Scrounging Firewood (and other stuff)

[chipper1]

The Forest Service is quick to gig for that. I volunteer with them, and have a chainsaw card. You can‘t run a chainsaw with them without one. They say your thumb around the handle is to keep your hand on in case of kickback, so it sets the brake. Otherwise that running bar is coming right for your head. Makes sense to me, it was a hard habit to break when I first started volunteering with them.

I agree.
I had said that when I'm in situations where there could be kickback I'll wrap it, most other times I go back and forth. After driving truck for 20yrs its more than a minor irritation for me. As I've said before, I find experience trumps safety equipment/rules, that being said I wear my ppe much of the time and suggest others do the same. I find many of the rules put in place are not for our protection, but to stop lawsuits(protect companies/organizations). There is no cure for stupid, although the rest are looked on as stupid(untrained fits into that) because of a few. Many injuries are caused from a lack of training, I think it's great that you can buy a saw and there's a safety class you can take, if you want.

 

[panolo]

I honestly don't own any PPE. Cut and split alone 99% of the time also. Is it smart nope, just the way it is.

I admit I am much like you. I do have a helmet with a face shield and ear protection I will wear if I am felling at times.

 

[svk]

I admit I am much like you. I do have a helmet with a face shield and ear protection I will wear if I am felling at times.

Same. If I find myself getting mad or fatigued I’ll stop.

To me the most dangerous situations are cutting saplings and/or downed trees with limbs under tension towards the end of the project.

 

[muad]

I admit I am much like you. I do have a helmet with a face shield and ear protection I will wear if I am felling at times.

I never used to wear PPE, other than safety goggles on occasion. Now I wear chaps and a helmet with the screen face shield. No more fogged up safety glasses. My only complaint about the helmet is when felling trees it wants to fall off my head when I'm looking up.

 

[clint53]

I honestly don't own any PPE. Cut and split alone 99% of the time also. Is it smart nope, just the way it is.

You are running on luck James. It only last so long.
Take it from a old guy that has been doing it 44 years.
Wrap that left thumb around the handle. I know to many that have been hit in the face.
There are 1000's of ways a saw can get you hurt.
I am not being critical. I don't want to see you or anyone get hurt.
It is not un-cool to wear PPE.

 

[chipper1]

I never used to wear PPE, other than safety goggles on occasion. Now I wear chaps and a helmet with the screen face shield. No more fogged up safety glasses. My only complaint about the helmet is when felling trees it wants to fall off my head when I'm looking up.

They are easy to make stay on your head even when tipping your head down, just need to adjust it a bit. If you can't adjust it you should get another helmet. Properly fitted/fitting PPE is a must or its a waste of time and may even become an added hazard.
No problem keeping mine on my head unless I run into something because I can't see because of the helmet lol.
Check out the last few seconds of this video and you'll see why I ran, did I need a helmet with a proper assessment, no. When falling any tree that has branches in another tree or the potential to hit other trees falling down I typically do as you can't predict what exactly will happen. The other place its crucial is when cutting trees such as dead ash, I have seen them start to fall and 20-30' down the top break out and come at the faller .

 

[chipper1]

Same. If I find myself getting mad or fatigued I’ll stop.

To me the most dangerous situations are cutting saplings and/or downed trees with limbs under tension towards the end of the project.

I got wacked in the arm last yr by a sapling, since then I've been trying to find some body armor to wear while cutting lol.
The most dangerous I feel is storm damage, lots of potential for an injury, especially when trees are still connected at the stump. Some are also very hard to read as they have stress fractures you cannot see.
Edit: storm damage is another place I will choose to use less PPE, I like to remove one side of my ear protection to listen for cracking/shifting of trees and branches, it's nice to have a spotter who can keep an eye on things as your cutting also.

 

[Deleted member 117362]

Next thing you're gonna say wrap your thumb around the bar too.
I've been called out for that one many times .

From a guy that cuts in his pajamas!

 

[muad]

They are easy to make stay on your head even when tipping your head down, just need to adjust it a bit. If you can't adjust it you should get another helmet. Properly fitted/fitting PPE is a must or its a waste of time and may even become an added hazard.
No problem keeping mine on my head unless I run into something because I can't see because of the helmet lol.
Check out the last few seconds of this video and you'll see why I ran, did I need a helmet with a proper assessment, no. When falling any tree that has branches in another tree or the potential to hit other trees falling down I typically do as you can't predict what exactly will happen. The other place its crucial is when cutting trees such as dead ash, I have seen them start to fall and 20-30' down the top break out and come at the faller .

I have a Husqvarna Technical helmet. If I wear it with no sock hat on when it's cold, my bald head gets cold but it stays put. LOL. I should have mentioned that part. When I try to keep my head warm, it wants to fall off, no matter how tight I adjust it.

I think I'm going to try a bandana. See if that offers some insulation, while allowing the helmet to stay on.

 

[chipper1]

I have a Husqvarna Technical helmet. If I wear it with no sock hat on when it's cold, my bald head gets cold but it stays put. LOL. I should have mentioned that part. When I try to keep my hear warm, it wants to fall off, no matter how tight I adjust it.

I think I'm going to try a bandana. See if that offers some insulation, while allowing the helmet to stay on.

