What's wrong with this picture???

[Bigbear]

Re: What\'s wrong with this picture???

Well, I'm sure at the bottom of the dummy list. I've been cutting firewood and felling large trees for equipment operators for about 35 years now. When it's hot out (more than 45 deg.) I do wear shorts and a T shirt, I've been known to cut firewood in shorts and fleece shirt (sleeves pulled up) when we have a warm snow (32deg.). I do wear leather gloves and some type of glasses. I've taught my boys how to run a chainsaw without being afraid of it, but, have the utmost respect for it. They know not to let the nose of the bar touch anything, because that is the reason a saw will kick up, and back at you. They also know not to have any part of their body under or close to where the bar will travel along its cutting path and to always have a death grip on the saw with both hands. I consider my chainsaw as one of my best tools, but they are dangerous. If you can't control one, are afraid of one, never been instructed by someone, or even run one, then you should not even own nor operate one. To me, it's like the gun issue, I have never seen a loaded gun just up and shoot someone, It's the person that pulls the trigger that's at fault, not the gun.
It seems to me the man pictured, is merely showing how easy cutting a log would be with his product. But, he should have taken into account some people are not as ???? savvy as he when it actually comes time to utilize his product. /forums/images/graemlins/grin.gif

 

[trlong]

Re: What\'s wrong with this picture???

Bigbear,

You're absolutely right. No chainsaw, nor ["gun"...let's replace that with ..] firearm, ever damaged anyone without some one at the helm (to mix metaphors).

However, for some one to advertise how easy it is to use their product, and not take into account that there are more customers with money than with any amount of experience or training is completley irresponsible. Obviously, there is a difference between handing a child a loaded chainsaw/firearm/... and selling a very usefull but dangerous tool to an adult. It is just my humble opinion that any one selling a product with an advertisement like that shown should at least take into consideration all the weekend warriors with a Visa Card and no clue as to what would happen if they used the advertised product in the manner depicted.

'Nuff said"?

"Intelligence is finite and the population is expanding" [to plagurize something I once heard]

Tom

 

[Bigbear]

Re: What\'s wrong with this picture???

I'm with you trlong, "Nuff said", one more thought comes to mind, that some people are educated far beyond their intelligence. /forums/images/graemlins/grin.gif

 

[trlong]

Re: What\'s wrong with this picture???

Bigbear,

Agreed /forums/images/graemlins/smirk.gif

 

[Tractors4u]

Re: What\'s wrong with this picture???

</font><font color="blue" class="small">( Shouldn't he be holding onto the chain brake/kickback lever too, instead of the handle? )</font>

No, the kickback lever also works as guard. When the saw kicks back and you are holding on to the handle, your arm will push the kickback lever forward stopping the chain. If you are holding the saw by the lever and the saw kicks back the next stop for your hand/arm is the chain. In a kickback, holding it by the guard would probably still work, but you still have that split second that it takes for the chain to stop.

 

[Varmintmist]

Re: What\'s wrong with this picture???

Its not a matter of fear. Its just a matter of taking sensable saftey measures. I wear shooting glasses and ears when I shoot to. Not hunting, but when I am running 55 - 160 rounds off at a local match or shooting paper, you bet I do. I have never seen a firearm jump up and shoot someone, but I have seen one fail and I have seen brass split and drive gasses through the bolt.

I have cut firewood since I was 12 on and off. For the last 12 or so I have cut all of my fathers firewood, in the last three I bought a wood lot and heat solely with wood. I'm not scared of a saw. I know what they can do.

I never wore gloves before I burned myself working blacktop, now I wear them all the time. I never wore ears, until I worked on jets in the service, now I wear them almost all the time when I run loud equipment. I didnt wear saftey glasses much, just regular ones, until I dropped large money on PRK. Since then I wear them all the time. I got a set of chaps because I had a neighbor who worked for Asplund(?) tree service tell me I really ought to have a set. I got them and the first and only time I ever caught myself with a chainsaw was the first day I had them.

There is a guy at work who says he will never wear chaps. He told me all it takes is to not be afraid of the saw and to know what you are doing and that I was careless. 2 days after that he cut the flesh over his kneecap. It goes along with the other chainsaw scar on his leg.

