The Accidental Smallholder Forum

Smallholding => Equipment => Topic started by: Bert on May 05, 2012, 08:44:49 am

Title: Chainsaw clothing
Post by: Bert on May 05, 2012, 08:44:49 am
Started using the other halves chainsaw recently and my grandparents have kindly offered to buy me some protective clothing.
We have a budget of £500 maximum for this.
Does anyone have any suggestions as to which make to buy as there is such a choice.
Thanks
Title: Re: Chainsaw clothing
Post by: MikeM on May 05, 2012, 08:52:11 am
wow, for £500 you'll get some really top notch stuff. For that sort of money you'll be able to get climbers gear, which is a lot lighter and more comfortable that the bog standard stuff. Try to find a local supplier that specialises in chainsaw stuff rather than the bottom end stuff they sell at agri merchents. To put it into perspective, my outfit cost about £150, 60 for the tolleys, 70 for the boots and abot 30 for the lid. But that is all bottom end stuff, perfectly legal and servicable, but  not the most comfortable *espcially the trousers, that weigh a tonne).
Title: Re: Chainsaw clothing
Post by: robert waddell on May 05, 2012, 09:25:41 am
from your location map i would say very good water proof ones :D :D :D
definitely go for lightweight ones  you have to be as nimble as possible when working with a power saw :farmer:
Title: Re: Chainsaw clothing
Post by: FiB on May 05, 2012, 09:52:23 am
oooooo lucky you bert!!!  I also have bottom end stuff and it sooo doesnt fit (think mine was a husquevarna starter kit with very padded chaps adn size 6 wellies that weigh a tonne (I am size 5 but they dont go any smaller)  .  Picies when you buy it to make me jealous please!
Title: Re: Chainsaw clothing
Post by: suziequeue on May 05, 2012, 09:59:14 am
Do go for trousers rather than chaps - and braces - as they can be quite heavy - even the lightweight climbers ones I suspect.

Like the others - go for the good stuff - this is life and limb you are talking about protecting. Stihl and Husqvarna make clothing and chain saws so they should know!!!

I find the lid/ear muffs/face guard all-in-one combination helmets very handy.

Do get the proper chainsaw gloves and boots. The tongue of the boots are specially designed to provide protection to the foot and ankle - just where the trousers stop. The gloves are differentially designed to provide protection to the back of the leading hand in case of kick back.
Title: Re: Chainsaw clothing
Post by: Bert on May 05, 2012, 06:50:25 pm
Thanks for all the advice  :thumbsup:
Have ordered helmet, boots, trousers & braces from www.frjonesandson.co.uk (http://www.frjonesandson.co.uk).
Will post pics when they turn up ( probably going to live in it all for ever more as I have spent less on a car in the past  :o . Difference is this lot could save my life, the car could of killed me......... well the way I used to drive  ;D )
Title: Re: Chainsaw clothing
Post by: FiB on May 06, 2012, 08:54:26 pm
Bert have you been on any training?  I thouroughly recommmed, if you havnt - it will probably do as much for your safety and limbs as the clothing  (although you'll never saw without once you have been on training!).  I did the basic course, (maintainance cross cutting and felling small trees) with Phil Dunford in North wales and really enjoyed it.  Looking forward to seeing goodies!
Title: Re: Chainsaw clothing
Post by: FiB on May 06, 2012, 08:55:52 pm
Lol - Ive just seen where you live!!  (not very useful telling you about Phil in North wales, sorry!!!!) ;D
Title: Re: Chainsaw clothing
Post by: MAK on May 06, 2012, 10:25:01 pm
I have mixed views on protective clothing .
Other threads have had people warn of the dangers of using a chain saw and the protection available.
Some have said that restrictive clothing is actually a hazard and that agility,caution and respet for the tool are very important.