There are thin hats that I wear under my ski helmet that are a type of fleece(?), they work well under my helmet and keep my bald head warm at the same time. They also have them in full face masks like guys wear snowmobiling, sure the guys in Minnesota could tell you what they are called. I've always called the smaller ones I've worn a toque(spelling). They are very thin, but they breath well(I sweat a lot) and they block the wind. If you helmet won't stay on well when you look up because of your hat its not giving you as much protection as it could be, kinda like what Fauci said about masks .

 

[MustangMike]

Re: Safety Equipment: I'm not the biggest fan of PPE, but I do use it more frequently now, and some things I believe are ESSENTAIL.

#1 Eye protection … always … you don't get a second chance.
#2 I always wear a helmet when felling, you just don't always see what can come down from a tree, (or a chain reaction in thick brush). I have had headgear save me from tensioned branches, and had other stuff fall that I was just fortunate missed me.

I always were gloves and ear protection also, and I always wrap my thumb (just natural for me). I also always wear decent boots (sneakers, etc provide no protection and sooner or something will fall on your foot). In addition, I recently bought some chainsaw paints and try to wear them when I plan cutting, but occasionally I don't.

Everyone makes mistakes now and then, and I plan on leaving with all my fingers and toes attached. Try not to gamble too much with your health.

 

[James Miller]

Why though? So you find it all uncomfortable? Chaps are hot in the summer yes but maybe to be warm in the winter. Gloves I find add some comfort. Eye wear can mist up, I get that, and helmets can be sweaty, but East defenders are generally comfy. Maybe I'm just not sensitive to a bit of minor discomfort

Don't have a good answer for that.

 

[sean donato]

Off to help the neighbors again.

The 390xp is more or less along for the ride, I dont expect to need it, but you never know.

 

[muad]

Off to help the neighbors again.
View attachment 867048
The 390xp is more or less along for the ride, I dont expect to need it, but you never know.

Nice Jerry can! I also use those. The good ones are expensive, so I only have two of those.

 

[chipper1]

From a guy that cuts in his pajamas!

Hey I know many people make cookies in their PJ's .
I just saw a commercial for you'r leaf bagger on YouTube lol.
I sold the JD I had, before the people came I jammed out the yard again . I'll try to get the pins I need for the anti scalp wheels in a bit so I can use the little 2920 to mow if needed. Funny thing about those folks, they told me I could pick up the cash before they even saw it, and they were serious. Their neighbor told them to buy it, he's a small engine mechanic. The guy also does tree work, we talked a good bit when they got here. It's nice meeting good folks .

 

[chipper1]

Re: Safety Equipment: I'm not the biggest fan of PPE, but I do use it more frequently now, and some things I believe are ESSENTAIL.

#1 Eye protection … always … you don't get a second chance.
#2 I always wear a helmet when felling, you just don't always see what can come down from a tree, (or a chain reaction in thick brush). I have had headgear save me from tensioned branches, and had other stuff fall that I was just fortunate missed me.

I always were gloves and ear protection also, and I always wrap my thumb (just natural for me). I also always wear decent boots (sneakers, etc provide no protection and sooner or something will fall on your foot). In addition, I recently bought some chainsaw paints and try to wear them when I plan cutting, but occasionally I don't.

Everyone makes mistakes now and then, and I plan on leaving with all my fingers and toes attached. Try not to gamble too much with your health.

I like my cutting paints a lot, I have two pair, one for winter and one for summer(they feel much like the winter ones . I like to wear them when I know I'll be cutting all day, but for small jobs I just throw my chaps on. One real nice thing about them is they don't catch on everything in the woods, although that's not where I would wear them most times.

You should get a wheelbarrow with two wheels, they don't tip over as often, much safer lol.
Hope you know I'm just playing.

 

[chipper1]

Don't have a good answer for that.

Be careful, there's safety contact tracers out there these days .
Was doing some searches and saw this.
This is and ad from that guy I was talking about. He lives a couple miles from me and used to run his shop out of that location, now he's about 6-7mins away. They will look for rust free vehicles you want if you ask. His parents have some huge 4x4's, they used to run one around when I was a teen with 50's on it .
https://grandrapids.craigslist.org/pts/d/clarksville-2002-250-ford-super-duty/7202140695.html

 

[chipper1]

Nice Jerry can! I also use those. The good ones are expensive, so I only have two of those.

Buddy just stopped over last week with the back of his suv filled with them(the plastic one). He likes our water here, they are part of his crap hits the fan water storage, primarily for drinking water.

 

[Philbert]

and there's a safety class you can take, if you want.

Unfortunately, good chainsaw safety classes are hard to find for an ‘average’ guy. Everyone is worried about liability.

My only complaint about the helmet is when felling trees it wants to fall off my head when I'm looking up.

The arborist style helmets hold better (looks like you have that style?). I find that my MSA helmet feels ‘bomb-proof’ once the hearing muffs are in place!

Philbert

 

[Be Stihl]

Unfortunately, good chainsaw safety classes are hard to find for an ‘average’ guy. Everyone is worried about liability.


The arborist style helmets hold better (looks like you have that style?). I find that my MSA helmet feels ‘bomb-proof’ once the hearing muffs are in place!

Philbert

We have to wear the MSA helmet with earmuffs at work, industrial/manufacturing. I also use the same when I am felling, seems to hold on well. But I have to admit that I don’t have chaps, need them just don’t have any.


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