When do you use your chain brake?

[windthrown]

Ok, another spin-off of the drop starting poll is the use of the safety chain brake. Seem to be a lot of no-users out there...

 

[B_Turner]

Ok, another spin-off of the drop starting poll is the use of the safety chain brake. Seem to be a lot of no-users out there...

If the motor is running and I am not cutting, the brake is on. Especially if I have to take some steps or I am setting the saw down which I do alot to wrestle blocks I am cutting.

I pop it off and on constantly, wrist on hand off. It's a built in habit.

 

[Peacock]

If the motor is running and I am not cutting, the brake is on. Especially if I have to take some steps or I am setting the saw down which I do alot to wrestle blocks I am cutting.

I pop it off and on constantly, wrist on hand off. It's a built in habit.

Same here.

 

[Jack_Shaft]

If the motor is running and I am not cutting, the brake is on. Especially if I have to take some steps or I am setting the saw down which I do alot to wrestle blocks I am cutting.

I pop it off and on constantly, wrist on hand off. It's a built in habit.

Yup, sounds pretty familiar to me too. Cut, look around, wrist-click, walk a few paces, hand-click, cut again. Rinse and repeat.

 

[Haywire Haywood]

+1

 

[HandLogger]

Not as much as I should

Yep, I'll admit it ... I'm not as vigilant about using it as I should be. :blush: I certainly use it whenever it comes to unusual situations, however. I guess I have just used too many old saws and have, consequently, gotten into some bad habits ... Very good poll, though.

 

[SawTroll]

When I cold start it - sometimes.....

 

[windthrown]

Looks like the dentists are in for some good money ahead from some of the sawyers here on AS. opcorn:

 

[g.moore]

051 doesn't have one and I haven't got the one on the 025 working yet.

 

[RED-85-Z51]

Chain brake???

Oh..that thing around the clutch I never use?

 

[RaisedByWolves]

I honestly only have one saw with a brake, and I dont use it.



.

 

[Tzed250]

GOL method.

Take a hand off of the saw=brake on

Take more than one step=brake on

All of the above=no injuries to date.

 

[davefr]

If the saw isn't cutting wood the brake is on!! I won't take one step without it on. I also won't own a saw without a brake or use one with a bad brake.

It's the best safety feature ever to go on chainsaws and I embrace it's use.

 

[PA Plumber]

Up until becoming a member of this site, I always thought the brake was only for emergency use, not a standard safety measure. Been working at trying to use it all the time.

 

[Dadatwins]

If the motor is running and I am not cutting, the brake is on. Especially if I have to take some steps or I am setting the saw down which I do alot to wrestle blocks I am cutting.

I pop it off and on constantly, wrist on hand off. It's a built in habit.

+1

 

[Bowtie]

I have only used my chain brake twice, and I believe both times saved me from injury because one time was a kickback situation on my 441 doing a plunge cut, other time was taking a limb out of a pin oak with my 026 and the limb slapped the saw back at me and the bar/chain bounced off my shoulder, after the chain brake did its job. I see i need to improve my practice of using the chain brake. This has been a really good poll and thread.

 

[Sawin]

Naw, don't use it, but glad it is there. I have had occasions that popped it on. I guess it's because I usually cut with *abandon. I do wear clothes though.

Do as I say, and not as I do....I always encourage young-uns that I am introducing to saws to use it though.



*abondon is my imaginary friend...

 

[reachtreeservi]

I use mine when starting my saws and when finishing a cut in the tree. I usually pop the break , let the saw down on a break away lanyard .
Guide the piece or hold on , then pull my saw up and turn it off, re clip the saw and reposition. On the ground I take my finger off the interlock when moving.

 

[Fuzly]

GOL method.

Take a hand off of the saw=brake on

Take more than one step=brake on

All of the above=no injuries to date.

I very recently took a GOL based class and have been practicing using it this week.

Like other posters have said, once I saw how the instructor popped it on with his wrist and grabbed it quick when he got ready to cut again, it certainly didn't seem to take any extra time. I'm not 100% yet, but I'm working on it.

Prior to this it was just something I flipped on once or twice a year to make sure it still worked.

 

[redprospector]

The first thing we used to do with a new saw was to remove the chain brake. I went to work on a fire once and they made me put one on my saw, I've left them on ever since but I verry seldom use it. At least I don't take em off anymore.

I was wondering, If you apply the brake every time you take more than one step, how long does it take to limb a tree?

Andy