I'll wear the chaps. I got purty legs /forums/images/graemlins/grin.gif and intend to keep them that way.

................

The picture in question is just plain silly with all that is wrong with it besides just the complete lack of protective gear. It would be nice if they would think a little ahead when the take pics like this. The guy is set up to cut wood cookies, not cut wood. The log is to high, its going to either slide back when he puts pressure on it or it is going to drop on the other end after he takes weight off it.

Bottom line about the pic, forks are not a real good log rest in the first place.

Its just silly. Yet someone might just try that because they saw it in a picture. I have seen dumber, some of those "Hold my beer and watch this" moments. /forums/images/graemlins/shocked.gif

 

[Bird]

Re: What\'s wrong with this picture???

Now I certainly agree that wearing chaps, ear protection, eye protection, and gloves is the best way to go, and that's what I'd recommend to anyone. Personally, I never owned any of the chaps, have never seen anyone use them in my part of the country, and in fact, don't think I'd ever even heard of the them except on TBN. I've always wanted gloves and eye protection, though. Two days ago, I had a "professional" tree service crew remove a big weeping willow and another smaller tree from my yard. The guy in the attached picture wore gloves and sunglasses; the other 3 guys wore no eye or ear protection or gloves at all. /forums/images/graemlins/shocked.gif And they removed the two trees, ran them through their chipper, cleaned everything up, and were gone in less than 2 hours.

 

[Varmintmist]

Re: What\'s wrong with this picture???

Thats because they are cutting weeds. Where are the trees?? /forums/images/graemlins/grin.gif I just have a hard time believing they took 2 hours, what, they drink a pot of coffee?

I never heard of chaps or seen them until about 3 years ago. They were reccomended to me and then the loggers that did my property were wearing them. Seemed like a good idea. They were.

I would not be comfortable wearing a hard hat, so I dont. My head was parked under one for years, I really dont like them. I also wear sleeveless T shirts in the summer. A long sleeve shirt is just to dang hot and it will just add dirty fibers into the wound so I dress for the weather. Anyone who wants to wear a flannel shirt in PA in July, knock yourself out, or just wait a 1/2 hour and the humidity will do it for you /forums/images/graemlins/grin.gif

 

[trlong]

Re: What\'s wrong with this picture???

</font><font color="blue" class="small">( <font color="blue">Anyone who wants to wear a flannel shirt in PA in July, knock yourself out </font> )</font>

Cutting wood in July??? /forums/images/graemlins/shocked.gif /forums/images/graemlins/confused.gif I'm too busy cutting grass to find time to cut wood in July. Just yanking your chain(saw) /forums/images/graemlins/smirk.gif

Anyway, I find it easier to wait 'til most of the moisture is down out of the tree, say in late Oct/Nov and not work up so much of a sweat. Easier on me, the chain, logs drag easier, wood splits easier. And...I can wear safer clothing.

JMHO

Tom

 

[JimR]

Re: What\'s wrong with this picture???

</font><font color="blueclass=small">( Well, I'm sure at the bottom of the dummy list. I've been cutting firewood and felling large trees for equipment operators for about 35 years now. When it's hot out (more than 45 deg.) I do wear shorts and a T shirt, I've been known to cut firewood in shorts and fleece shirt (sleeves pulled up) when we have a warm snow (32deg.). I do wear leather gloves and some type of glasses. I've taught my boys how to run a chainsaw without being afraid of it, but, have the utmost respect for it. They know not to let the nose of the bar touch anything, because that is the reason a saw will kick up, and back at you. They also know not to have any part of their body under or close to where the bar will travel along its cutting path and to always have a death grip on the saw with both hands. I consider my chainsaw as one of my best tools, but they are dangerous. If you can't control one, are afraid of one, never been instructed by someone, or even run one, then you should not even own nor operate one. To me, it's like the gun issue, I have never seen a loaded gun just up and shoot someone, It's the person that pulls the trigger that's at fault, not the gun.
It seems to me the man pictured, is merely showing how easy cutting a log would be with his product. But, he should have taken into account some people are not as ???? savvy as he when it actually comes time to utilize his product. /forums/images/graemlins/grin.gif )</font>

