[MD]

I need to speak about this, because a guy close to here just had a chainsaw kickback catch him in the neck. He bled out in seconds.

#1 NEVER put any of your body parts in the plane of a chainsaw cut. Human tendency is to put you eyes right over the top of any saw cut, in order to keep the kerf straight. Do NOT do that with a chainsaw. It is a very powerful tool, but deadly. Kickbacks are deadly, and happen faster than even the most experienced operator can react to. Keep your body, all of it, to the side at all times.

#2 See #1

#3 See #1

#4 Plan your cuts wisely, and if the saw jams in the kerf, STOP, and work it out of the jam manually.

#5 stop when you are tired. take a break

#6 Don't use a dull chain. It it isn't cutting easy, stop, get it on the vise, and hone every tooth

And finally, if you are wondering what any of those instructions meant, don't pull the start cord until you do. Until then, leave the work to those that do.

[rockdoc123]

add to that:

-keep the chain oiled and clean
-always wear chainsaw pants (I know 2 fellows who took serious damage...hey we are experienced we don't need to worry about that, chainsaw pants are for amateurs)
- wear face protection
- understand what you are cutting (old dried out wood versus young wood with lots of sap, wood with lots of hard knots etc). If the blade seems to be having a bit of trouble, back off and start again slowly.
- understand where the blade might end up after the cut is finished, make sure your foot, leg etc isn't anywhere near there.

If all of this seems like it will make you feel less like a lumber jack then buy yourself a good swede saw and a well-balanced axe.

[MD]

excellent add, rd, well said

[evilgenius]

Additionally, I would say; don't allow seeming economic necessity to make your decisions for you. It's easy to become familiar with a tool, such that you have a lapse. Working when tired or losing the fear of injury are easy to come by when you feel you have to get something done in a period of time.

The roads are full of drivers who used to be good drivers, until they started working for Uber or Lyft. Now they make sudden u-turns in the wrong places, just like any cab driver, and can't be trusted from moment to moment as to where they are going. Even the most experienced contractor can cut off a hand, if they become complacent. I know a guy who cut his hand wide open with a table saw, he said it looked like that monster from the Predator movies, when it kicked back. I know another who was making the last cut on his new deck, had to 'get it done,' who doesn't have some fingers anymore. Don't try to get through with the job by some deadline when you haven't honestly asked yourself if you are tired. Don't lie to yourself about the answer.

[MD]

$this->bbcode_second_pass_quote('evilgenius', 'A')dditionally, I would say; don't allow seeming economic necessity to make your decisions for you. It's easy to become familiar with a tool, such that you have a lapse. Working when tired or losing the fear of injury are easy to come by when you feel you have to get something done in a period of time.

The roads are full of drivers who used to be good drivers, until they started working for Uber or Lyft. Now they make sudden u-turns in the wrong places, just like any cab driver, and can't be trusted from moment to moment as to where they are going. Even the most experienced contractor can cut off a hand, if they become complacent. I know a guy who cut his hand wide open with a table saw, he said it looked like that monster from the Predator movies, when it kicked back. I know another who was making the last cut on his new deck, had to 'get it done,' who doesn't have some fingers anymore. Don't try to get through with the job by some deadline when you haven't honestly asked yourself if you are tired. Don't lie to yourself about the answer.

[jedrider]

Great SURVIVOR stuff. I like it.

In the meantime, I'll call a tree service. I marvel at these guys that can do it. I've never seen them wear face protection, though. They seem to have been born climbing trees and wielding a chain saw.

[Plantagenet]

$this->bbcode_second_pass_quote('MD', 'I') need to speak about this, because a guy close to here just had a chainsaw kickback catch him in the neck. He bled out in seconds.

[Ibon]

Here is the dude that has been processing all our timber for our cabins.

[rockdoc123]

$this->bbcode_second_pass_quote('', ' ')I marvel at these guys that can do it. I've never seen them wear face protection, though. They seem to have been born climbing trees and wielding a chain saw.

