Chainsaw protective gear

Destination

Destination

Destination

Soldato
Joined
31 May 2009
Posts
21,456
I've used a chainsaw on and off for years now, but frankly never bothered to invest in proper protective equipment.
I'm going to be cutting up a large amount of downed trees, and reckon given the amount there could easily be one kickback in the whole lot, don't fancy needing a replacement brain, as the current one is worn in nicely.

Anyone advise on proper protective gear they would use?
 
Destination said:
I've used a chainsaw on and off for years now, but frankly never bothered to invest in proper protective equipment.
I'm going to be cutting up a large amount of downed trees, and reckon given the amount there could easily be one kickback in the whole lot, don't fancy needing a replacement brain, as the current one is worn in nicely.

Anyone advise on proper protective gear they would use?
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Particularly when cutting stuff up on the ground.

Boots, Trousers are a must.

Forestry helmet with face mask/ear defenders.

Jacket, Gloves, Perhaps slightly less so, depends how safe you feel you want to be.

In most cases (And IME) I would think the greatest risk, if cutting stuff on the ground, is cutting into your feet or catching the saw on your legs.

The next is flicking stuff into your face (Had that with a chipper, fortunately I was wearing my helmet/face mask. It is still a shock having a chunk of wood the size of a Rubik cube smack you in the face mind! :eek:)

The problem with all this safety stuff (Especially jackets/trousers) is that they are good thermal insulators. Even in midwinter I just overheat really quickly and cannot continue working. Summer is almost impossible. I do not know how people who do this all year round manage it really. :confused:
 
I had to go into hospital to have my Carpal tunnels done on both hands - After the op not being able to use either hand for a day or two made me think - Once back up and running I went out and bought leggings - gloves and goggles.
One person I knew that was a part time tree surgeon cut a dead Elm tree down - as it went he left the saw and ran - once tree was down he walked back to get his saw and a branch of the Elm that lodged in tree next to it fell down and took back of his head off - Perhaps a helmet would have saved him we do not know.
A long post just to say buy the safety kit. Better hot than dead.
 
My dad nearly had an accident using a chainsaw. He was using one to help his mate cut down some trees and his mate insisted he used protective gear but my dad tried to laugh it off, his mate wouldn’t let him use it without so eventually my dad put the gear on. After cutting a few trees the chainsaw slipped out of his hands and hit him in the leg, without the gear he would’ve had a nasty wound if not more serious.
 
Probably cost you around 100~ 150 quid
Give or take
For all the protective gear
Still worth it though
One accident with a chainsaw
Could be your last accident
As well as the gear
First aid kit
Fully charged mobile phone
If out of sight of any one
And quick call/text to someone every
Hour if working alone
Bit over the top possibly
But I used to do landscaping years ago
And even guys fully experienced with them
Have chainsaw accidents
The old better safe than sorry
Definitely applies to those tools
 
Mcnumpty2323 said:
Probably cost you around 100~ 150 quid
Give or take
For all the protective gear
Still worth it though
One accident with a chainsaw
Could be your last accident
As well as the gear
First aid kit
Fully charged mobile phone
If out of sight of any one
And quick call/text to someone every
Hour if working alone
Bit over the top possibly
But I used to do landscaping years ago
And even guys fully experienced with them
Have chainsaw accidents
The old better safe than sorry
Definitely applies to those tools
Click to expand...

Yep, Do not work alone if you can possibly avoid it, is a very good policy!

Applies to a lot more than just using chainsaws really. All power tools are dangerous, as is working at heights or with weight above you say EG car repairs (A Car is easily heavy enough to crush you to death. Unfortunately most are not heavy enough to do so quickly! :( :eek:)
 
Orionaut said:
Yep, Do not work alone if you can possibly avoid it, is a very good policy!

