious than that, but that is still bad enough. Get well soon.

 

[Honu]

OUCH !!!!!

 

[Fantom]

Ouch, good thing it didn't go deeper.
I have seen many things, between construction sites (using a circular saw to cut 2X4 while resting on some guys leg), and wheeling trips (chainsaw accidents and more). I always carry gloves, steel toes and safety glasses in the truck as a minimum in the truck. When we're on the trail, I wear steel toed boots, I've had a truck back over my foot during a recovery and good thing I had my boots. Every time I grab the chainsaw for a trail clearing I've got glasses and gloves. Those are all small cost protection pieces that are worth a lot more than the alternative.
The last time I was on the trail and repairing a truck I didn't put my glasses on (wasn't doing anything special), the brake line broke and I got a face full of brake fluid, my eyes burned for about 2 hours after, not enjoyable.

 

[JIMBO]

:sombrero: Heh Heh, chainsaws are like Hi-Lift jacks--great convenience, but so dangerous-

I don't post much, but thought this needed shared. Most everyone who has camped or off-roaded has needed a chainsaw at some point. Be it a small trimming saw or a 20"+ bar piece, the need for safety is imperative. I learned my lesson today while cleaning up a large willow that had fallen in our yard with last weeks storms here on the east coast USA. I was using a 20" McCulloch that I put a new chain on this morning. We had already hauled off two dump trailer loads of wood yesterday and one this morning. After a quick water break, we went back at it, moving larger sections of trunk into the trailer before piling brush on top of it. I had cut a larger section up already and was working on getting a section that was across our fence into the neighbors yard free where I could possibly drag it into the yard. Probably 10-12" diameter sections. I finished a cut on a branch and as I was pulling the saw back over the log to go back to work on the trunk, the still running chain tagged me on the knee. At first I wasn't too concerned, thinking "man that was close, gonna have to be careful." I took a step back to shore up my footing for the next cut and noticed my pants were indeed cut, and blood was covering the knee.

I am very lucky that I had been off the throttle and my pants pretty much stopped the chain, but not after it dug in a little. I've heard of many worse cuts and amputations, so I'm very thankful that I basically just got grazed. However, it still took 13 stitches to close it up and cost me a ER visit. Probably put me about a week behind on cleanup work as well. A stupid price to pay considering a set of chaps cost about $60-$80 USD and would have easily prevented this.

Not so terrible, but still a waste of a few days getting to where I can use it again. Here's hoping you never get bit.

Congrads-you lucked out-

Ouch, good thing it didn't go deeper.
I have seen many things, between construction sites (using a circular saw to cut 2X4 while resting on some guys leg), and wheeling trips (chainsaw accidents and more). I always carry gloves, steel toes and safety glasses in the truck as a minimum in the truck. When we're on the trail, I wear steel toed boots, I've had a truck back over my foot during a recovery and good thing I had my boots. Every time I grab the chainsaw for a trail clearing I've got glasses and gloves. Those are all small cost protection pieces that are worth a lot more than the alternative.
The last time I was on the trail and repairing a truck I didn't put my glasses on (wasn't doing anything special), the brake line broke and I got a face full of brake fluid, my eyes burned for about 2 hours after, not enjoyable.

Gloves and safety glasses--gotta havem--I've gotta set in my "STIHL" carrying case, so I can't use the "I forgetem" excuse-

:costumed-smiley-007:wings: JIMBO

 

[Willy G]

OOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOUCH, I've nicked my self but that is aweful, also I recommend a hard hat,

Hope you get better soon

 

[TerryD]

I had safety glasses, gloves, and steel toe boots on. Where I work gives us glasses and gloves if we want them and buys us a pair of boots every year. Kinda be a fool not to use them, right? Just never have had the chaps, but I will now.

Here is a picture of the stitches this morning when we were cleaning it. It's SORE this morning. Took some tylenol, but it's still hurting.

 

[UK4X4]

yep that'l hurt- could have been a lot worse !

I bought my first chainsaw this year- the wife bought me the chaps......seemingly I'm worth saving

yep $65 for some un flattering flourescent orange heavy pants, hurt a little but not as bad as your knee.