I'm right up there with you BigBear. I've been cutting wood with a chainsaw since I was 14 years old. 38 years later still doing it the same old way cleaning up my land and firewood. I have never cut myself using a chainsaw in all that time. I also used a chainsaw to do a lot of the beam work on my barn. That included nose diving into the beams to make cutouts for other beams to fit into them. I use a full chisel chain for that kind of work with no anti-kickback safety on the chain. I never wear a helmet, chaps or real heavy gloves. Heavy leather gloves can be worse than no gloves at all. A helmet blocks my view from falling objects. Chaps are too heavy and cumbersome to work in thick areas or around a lot of fallen trees. If a running chain catches your glove your hand is going with the chain. Goodbye fingers and hand if that safety lever doesn't kick in. I do however wear hearing protection, ear muffs and light leather gloves. People that are afraid to use a saw shouldn't own one. They should hire people to do that kind of work for them. Like a firearm, it's the person at the trigger that has to be in control at all times. A chainsaw is only dangerous if used improperly by untrained individuals. Always be aware of your surroundings when using a chainsaw. A chainsaw is not forgiving. It will maim you if you screw up. Be safe, be smart, think twice before you make that overhead cut, upwards cut, nose diving cut or any other cut that is not with the bottom of the chainsaw bar.

 

[Jagmandave]

Re: What\'s wrong with this picture???

I've almost been afraid to reply to some of these chain saw threads for fear of huge flames, cause I also wear the minimum amount of safety gear when I use my saw - gloves, ear and eye protection and jeans, no tennis shoes - that's it. I've never had a problem, but I'm very careful, and also have a healthy respect for what can go wrong..........If I were making my living with my saw, maybe I'd do things differently, but by myself, I'm very careful, and self responsible.......

 

[JimR]

Re: What\'s wrong with this picture???

I feel that if you are aware of what's going on you will be more careful. If I was wearing all kinds of protection I'd have a false sense of security. This might lead me to let my guard down. Once you do that it's all over.

 

[beenthere]

Re: What\'s wrong with this picture???

Just keep talkin you guys. /forums/images/graemlins/wink.gif

I've been sawing since '57 and didn't start using chaps until a friend who was a professional cutter for a veneer company took out his ligaments and tendons above his knee cap with the saw, and had to learn to walk again. Couldn't get around in the woods anymore. Chaps would have saved his leg. It's not just a cut to stitch up, but a wide ripped out section where the tendons have to be patched together as they are now about 1/4" too short. Stopping <font color="red"> blood </font> flow is key to survival as well, within seconds of the 'accident'.

I sawed with chaps then for about 9 years and of a sudden one day (the day before my first elk hunting trip) I had a stick catch the saw and push it back against my leg just above the kneecap. I couldn't figure out what was pushing on the saw and then why the saw chain stopped moving. Kevlar was wrapped up in the clutch and a big piece of chaps were gone. I didn't lose any blood, but I was told my face didn't have any color, and was ashen white. Never thought it would be me either. I knew all about how to saw using a chainsaw. /forums/images/graemlins/smirk.gif
I even like the chaps for busting through the woods as the briars are not a problem then.
I could care less that someone else doesn't wear chaps. I do wear them, and as well use a hard hat (got thumped on the head real hard when a tree coming down brushed another one, tossing a good size oak limb back that landed on my helmet).
I'll pray for ye'all. /forums/images/graemlins/wink.gif

 

[trlong]

Re: What\'s wrong with this picture???

JImR, BigBear, and all who are encumbered by excessive safety wear,

I had no intention of starting such a ruckus over this issue. I just thought it was a stupid picture and I don't mean to offend anyone with the following. It is only "My opinion".

As much as I preach caution with dangerous tools to my wife, daughter, and other's children who some times help out around here, I feel like a complete hypocrit if I don't practice what I preach.

Having seen experienced and generally very cautions workers blown off 400 Amp buss panels, fallen off 20' high manufacturing equipment with no safety rail (and now permanently disabled), nearly killed by 50 gal. drums being pushed off mezzenaines by fork lifts with no safety zone below them, ...the list goes on, augmented by a close friend who has to pick up the pieces and take the pictures for OSHA, I personally care to err on the side of caution.