I do not have an ejector seat in my car when I travel at 130 km/hr or wear chain mail gauntlets if I use a jig saw or drill.
I only use my chain saw after 3 espresso's coffees , when it is dry under foot and when I have no other jobs planned for the rest of the day - I give myself time.  I note that here, in the early spring, the air is filled with the sound of chain saws, and I have never seen people wear any protective clothing.## Every smallholder has a wood and logging is the major  industry after cattle. Nearly every home burns wood and we got thru 1000 Euros worth last winter. That is a lot of wood  and not an excessive amount So a lot of wood is cut here without protective clothing.
So - why an I not buy protective clothing in the same shop that offers me 10 different chain saws ? I can buy a face visor or goggles alongside strimmers.

I do not say this is right or wrong or or suggest that protective clothing is not needed. However the most important point is respect,  knowledge and caution when using a chain saw. That said I gain knowledge and experience every time I use a chain saw. I still have  a healthy fear with some cuts and when cutting some types  of wood that only helps me take more care     
Title: Re: Chainsaw clothing
Post by: Small Farmer on May 06, 2012, 11:15:28 pm
When I was young I didn't bother either and had some very narrow escapes. And one I didn't escape. Now I'm older, some days more than other days, and I don't trust my reactions.  The saws are safer now, the chains kick back less but I'm less able so I take more care v

Around here the farmers don't have chainsaws any more because their insurance wont cover it.
Title: Re: Chainsaw clothing
Post by: Bert on May 07, 2012, 08:02:56 am
Quote
Lol - Ive just seen where you live!!  (not very useful telling you about Phil in North wales, sorry!!!!) ;D
FiB Hopefully me and the boss are going to go on a course at the end of the summer. Which is why I have finally been aloud to use other halves chainsaw (after over 5 years of asking) and only under his supervision. You can tell me more about Phil  in North Wales ( price,location, ect) because he could be considered as my grandparents live in North Wales. 
 
MAK I agree with you, you have to respect a bit of kit like a chainsaw that can kill you and quite frankly if you don't respect a chainsaw you shouldn't be handling one. I spend a lot of time on the Sea another lady that can kill you with out a second thought if you don't respect her. I also used to be a zoo keeper so trust me I know how to respect things that can kill you. 
Title: Re: Chainsaw clothing
Post by: suziequeue on May 07, 2012, 08:46:08 am
Quote
However the most important point is respect,  knowledge and caution

.... and a sharp chain.

Couldn't agree more MAK

Quote
I did the basic course, (maintainance cross cutting and felling small trees) with Phil Dunford in North wales and really enjoyed it

I did my course with Phil too. I did the two days of basic maintenance etc and then - after discussing my needs with Phil I went out and bought what we thought would be best and then a month later I did the three days basic cutting and felling small trees with my own chain saw etc.

Phil is a really good teacher and it was a great start. I haven't had to change any of my kit since as it is well suited to what I do.
Title: Re: Chainsaw clothing
Post by: robert waddell on May 07, 2012, 09:24:08 am
well i am to old to go on a course and seriously doubt i would learn anything    all these forced upon us courses and mandatory tickets for this that and the other are only legislation to part us from our money for the betterment of others        if the EU have there way you wont be needing safety gear or chainsaws  if they do the same as they are proposing for sprayer operatives with having a cut of date for the age of the operator
this safety malarkey has got the fastest wheels ever  building sites tickets that last 5 years then have to be renued at your expense or you suddenly find you are unemployable   pass your driving test and you get that one for life no compulsory retesting no updates     now the same halfwits that drive on the roads i would not let near a hand saw never mind a power saw
i prefer not to use safety equipment because that is my decision   this does not imply that others should do the same
and my old McCullouch 595p does not have a chainbrake and is illegal(as far as i am aware) to use or sell    temperamental but will still fell and log trees over 30inches across :farmer:
Title: Re: Chainsaw clothing
Post by: MikeM on May 07, 2012, 10:21:25 am
safety clothing is a tricky one, a lot of the time (say, 90%) I don't wear anything other than ear defenders*. Most because I am logging stuff up using a saw horse. The saw will go nowhere near me so long as my body ergonomics are correct. However, if I'm using the saw in situations where how it'llbe used is unpredictable then I will wear it, it doesn't cause me any harm to do so, even tho I have never needed it.


