Safety Glove recommendations?

[hangfirew8]

I looked at old threads, couldn't find much except passing references...

I'm looking for safety glove recommendations, the kind with some Kevlar or something to protect my hands. My prime motivation is that I want to use my old Poulan 361, which has no hand guard. Since it may matter, I have relatively short fingers and meaty palms.

Maybe we should break this up into Winter and Summer recommendations.

HF
PS I already have chaps and helmet/mask/headphones.

 

[Matt J Leppek]

Superior Glove - Cowgrain Leather Cut Resistant Chainsaw Gloves | Endura® Slash Proof

check those out, have sizes S-XL and have the same stuff used in chaps to jam a saw. looks like the price is about 30 bucks. i havent used them personally and theres no reviews on them, but they look solid.

some more to choose from at baileys, all claim to be cut resistant-whether its chainsaw cut resist or knife, not sure. http://www.baileysonline.com/search.asp?SKW=chainsaw gloves&catID=9781

 

[watsonr]

Kick-backs normally result in facial injury if I'm not mistaken. I wear leather gloves and operate lots of saws without chain brakes, never felt the need to use the kevlar ones. Its the material that stops the chain and without much material in a glove, probably going to get you anyway.

Then again...

 

[hangfirew8]

Kick-backs normally result in facial injury if I'm not mistaken. I wear leather gloves and operate lots of saws without chain brakes, never felt the need to use the kevlar ones. Its the material that stops the chain and without much material in a glove, probably going to get you anyway.

Then again...

There's more to chain saw injuries than kick-back. There's falling forward onto the saw, for one.

This has been linked before:

HF

 

[hangfirew8]

Superior Glove - Cowgrain Leather Cut Resistant Chainsaw Gloves | Endura® Slash Proof


check those out, have sizes S-XL and have the same stuff used in chaps to jam a saw. looks like the price is about 30 bucks. i havent used them personally and theres no reviews on them, but they look solid.

Thanks! Those Endura gloves look to be a step above most of the rest because they have ballistic nylon (Kevlar is a brandname) on the backs of both gloves, not just the left hand.

Both glove backs are nice, but front and back would be even better....

some more to choose from at baileys, all claim to be cut resistant-whether its chainsaw cut resist or knife, not sure. Bailey's - Gloves > Cut Resistant Gloves

Hopefully we can get some personal experiences on some of the Bailey's offerings?

HF

 

[Matt J Leppek]

Thanks! Those Endura gloves look to be a step above most of the rest because they have ballistic nylon (Kevlar is a brandname) on the backs of both gloves, not just the left hand.

Both glove backs are nice, but front and back would be even better....



Hopefully we can get some personal experiences on some of the Bailey's offerings?

HF

only problem is if theres the ballistic nylon in the front, your going to lose the dexterity in your hands, potentially making running the saw even more dangerous. i prefer a nice fitting glove, thick enough to where my hands dont get banged up, but thin enough to where i have a good feel for the saw.

 

[rwoods]

Kick-backs normally result in facial injury if I'm not mistaken. I wear leather gloves and operate lots of saws without chain brakes, never felt the need to use the kevlar ones. Its the material that stops the chain and without much material in a glove, probably going to get you anyway.

Then again...

Randy, my only kick-back injury was to the hand. Thankfully my right arm was straight and stiff causing the 40# bow saw to go clear over my head. It could have easily decapitated me.

Back to gloves: I haven't brought any of the cut resistance gloves as I haven't found any yet that also cover the right hand (maybe the ones referenced do -I'll check it out); I think I am more likely to lose my grip when I am sawing left-handed due to lots of factors - that is why I want a pair that cover both hands. Ron

 

[rwoods]

As noted above, I see these gloves cover both hands. I'll probably pick up a pair before the season starts. Thanks for posting this link. Ron

 

[rwoods]

Here's another link to one of their other offerings. It comes in one finger mitt and glove styles. Superior Glove - Chainsaw Cut Resistant Safety Gloves | Chainstop Puncture Proof Glove Ron

 

[MCW]

In my opinion safety gloves are more suited to top handled saws where the risk of cutting into the back of your left hand increases during one handed operation. Without a chain brake I just can't see how you'd ever cut the back of your hand? Then again I'd never have a dig at somebody pimping themselves out with any sort of PPE. Better safe than sorry and good work gloves whether they are cut resistant or not aren't cheap.
In saying that though I wear cut resistant gloves but only because I got a heap cheap and they actually have excellent leather so wear really well

 

[slowp]

If you are wrapping your thumb around the handle like you are supposed to do, I think you'll not get hurt.
I can't see any glove offering much protection, but I haven't researched it.

 

[jammin_with_j]

There's more to chain saw injuries than kick-back. There's falling forward onto the saw, for one.

This has been linked before:

HF

As stated by the OP, we often only think about kick back injuries, but slips and falls can cause injuries too.

You're only given one set of hands and feet, better to cover up and protect than to loose em.

 

[Jim Timber]

Head up butt moment. Nothing to see here.