[Shaved Monkey]

Aparently eyelids arent the best eye protection they are too thin and sometime the blink reflex just isnt enough

[vtsnowedin]

I've been running chain saws for forty five years. I have learned a bit too late to always wear ear protection but don't bother with Kevlar pants of face shields. I do wear glasses and always buy high strength lenses so cant say I wouldn't wear face shields if I was not a glasses wearer. I have just one scar on a knee from running away from a tree that was trying to squash me in knee deep snow and the chain still turning clipped it.
The most dangerous thing other then falling big trees is cutting up the limbs that have been bent by the weight of the tree resting on them. When you cut them free they can snap back and take your head clean off. The advice about not leaving any body part in the kickback plane is excellent.Even if the chain brake works and you are wearing a helmet the bar can give you a nasty cut right between your eyes if you have chosen to hold your head right on the bulls eye.
Did you happen to see Sister Mary Chainsaw cutting up trees down in Florida while wearing her habit? I've got nothing against a woman using power tools they know how to use but a chain saw and a flowing dress do not go together well.

[rockdoc123]

$this->bbcode_second_pass_quote('', 'D')id you happen to see Sister Mary Chainsaw cutting up trees down in Florida while wearing her habit? I've got nothing against a woman using power tools they know how to use but a chain saw and a flowing dress do not go together well.

[SeaGypsy]

All good advice. Kickback is usually from hitting something hard, let the saw do the work. If you have to push, your chain is blunt. If the saw is doing the work, oiled & sharp, it becomes natural to anticipate & control kickback. If it's sticky & blunt you are asking for trouble.

[Outcast_Searcher]

This reminds me of how "brave experts" are killed so often, vs. "scared amatuers". Swimming/boating is an example. I know how to swim, but I'm a weak swimmer when it comes to any distance. And I know that, so even on a fairly narrow river, I'm happy to wear my life preserver. If anything happens, at least drowning or just unpleasantness and swallowing a lot of water is unlikely.

But expert swimmers will tend to say they don't NEED a lifejacket. And that's fine until something happens and they hit their head on a rock or something -- and then they drown.

You can't make people behave safely in all conditions, even if government tries to mandate lots of rules. But for me, it doesn't take too many legit stories of people being maimed or killed doing "X" to make me take safety seriously.

And being called a coward never leaves so much as a mark, so that's fine with me.

[Outcast_Searcher]

$this->bbcode_second_pass_quote('Plantagenet', '')$this->bbcode_second_pass_quote('MD', 'I') need to speak about this, because a guy close to here just had a chainsaw kickback catch him in the neck. He bled out in seconds.

[MD]

$this->bbcode_second_pass_quote('Outcast_Searcher', '
')
I just can't imagine running around 20 or 50 miles from much of anything on a dogsled or a snow machine and just dealing with it when something goes wrong. It's not like these people seem to have good cell access way out in the boonies (as I'd expect).

Plant, are you familiar with any of those cold weather reality shows? Are they 100% BS, if you know? Or is there actually some documentary type stuff in there?

[Ibon]

The Overshoot Predator does not appreciate this thread. He was counting on a little help here from Stihl and Husqvarna.

[Cog]

Stihl chainsaws are very good. But with chainsaws which I use rarely, take your time and think a bit about what you are getting read to cut, and you will live a long life, with PPE or not.

[hvacman]

I've done my share of fire-wood cutting and timber falling back my back-to-the-land days. Knew a lot of professionals who worked in the woods - and some who died there. My two cents:

- Know a chain saw and understand that it can cut through you as thoroughly and quickly as it can soft pine. Previous posts did a good job on covering basic chainsaw safety.

- Know the trees even better. Know how to plumb a tree and figure out the best fall line. Gravity makes things happen fast, with force, and not always in the direction you expected. Have your exit path planned and clear before starting your notch cuts or back cuts. Plan a good hinge to keep the butt from moving from the stump, but In planning the distance to travel on your exit path away from the stump once the tree starts to fall, remember that low branches frequently cause the tree butt to break the hinge and "kick back" towards the stump as it hits the ground. Move quickly, but remember to let the chain stop before starting to walk (or run!) from the stump to your exit point. Even when on the ground, fallen trees are dangerous when limbing and bucking, especially on a slope. Even a relatively small log can weigh over 1000 pounds and crush you if it rolls on you. Chainsaws injure. Trees kill.

- Look up before you cut. There is a reason the old pros call certain types of weak or dead branches "widow makers". See above about what gravity does to things and can do to you.

[vtsnowedin]

$this->bbcode_second_pass_quote('hvacman', '
')
- Look up before you cut. There is a reason the old pros call certain types of weak or dead branches "widow makers". See above about what gravity does to things and can do to you.