*I always use ear defenders when using 2 strokes, it's the only injury you can't avoid with safe practise, ergonomics etc. I've met too many deaf tree surgeons to take that risk with me lugoles.
Title: Re: Chainsaw clothing
Post by: simba on May 07, 2012, 11:13:56 am
i have read the mixed views of people on here re protection and i say wear trousers steelies on your feet and helmet and visor ... does not matter how many years one has not needed it or respect for what your doing each and every cut of wood is diferent wether its on the ground or to be felled one slip, snag or twist can throw the saw and if you get it into your body it WILL hurt they do not forgive..

know how to look after your saws keep them sharp let the saw do the work. i love working with them 
Title: Re: Chainsaw clothing
Post by: Small Farmer on May 07, 2012, 12:06:33 pm
No, it didn't hurt.  Lot of blood but no pain. 

It didn't heal well though cos A&E cocked up and sent me home with instructions to check the wound after a week.  When I did the wound reopened and the amount of blood was vastly more than previously.  Being young and stupid I wrapped it up in and drove to A&E rather than make a fuss with an ambulance.  The trouble is that a chain cuts a messy groove.

I personally wear a combined hard hat and ear defenders.  The hat has a mesh visor which catches any crap heading towards my face.
Title: Re: Chainsaw clothing
Post by: suziequeue on May 07, 2012, 02:44:49 pm
Yes - everybody has their own ways of doing things.

Personally I would never forgive myself if I sustained an injury that could have been prevented by wearing protective clothing and I wasn't wearing any. But that's just me....... :D :D
Title: Re: Chainsaw clothing
Post by: chrismahon on May 07, 2012, 04:17:46 pm
Whilst common sense and a clear head may protect you from stupid mistakes, what you can't protect yourself from is hidden nails in a tree or mechanical failure of the saw and a blade wrapping itself around your arm. I think Bert's Grandparents have the right idea and I have trusted to luck far too long. I will be getting some protective equipment as well. Hopefully it will never be needed, but living in France with a way of life relying so heavily on good health we can't afford any injuries -even minor ones. The very next job I get will see the income spent on protective clothing.
Title: Re: Chainsaw clothing
Post by: robert waddell on May 07, 2012, 04:28:58 pm
the chainsaw experts or ones that do it for a living  will not put there chainsaw near a tree that has the possibility of wire or nails in it     the risk is far to great
i have had a chain break twice  and had it been cutting on the top of the bar it would have had more of a consequence than breaking on the bottom of the bar just at the logging dog
the chain break on modern saws is actuated by the saw kicking back and engaging the brake modern chains prevent this even further :farmer:
Title: Re: Chainsaw clothing
Post by: FiB on May 07, 2012, 06:11:08 pm
Suzie - I think we were on the same course!!!!!!!!  Bert  here is Phil's site.  •
http://www.chainsawtraining.com/ (http://www.chainsawtraining.com/)

He is ace.  Really great man with lovely manner. On my course there was me who had never picked one up and 2 expereinced guys  (one of who was pretty lethal  :o ) and SuzieQue (I think) - he managed to somehow coach all of us (at these different stages) perfectly.  The best and possibly most important bit was chain sharpening, tensioning and general maintainance, plus getting into good safe routines. (oh and a bit of chainsaw carving at the end)  I love my chainsaw!
Title: Re: Chainsaw clothing
Post by: TheCaptain on May 07, 2012, 08:39:54 pm
When I'm chopping up for the wood store I generally wear my steel capped trucker boots, light gloves, ear defs and a pair of frag-proof goggles or specs. when I'm out and about cutting down trees I stick my lid on that has the visor, face mask and incorporated ear defs. Very good piece of kit which I wouldn't be without.

Other top piece of kit - Dremel 3000 with the chainsaw sharpening attachment. Dull saw to sharp saw in about 3 minutes, has more than payed for itself in the time that I've had it and does a better job than taking it to the shop to get it ground down or using fiddley files to sharpen a chain. If you're going to spend any money on anything, spend it on one of those.