Applies to a lot more than just using chainsaws really. All power tools are dangerous, as is working at heights or with weight above you say EG car repairs (A Car is easily heavy enough to crush you to death. Unfortunately most are not heavy enough to do so quickly! :( :eek:)
Click to expand...
Very true
And with chainsaws
Chances are you could be in a relatively remote area given sometimes
That's where the trees are
And they won't come to you lol
 
Definitely worth the safety gear also consider the use of a pole saw in some situations.

A family friend got himself badly in the leg with a chainsaw and had to drag himself 100m on the ground to nearest neighbour bleeding out and only survived because the neighbour was a trained medic IIRC.
 
Bare minimum:

Forrester’s helmet - hard hat with face shield and ear protectors
Heavy duty steel-toed boots with good traction and ankle support.
Cut-resistant gloves
Dedicated chainsaw-resistant trouser or chaps.

Either attend a chainsaw safety course or watch the crap out of YT videos of experienced sawyers. Stihl have quite a good series.

Learn how make the different cuts required for different situations. Learn how to avoid kick-back. Learn how to use wedges to stop your saw getting stuck. Learn which trees to walk the Hell away from and get a professional in.

If you’re going to use an electric chainsaw, get protective gear specifically designed for them as the ones designed to stall petrol chainsaws don’t work very well with electric ones.
 
the thought of myself using a chainsaw sends shivers down my spine
ever since watching the film the texas chainsaw massacre.

chainsaws don't take prisioners.
 
psd99 said:
the thought of myself using a chainsaw sends shivers down my spine
ever since watching the film the texas chainsaw massacre.

chainsaws don't take prisioners.
Click to expand...

Indeed they don’t. It’s like working with mains electricity or at sea. The moment you don’t respect what they can do or don’t pay proper attention; you’re going to get hurt.
 
Oregon, Stihl and Husqvarna are all good brands. You can buy their starter stuff, but it might be worth your while to look at their pro stuff if you’re going to be doing a lot of felling out in the woods. I have the entry level Oregon trousers, gloves and helmet as I’m just cutting firewood and the odd fallen tree.

All chainsaw resistance clothing should tell you how many layers of polyaramide weave are used in their construction and/or their safety standard rating.

I wear safety glasses as well as using the mesh face shield on the helmet as I’ve had debris get through the mesh when using a line trimmer.
 
I'd strongly advise you to take a safety training course it'll take you through the do's and don'ts as well the safety equipment and why you should be using it'll only take a day or two chainsaws are dangerous pieces of kit. Even the pros get caught out tree surgeon in town here died after an accident with one up a tree.
 
Class 2 wellies are around £50. You're as well getting those than Class1 for the price difference in all honesty. Get a set of them as they offer a great deal of protection and 99% of the time I personally find myself in situations where wellies are ideal rather than normal boots either way. You won't mind getting them absolute manky compared a nice set of boots for example.

Class 1 trousers will do the job unless you are using a >60cc saw IMO. I just got a pair of the Husqvarna Classics and they are very nice. Get a set with braces or buy a set of braces seperate as they do make a considerable difference keeping the bloomin things held up without needing worry about them.

Any of the Stihl or Husqvarna standard forest helmets will do the job.
Have a shop around I recently got a Petzl helmet bundle with the Husqvarna ear defenders and mesh face protector. It's a bit lighter and certainly more comfortable than the basic forester types if you plan wearing it for extended time. I managed to get it for the same price as the normal Technical level Husky helmet so was well happy.

Ignore anyone that thinks it is all OTT or makes you "less of a man". That old time attitude is an utter joke. I know a lad who has worked saws for many years and brags about having the biggest saws.... even half losing an arm as he stopped the saw going in his face he still acts the "big man" because he doesn't wear all that PPE stuff and cuts in shorts and t-shirt.... Utter stupidity. Be safe!
 
just don't wear a bikini and you'll be fine :p


looked at doing a proper chainsaw training course once £350 just for the basic cross cut and maintenance one. couldn't use the chainsaw unless you had the ticket when i was doing some voluntary forestry type work due to insurance requirements.
 
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