Just got back from the ER

[Skyco]

12 stiches is a nasty gash. Especially when the cut was made with a chain saw. I don't quite understand others saying, "that's not bad".
.

Might be because in the whole scheme of chain saw injuries it isn't...read once where the average chain saw injury is 110 stitches

I have chaps and hate them, hot and restraining..but the point to wearing them keeps getting driven home.

 

[niemeyjt]

Reading the OP saying it was his thigh that got hit, I have just got out my pair of (Oregon IIRC) chainsaw trousers.

The padding only extends about 2 or 3 inches above the knee, and is only on the front.

It makes me wonder if even these are adequate?

[Edit - just looked in the Stihl catalog and both their styles seem to go all the way up to the waist, not the knee - looks like I may have answered my own question.]

J

 

[thatguy]

I got some stiches in my knee , I now don't use the chainsaw without chaps.

My chaps are also used everytime the chainsaw comes out.. Im sure some ppl silently laugh at me for being 'mr safety'.. but im OK with that..

Brian

Edited to add - speedy recovery

 

[tawilson]

We often get a warning in life before disaster hits. I'd consider that a warning. I've got winter saw pants, summer saw pants, new chaps, and a few old chaps laying around. They are cheap when you consider what can happen. Chain saws don't just cut, they rip and tear and take flesh away.

 

[JB4310]

I never see guys in the tree cutting business wearing chaps, maybe they are more suited to us weekend chain saw wielders

I'm sure the trend was started by the saw manufacturers liability advisers (lawyers). They show them in every advertisement, kinda like if you cut your manhood off don't sue use, we gave you plenty of warning.

JB.

 

[Kyle241]

I never see guys in the tree cutting business wearing chaps, maybe they are more suited to us weekend chain saw wielders

I'm sure the trend was started by the saw manufacturers liability advisers (lawyers). They show them in every advertisement, kinda like if you cut your manhood off don't sue use, we gave you plenty of warning.

JB.

Likely the company's insurance will not payoff if they are not wearing chaps but then again, perhaps they don't have insurance!

Any way one looks at using a chainsaw, even if it's for 5-10 minutes, chaps will save you at some point in life. We all have moments where we are tired at the end of day and say, "one more tree", or we are mired up in tangles/vines, etc. and we are trying to move it with one hand and the saw is in the other and it bumps the leg or it's dusk and light is fading and we can't see well, or you're standing on a pile of logs and the one you step on moves. We have all been there if you cut a lot of wood and one time (that's all it takes) it will happen. When I first hit my chaps, I couldn't believe how it happened and can't really remember now as like others, I am very careful with a chainsaw in hand. But let me tell you, they stop the running chain immediately - it was the greatest experience for me when cutting wood as it showed they work. I now have two chaps, the old ones I don't use and the new ones.

 

[Egon]

Heal well and quickly.


Stuff happens.

Chaps or pants may mean less Stuff Happening.:thumbsup:

Lots of experience and no chaps or pants maybe quite common as they are hot and impede movement to some extent.

Of course a cut limb also greatly impedes movement.:thumbsup:

 

[tawilson]

I never see guys in the tree cutting business wearing chaps, maybe they are more suited to us weekend chain saw wielders

I'm sure the trend was started by the saw manufacturers liability advisers (lawyers). They show them in every advertisement, kinda like if you cut your manhood off don't sue use, we gave you plenty of warning.

JB.

I've seen old loggers with lots of scars on their legs.

 

[retiredmgn]

This is driving me absoultly bull ****. I would like to engage in the conversation on a topic but any post I make I am not able to see it. If one responds to half dozen threads in a day it helps to be able to review what you said.
Is this happening to anyone else?
I know my posts are making it to the forums because I see replies to my posts.

 

[Bird]

I never see guys in the tree cutting business wearing chaps

Me, neither. My storm damage was pretty light this past week, but I spent a little over 2 hours Tuesday with an electric chain saw so I could get into my garden tool storage shed to get my lawnmower. First picture is what I started with and the second is the two piles of brush resulting. Then Friday I had a 7 man professional crew here for just over 2 hours to take down the rest of that tree, grind the stump, and drastically prune 4 other trees. The boss wore hearing protection when he was running the stump grinder. Otherwise, gloves were the only "safety" equipment I saw used.

 

[Elviscaretaker]

Wear protection and never cut alone! You may think nothing will happen but when it does you'll be happy some one else is there to call for help. Been there done that. Without my spotter I don't think I would have made it out.
Also, if they claim to be a pro and are not wearing chaps of some sort I'd check to see if they are legal or just plain stupid. No offense anyone

 

[6sunset6]

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.

 

[6sunset6]

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.

 

[JoelD]

I will not operate my chainsaw without my chaps.

I'm short (5.5), therefore I use suspenders to keep the chaps up high enough so that I don't step on them.

As a result the chaps come up high on my chest.

We had a guy, 34 years old, in Epsom NH get killed in 2009 when his saw kicked back and got him in his upper body. He called 911, by the time they got to him he was dead. Happened in his yard.

I'm happy that my chaps cover as much as they do.

I will not use my saw without them, I also wear my helmet with face shield

guilty of not wearing my ear protection, chainsaws just sound to good at full song.

I could not bear to have my daughter see me get gravely injured or worse, particularly if I could have prevented it.

Thanks for the post, it's spring and much clean up will be going on.

As a sidebar, I think the chaps and helmet make me look professional and kinda cool, got a great picture of me and my brother in full garb working in the yard. We look like to tough outdoors men from the 50's.

Sincerely,
Joel

 

[moored4]

I will not operate my chainsaw without my chaps.
As a sidebar, I think the chaps and helmet make me look professional and kinda cool, got a great picture of me and my brother in full garb working in the yard. We look like to tough outdoors men from the 50's.

Sincerely,
Joel

AH! :confused2: Come on you tease us with that!!! WHERE IS THE PICTURE! :dance1:

 

[JoelD]

Of course I'm looking LOL

I found one of just one of us, but I'm certain I had one of the two of us.

I'll keep looking.

Joel

 

[JoelD]

Here's the best I could find, actually from 2009, but a little "aging" and voila.

I can't find the one of the two of us.

This one pre-dates my suspenders.

Joel

 

[moored4]

Nice picture! Can't tell if your wearing chaps or not! But you do have the gloves on! :thumbsup:

 

[JoelD]

Yup, chaps, riding high.

I'm honestly scared to operate either of my saws without them, even my pruning Echo and that thing is designed for single handed use.

Joel

 

[Jay4200]

Here's the best I could find, actually from 2009, but a little "aging" and voila.

I can't find the one of the two of us.

This one pre-dates my suspenders.
l

Very nice - Incidentally, I'll be calling you when I need that lil' dozer .

Thanks for all the kind words - I just got back from the hospital again....not for the saw cut, but for an MRI due to an injury I got a few months back trying to be 18 again on the ski slopes. Ironically, my shoulder hurts much worse than the chainsaw wound, but not from the ski injury - they gave me a tetanus shot in my injured shoulder at the ER yesterday and it is SORE....thanks for that!

JayC