Fellow Fathers - Advice on teaching a son,s

[wdfccf73]

I'm a newbie to this site and I want to apologize to anyone I might have offended (or pushy) when I first joined a couple weeks ago, thus I didn't have many replies to my first few threads.....

So here goes, I have a 13 year old son, and a 9 year old son. We live in the country, have a small farm, etc., Due to how dangerous using a chainsaw is, When is a good age, do all of you think, should I start teaching the uses of a chainsaw? Letting him help limb? What would be a good starter saw? Of course I would purchase some PPE for him, as I am about to purchase my first chaps soon also.

I am self taught more or less, my dad never took the time to teach me, I just watched him and my uncles, or read the information. I consider myself fairly experienced at cutting firewood, but still a rookie at felling. Most of what I have cut over the years have been blowdowns. I have fell a few but not many. Thank all of you! This is a great site with great information! I like how everyone explains and helps each other! Thanks again!

 

[edisto]

To start out with, I'd have them buck a clean log on a stand. You'll know whether or not they are ready to move on by watching them.

Don't forget the PPE!

 

[Stihlofadeal64]

To start out with, I'd have them buck a clean log on a stand. You'll know whether or not they are ready to move on by watching them.

Don't forget the PPE!

+1 on this for me.
As for the saw, it looks like you already have an 025. Not a bad saw depending on your 13 year olds size. The 9 year old I would just allow
him to carry limbs. My sons have been working with me in many ways since
they were much younger. We graduate them from dragging limbs, to carrying
small pieces, to stacking, splitting etc as their size and strength will allow.
I think it's great you have a desire and determination to give them a work
ethic while they are young. Sheesh, it sure beats the 'pants dragging, ball
cap screwed sideways, crowd' I see hanging out on the corner down town!
Happy WORKING!
Tommy

 

[Muffler Bearing]

I raised both my boy's on our farm. You start with little things. The small 25 HP tractor and see how he observes the funtions and danger. Than move him to the bigger one. Always watch for the signs of responsibilty or Kiddnes.

Some 25 year olds are not allowed any where near my equipment/chainsaws, But i have 2 - 16 yr olds that I wouldn't think twice about letting them run the farm for a week-end.

Watch and Observe. Thats why You Are Called PARENT.

 

[warjohn]

I let my son use a saw the first time when he was 14. I would have felt safe with him using one when he was 12 but he was already working on cars when he was 12 so he new his way around tools. It all depends on the person. A lot of adults have no business running a saw.

Get them PPE. The sooner they start using it the better. They won't think of it as a hindrance.

 

[StihlyinEly]

Before you put a saw in the older boy's hands, I'd make sure he's spent enough time around you, helping steady the branches you are cutting, carrying, stacking, etc. Same with the younger boy. The more familiarity they have with saws by watching you, before they get one in their hands, to better off they'll be.

And they'll have your example to learn by. Particularly, how to respect the saw and handle it safely. Safety is the neverending bottom line with chainsaws.

Then I'd definitely give the older one a chance with the saw in a carefully controlled cutting lesson, as long as you see in him the responsibility and markers that he's ready for that.

As mentioned, it's great that you're raising them to work with you outdoors. I spent my summers growing up on my Gparents' Wisconsin dairy farm, and that's where I learned about hard work. Those lessons are still paying dividends today.

 

[wdfccf73]

Thanks for the replies! Yeah, the 13 year old cut hay, with me riding fender, for the first time last summer, 45 hp tractor and haybine. My grandfather had me driving a 35 hp tractor at the age of 9 by myself. I was 12 when he passed away but I could do everything on the farm but bale hay by myself. What he taught me in that little bit of time has made me the man I am today! It is that kind of work ethic and behavior that I want to pass along to my boys, although probably not at the same age or time line.. But yes baby steps with both of them and let them proceed as they are ready.

 

[nmurph]

growing up on a farm teaches you to operate machinery at an early age. i learned chainsaws at 12. i would drive a tractor down the tobacco row at 6, then stop and someone older would turn it around. at 12 i could drive a 3-speed on the column pickup anywhere on the farm, as well as to my uncle's farms.
i would worry a little about the 9YO with a saw, and PPE is MANDATORY. i would suggest you get steel-toed boots for those running saws. i am about to purchase a pair of chainsaw boots for myself.

 

[JasonBmac]

Noone can tell you when your sons are old enough.... That's very dependent on their maturity and ability to follow direction/understand consequences. Some are ready at 9, some not ready at 32. Youtube holds the proof.

I'm also a self-taught firewood/recreational saw user. My father never taught me either, holding chainsaws to be vile dangerous beasts.... He was only half wrong.

I've since taught a couple neighbours to use their saws properly, or at least more safely. I treat them, and have them treat the saws, like firearms with very short range. As such, if it helps, I'd consider a kid who can handle a thutty-thutty to be capable of handling a saw, mentally at least. Physical strength (not to lift the saw, but to control it) also comes into play.

Bucking rounds on a stand is a great place to start. Most of the hazards there are obvious, and have been reduced to the greatest extent possible.

The saw needs a few attributes. It should have most or all the modern safety features, ie chainbrake, chaincatcher, righthand guard, small diameter sprocket tip and a safety chain. It needs to be a great runner: Your kid doesn't need the distraction of a saw that only idles sometimes.

It needs to be light enough for the kids, anti-vibe will keep them thinking longer, and it needs enough power to pull enough bar for the job. For many, this could add up to a lowly Wild Thing. Others might want a nicer saw... Depends on the jobs the kids will have.