 

[dirkomatic]

I just bought a pair of the Ganka gloves from Bailey's and got to use them on Sunday. I have small hands and was worried about the large size, but they fit better than some of the "one size fits all" work gloves I have worn in the past.

Nowhere, on the tags or the glove, does it state that they are for chainsaw protective use, but it is obvious that there is ballistic nylon on the back of the left hand. They do have "double palms" which supposedly helps with vibration, although I'm sure it's not as much as true AV gloves. The Ganka gloves do feel much nicer than I thought they would.

I wish they were made in the US, though. I dislike the fact that the only choices that Bailey's has is Husqvarna or Ganka. Labonville has the Oregon gloves Chainsaw Safety Gloves, Gloves, Chainsaw safety gear, Safety gloves ... Again, just the left hand is protected.

 

[rwoods]

In my opinion safety gloves are more suited to top handled saws where the risk of cutting into the back of your left hand increases during one handed operation. Without a chain brake I just can't see how you'd ever cut the back of your hand? Then again I'd never have a dig at somebody pimping themselves out with any sort of PPE. Better safe than sorry and good work gloves whether they are cut resistant or not aren't cheap.
In saying that though I wear cut resistant gloves but only because I got a heap cheap and they actually have excellent leather so wear really well

If you are wrapping your thumb around the handle like you are supposed to do, I think you'll not get hurt.
I can't see any glove offering much protection, but I haven't researched it.

I can understand why you would wonder about a back of the hand injury as I would dare say most of us have experienced kick-back many times without incident particularly when starting a bore cut. I would assume that these injuries could occur as a result of loose or poor grip due to fatigue, inattention, weakness, or just poor form. On the other hand (no pun intended), the kickback from a bow saw can be quite forceful. Enough force in my case to rip the saw from my forward grip as the saw pivoted back, driving my left hand into the rotating chain where exposed in the gap between the guard and the powerhead, busting all four of my finger knuckles in addition to inflicting several chain cuts on the back of my hand, with enough momentum left over to throw the saw in a stiff armed arch completely over my head. BTW the saw was an old gear drive MAC which probably tipped the scales at 40#+.

I am not getting any younger or stronger - that is why I am interested in the gloves.

Ron

 

[dirkomatic]

And more Chinese gloves from Forester: MEDIUM SAFETY GREEN DUPONT KEVLAR LINED ANTI VIBE GEL PALM CHAINSAW GLOVES | eBay

Although, both gloves supposedly have 6 layers of Kevlar in the back.

 

[watsonr]

Randy, my only kick-back injury was to the hand. Thankfully my right arm was straight and stiff causing the 40# bow saw to go clear over my head. It could have easily decapitated me.

Back to gloves: I haven't brought any of the cut resistance gloves as I haven't found any yet that also cover the right hand (maybe the ones referenced do -I'll check it out); I think I am more likely to lose my grip when I am sawing left-handed due to lots of factors - that is why I want a pair that cover both hands. Ron

After looking the replies over, guess I've either been lucky or had a good teacher and I am extremely careful knowing that one mistake can cost dearly. Grew up in Idaho, no help near-by in the woods or a cell phone to call someone. Always clear the area before cutting of any trip hazards, branches in the way or whatever I think could cause me to loose concentration or more importantly... not have two hands on the saw at all times when it's running! Don't stand next to me either, I'll ask you to move back.

My father cut until he died, I've cut for around 40, brother for nearly 35 and only two accidents. Was my brother, pulled a big saw from the cut and got him on the thigh.. we wear chaps now and always have worn gloves, eye's and ears... Youngest brother was killed by a log that rolled him over on a log deck, no saw involved.

Just never thought about more than a leather glove..... anybody have any test results of a glove in action? Maybe an entire chainsaw suit of kevlar? I realize a certain amount of protection is a very good idea and being the sole bread winner, accidents weigh heavy on my mind.

The old man beat my behind for walking with a running saw when I was young, never walked more than a step or two since then, probably why I never set the brake either, just makes no sense to walk around with a running saw when it's just as easy to shut it off. Cut myself more times on a saw while it was turned off than anything else, hands, feet, calf, arm... guess that's why I always have leather gloves on!

 

[rwoods]

Randy, I think you are on the money - there is no substitute for good judgment and respect for the danger. PPE has its place but it is no cure-all. I haven't ordered a pair of these gloves yet, but if they aren't flexible and durable, I won't be wearing them long. Ron

 

[cpr]

Husky gloves are no replacement for proper judgement and are junk for the money. Being smart will out-strip any gloves.

How in the aych-ee-double-hockey-stick does one whack the hands, backside or otherwise, while properly operating a saw?

Having built the crap I have, I have to wonder what special brand....

forget it.

 

[StihlyinEly]

Kick-backs normally result in facial injury if I'm not mistaken. I wear leather gloves and operate lots of saws without chain brakes, never felt the need to use the kevlar ones. Its the material that stops the chain and without much material in a glove, probably going to get you anyway.

What I was thinking. Same way I feel about Kevlar boots. Chaps are lots thicker than either. But I'd be happy to hear about someone's experience where a Kevlar glove or boot stopped the chain and prevented injury.