 

[Stumpalump]

'"Not so terrible". Looks terrible to me! My dad laid the whole back of his hand open when I was a kid with a chainsaw. It snagged a twig and just kicked. You could see all of his finger tendons moving. Could have been bad since he is a professional jazz saxaphone player. I bought the chaps but I understand that feet take more chainsaw hits than legs. Boots and thick leather gloves are just as important as the chaps. I nicked my chaps once and that was close enough. They give confidence and made me careless enough to cut in a very compromised position. I won't make that mistake again because the chaps only clog the chain. They will cut.

 

[Antichrist]

Terry, glad all you got were a few stitches. For sure chaps will be the only thing to protect you from cuts when you lay the saw against your leg.

A few other pointers.
An additional safety item, maybe one of the most important, is keep your chain sharp and properly maintained. A dull chain, and/or one with the depth gauges incorrectly set, is a lot more likely to grab and attack you.
If you're putting pressure on the saw to get it to cut, your chain is dull. You should be getting wood chips, not sawdust from it.
Also, a chainsaw is not a hand saw, you don't use it by sawing back and forth. Unless you're limbing a tree, the spikes should engage the wood.

 

[craig333]

Reminds me, I haven't seen my chaps since I moved. Time to hunt them down (unfortunately they're a dirt brown color, blend in well).

 

[TerryD]

'"Not so terrible". Looks terrible to me! My dad laid the whole back of his hand open when I was a kid with a chainsaw. It snagged a twig and just kicked. You could see all of his finger tendons moving. Could have been bad since he is a professional jazz saxaphone player. I bought the chaps but I understand that feet take more chainsaw hits than legs. Boots and thick leather gloves are just as important as the chaps. I nicked my chaps once and that was close enough. They give confidence and made me careless enough to cut in a very compromised position. I won't make that mistake again because the chaps only clog the chain. They will cut.

Terry, glad all you got were a few stitches. For sure chaps will be the only thing to protect you from cuts when you lay the saw against your leg.

A few other pointers.
An additional safety item, maybe one of the most important, is keep your chain sharp and properly maintained. A dull chain, and/or one with the depth gauges incorrectly set, is a lot more likely to grab and attack you.
If you're putting pressure on the saw to get it to cut, your chain is dull. You should be getting wood chips, not sawdust from it.
Also, a chainsaw is not a hand saw, you don't use it by sawing back and forth. Unless you're limbing a tree, the spikes should engage the wood.

All good suggestions for those who may not be familiar with chainsaws. Another one, DON'T GET COMFORTABLE. Looking back I think that's mostly what happened to me. I just got to comfortable behind a piece of equipment that's designed to cut whatever it touches.

 

[Master-Pull]

Glad you are ok, it could have been a lot worse if you had nicked the artery!

-Alex

 

[4lowdean]

Chaps saved my leg once. Was cutting through a good sized tree with a Stihl that had a 30" blade. I was expecting the tree to be a tough cut so I planted my feat and knuckled up for the long-haul. Turns out the tree was 75% hollow and the Stihl went through it like a hot knife through butter... and then the saw went for my leg when I lost my balance. Luckily the chaps did their job and it stopped the blade in the blink of an eye. The best was when I went in to talk to my boss.

Me: "Hey boss, I got good news, bad news, and good news."

He swivels around in his desk chair and gives me an inquisitive look. This wasn't the first good-bad-good news story I've come to him with. "Okay, what's the good news?" He asks.

Pointing to my leg I say, "I did *not* cut my leg off."

He cocks his eyebrow and gives me a rather stoic look. "And the bad news?" He asks; his voice void of emotion.

"Bad news is we need a new pair of chaps," I say as I hold up the shredded pair of orange chaps.

His eyes go wide. "The good news?"

With a smile I hold up the saw with a fresh blade, "I managed to fix the saw already."

At this point he finally lets his guard down and starts to laugh. He is a rather jovial man who usually ended up playing Santa Clause at holiday parties.


I have a similar story involving a DeWalt drill, a 36" auger bit, and a 40' fall from a tree.

+++

Anyway, to the OP, glad you are on your way to recovery!

 

[TerryD]

Returned to work today. Got the usual "need chain saw safety lessons" and other jabs. All in all, glad to be back rather than another week of laying around. Knee is doing good, healing up nicely. Stitches are supposed to come out this weekend and I can get back at that willow tree. Gonna go get a pair of chaps first though. I don't want a repeat of this. Thanks for all the well wishes guys!