Spend some time talking about chainsaw use.... Make sure the kids UNDERSTAND kickback.... Not just know about it, but understand why and how it happens. And thus how to avoid it.

Teach them how to maintain a saw, or at least how to tell when it needs maintenance. This is a huge failing of many homeowner users. Sharp chains, properly tensioned on well-dressed bars... They need to sharpen a rocked chain or 2 early, so they'll keep the chains in wood not dirt.

Lots of good info out there for safe use.... From text to video.

Falling and limbing present added hazards, and should be "worked up to". If you're not SURE how it's gonna go, it's a job for someone more qualified.

And of course, the PPE. Ears and eyes and gloves are a bare minimum. Chaps better still. Hardhat when working under anything (ie the wood you're falling).

So, I figure they're ready to learn when they're ready to listen to you blather on and on about all this stuff. Start'em with a simple talk and a couple cookies, then chat some more. It's kept my neighbours in limbs so far...

J

 

[Billy Jack]

Like several have said, make sure he is just "around" you when YOU are using it. Gradually include letting him hold it (non-running) while showing him how to handle it properly, and then start with some small stuff that can be cut easily w/o moving it, or it moving around.

 

[nmurph]

And of course, the PPE. Ears and eyes and gloves are a bare minimum. Chaps better still. Hardhat when working under anything (ie the wood you're falling).

J

chaps should never be optional nor should ear protection................most gloves give you zero protection from a moving chain, and make sure the ear protection are at least 31db antennuation.

 

[RandyMac]

I was started out with handtools when I was ten, after two years of being around chainsaws, I was given an XL12 to use, seeing how saws were used, and being in the woods was a good start

 

[gwiley]

What's the rush? My boys (13 and 16) help with all sorts of equipment and tools, including firearms but the chainsaws are off limits until they have sufficient body mass to safely handle the saw.

There is just no substitute for a minimum degree of raw strength and mass when handling a chainsaw. I agree that it doesn't take a LOT, but there is a minimum. If the saw operator gets tired or can't easily maneuver the saw then he can't be safe.

Watch the boys, but if you have any doubts wait until they are bigger. How would you feel if they got hurt because they were over reaching or trying to do something that they just weren't quite physically up to?

I push my boys hard, but I try to recognize where the line of risk of death/serious injury lies and then I make a point of not crossing it.

My boys will need to tip the scales at 130lbs (+/-) or demonstrate sufficient upper body strength and coordination before I will hand them a chainsaw.

 

[DSS]

There was a thread a couple of months ago asking us how old we were when we first ran a saw. It was pretty interesting.

I couldn't find it now to save myself, but someone smart might be able to.opcorn:

 

[lesorubcheek]

As edisto said, a clean log on a stand I think is a good idea to see how they can handle it. With limbing, there's a greater danger of a kickback situation, and that's NOT what needs to happen. Personally, I think learning the dangers of kickback is about the most important thing to teach 'em to avoid while operating. Of course they need to show maturity and the ability to handle the saw before they ever start in the first place.
Dan

 

[lone wolf]

always two hands on the saw and tell him to keep his head to the left and arms to the right away from the saw chain so if it jumps up it wont hit him.

 

[smokinj]

I raised both my boy's on our farm. You start with little things. The small 25 HP tractor and see how he observes the funtions and danger. Than move him to the bigger one. Always watch for the signs of responsibilty or Kiddnes.

Some 25 year olds are not allowed any where near my equipment/chainsaws, But i have 2 - 16 yr olds that I wouldn't think twice about letting them run the farm for a week-end.

Watch and Observe. Thats why You Are Called PARENT.

+1 I was raised the same way I think I was around 12-13 running a pos lombard....not saying all lombards are just the one I ran.

 

[lone wolf]

get a non aggressive chain that reduces kickback and teach him how to avoid kickback.

 

[rmh3481]

Do you have a project that you can involve the boys in where you can demonstrate? Start out with here is the carb, the air cleaner, the sparkplug, the on off switch, how to mix the fuel, where to put the oil, how to start the engine and use the brake when walking and so on. Maybe buy or borrow a little light weight short bar saw for them to learn on. Something little and light like a little echo or homelite with a 10 or 12 inch bar. Teach them simple things to get started, keep the chain out of the dirt, cut up close to the power head, keep your thumb wrapped all the way around the handle bar, stand to the left of the bar when cutting and so on. Also, teach them to start the saw on the ground so that there is less chance to loose control in their early stages.

Best wishes,
Bob

 

[gemniii]

This brings up one of the complaints I had with our local Boy Scout troops - Even Eagle candidates were not allowed to use power tools.

One thing I didn't see mentioned - Get them hauling around the biggest saw they can immediately. When you go to the woods let them carry the saw, preferably with PPE. There is some experience gained in just learning to correctly handle a non-running saw.

Show them how, and get them to sharpen the chains. They will probably get a couple of nicks doing this and gain more respect for a sharp chain.

If you eat things like pork shoulder or full bone-in ham an excellent memorable visual clip is to tie one of the hams down and then show them how quickly a chainsaw will go thru one. Sort of like "this is your brain, this is your brain on drugs".

I would recommend MINIMAL ear protection the first couple of times they actually hold a running so they learn the deafening loudness of a WOT saw.

After they learn to carry, sharpen, fuel and hold saws let them join the "girl scouts" and make some cookies on logs set at an appropriate cutting height off the ground so the logs don't move, and the boys don't hit the ground with the saw chain. With full PPE, including good boots.

Then of course you have to buy them each their own saw. The 13 yr old will probably be able to handle a 441.