It is obviously possible that wearing safety equipment may give some a FALSE feeling of security, making them more prone to not pay serious attention to every second they are using the saw. There are numerous "safety devices" that are good examples of features that makes novices believe saws, SUV's, even firearms won't hurt them. Point taken.

I cleared my land and cut firewood here for 20 years, without incident or safety clothing. Two years ago, my cousin who has cut and sells firewood, "sugar wood" for sugaring, built and torn down barns with the use of numerous chainsaws for 50 years, nearly lost his leg to a saw. He, and his 40 yr. old son, who was (thankfully) with him at the time, immediately went to the nearest dealer and bought helmets and chaps (after the nearest hospital sewed him up). That was enough to convince me that "an ounce of prevention......"

I guess we should put this to bed. I suppose this will probably not be the "last word" on this but... each takes their own risk (and their family's welfare) in hand, literally, each time they pull that cord. Freedom from excessive safety regulations is both a right, and a responsibility. Each time some one screws up and shoots some one with a firearm, each time some one gets tired, isn't paying attention, and seriously injures themselves with a chainsaw, tractor, ...any dangerous tool, they play into the hands of the idiots that want to regulate every aspect of our lives.

That said, I need a smoke!

Tom

 

[JimR]

Re: What\'s wrong with this picture???

</font><font color="blue" class="small">( JImR, BigBear, and all who are encumbered by excessive safety wear,

I had no intention of starting such a ruckus over this issue. I just thought it was a stupid picture and I don't mean to offend anyone with the following. It is only "My opinion".

As much as I preach caution with dangerous tools to my wife, daughter, and other's children who some times help out around here, I feel like a complete hypocrit if I don't practice what I preach.

Having seen experienced and generally very cautions workers blown off 400 Amp buss panels, fallen off 20' high manufacturing equipment with no safety rail (and now permanently disabled), nearly killed by 50 gal. drums being pushed off mezzenaines by fork lifts with no safety zone below them, ...the list goes on, augmented by a close friend who has to pick up the pieces and take the pictures for OSHA, I personally care to err on the side of caution.

It is obviously possible that wearing safety equipment may give some a FALSE feeling of security, making them more prone to not pay serious attention to every second they are using the saw. There are numerous "safety devices" that are good examples of features that makes novices believe saws, SUV's, even firearms won't hurt them. Point taken.

I cleared my land and cut firewood here for 20 years, without incident or safety clothing. Two years ago, my cousin who has cut and sells firewood, "sugar wood" for sugaring, built and torn down barns with the use of numerous chainsaws for 50 years, nearly lost his leg to a saw. He, and his 40 yr. old son, who was (thankfully) with him at the time, immediately went to the nearest dealer and bought helmets and chaps (after the nearest hospital sewed him up). That was enough to convince me that "an ounce of prevention......"

I guess we should put this to bed. I suppose this will probably not be the "last word" on this but... each takes their own risk (and their family's welfare) in hand, literally, each time they pull that cord. Freedom from excessive safety regulations is both a right, and a responsibility. Each time some one screws up and shoots some one with a firearm, each time some one gets tired, isn't paying attention, and seriously injures themselves with a chainsaw, tractor, ...any dangerous tool, they play into the hands of the idiots that want to regulate every aspect of our lives.

That said, I need a smoke!

Tom
)</font>

Well said and to each his own.

 

[Bigbear]

Re: What\'s wrong with this picture???

<font color="red"> I guess we should put this to bed. I suppose this will probably not be the "last word" on this but... </font>
<font color="blue">AMEN!!! </font> /forums/images/graemlins/confused.gif

 

[Joebhall]

Re: What\'s wrong with this picture???

Hey ......i love the rhetoric! /forums/images/graemlins/cool.gif

 

[Joebhall]

Re: What\'s wrong with this picture???

are you resting yet????? /forums/images/graemlins/cool.gif

 

[Joebhall]

Re: What\'s wrong with this picture???

ditto /forums/images/graemlins/cool.gif

 

[Joebhall]

Re: What\'s wrong with this picture???

ditto /forums/images/graemlins/cool.gif