As several know I had a accident with a saw hit my knee with it and done some damage. I got my stitches out this week my bone is still bruised so it hurts to do certain things but I'm doing better However I'm not afraid to admit that I'm a little spooked now about operating a saw. It sucked that it happened but I still got lucky and I can't help but think what if it was worse or what about next time I've operated a saw for years accident free and was always aware of its capability to hurt someone or myself. But it seems like now I'm really aware and it makes me nervous. I haven't got any chaps yet and I won't run the saw until I do but I'm still nervous about getting back in the groove This injury has been hell I started a new job the day after I did it I haven't been getting around well until this week still have a hard time doing certain things. Dr had to cut my leg back open to get a couple stitches out they was grown into the wound. My knee is super sensitive for whatever reason I constantly guard it. Yep guys I'm a little afraid of starting a saw back up. I guess that's a good thing but it's bad too
I'm always a little nervous when using a saw. Constantly looking for things that could go wrong and envisioning the results of potential accidents. Can't help it, it's just my over cautious nature.
I am sure we all get a little complacent or in a hurry,I know that I do. Just take it slow and easy and be glad it wasn't any worse. Being scared of your tools can be a good thing. Gary
You're in good company Wood. Getting spooked about using the saw next time, as Gary said, will keep you sharper... for a while at least. After you're tired from sawing for a long while in the future, ole Murphy's Law will be in full mode again, tho. Chaps will protect your legs well. Keeping the discomfort of how you feel right now... should help you remember to always get em on before even starting the saw. The PPE gear will help get those spooked thoughts behind ya...
I am always spooked when I get out the 084 with the 42" bar, But frankly the short bars 18" and under are a lot more dangerous.
Good luck with the healing process, glad you are okay as well. I never work chaps until this summer, the chain jumped off and tore through my pants and gave me three perfect little slices on the inside of my thigh......a few inches higher it could have been ugly. Chaps and caution for this guy. Hope you recover soon.
i won't run a saw until I have chaps I haven't even started them up to let them run a little since I did this Honestly I can't believe I ever ran one without chaps. Ignorance I guess I of all people should have known better being I worked in ems the last 15 years
It's a good thing to have those scares every now and then, it reminds us how mortal we are. I had a bad wreck on a sport biked several years ago, it taught me that dragging knees on the street was a terrible idea. Heck, 10 days ago I sliced my finger wide open using a Corona pruning saw. That sucker cut me faster and more deeply than I imagined a hand saw could, but now I know to treat it with the same respect my chainsaws get!
Respect for the dangers of operating hand held saws is as essential as the air you breath. That stats on the most dangerous jobs remains the same. Wood cutting jobs are the most dangerous. Lost my great grandfather from a kick back in a saw mill. Always need to have your mind focused on what you are doing. Protective equipment, properly positioned, plan for egress, check and check again.
I had the same sort of thing happen to me 35 years ago, but my accident was a collision on a motorcycle. It nearly took my leg off, and my left leg is 1 3/4 inches shorter than my right. It took 1 1/2 years to heal completely, plus several surgeries. I decided that in my case, I would embrace the fear, and just quit riding. Some said I should "get back on the horse," which I could have, and I would have enjoyed riding again, but it just wasn't worth it to me. Fear is good at times. With one exception, where walking was the only other option, I haven't been on a motorcycle since. Yes I miss it, but I am OK with that. Think it through - is this a fear you want to keep? If it is, THAT IS OK! Buy your wood, hire people to cut, go to pellets, whatever. Lesson learned. Or the lesson may be as simple as better safety practices, such as chaps, and a newfound respect for power equipment. THAT'S OK TOO, if it is right for you. I hope you get well soon. Greg
I've been bucked off several times. Last couple months haven't rode much. I do miss it. Life has been too busy. I may give up street riding.
Every man or person has to make his own decisions. Some say get the saw out and cut right away or you may never do it again and I sort of agree with that but that is just me and not you. You made a decision to cut the wood earlier and to do so without PPE. It backfired. Now you have to make the decision if you want to go back to cutting or not. To do so with PPE I think would be a good thing and you will always have respect for that saw from now until the end of your working days. That is not bad. However, fear is bad. If you fear it, then there is a greater chance you may end up doing something that is not good. However, if you respect it but still command what it does, then you can get rid of the fear. As it has been stated by greater minds; to get over fear, do the thing that you fear doing. It works. Hopefully this thing will heal and so will your feelings about it. I say get the PPE and go back at the sawing and good luck to you. However, it still has to be your decision which way you will go and we will respect you no matter what your decision is.
Glad you're on the mend, Woodrat1276 Take your time, man... We're here for ya, and I for one appreciate your honesty and forthcoming. I'd be a little spooked, too! I know with my larger saws, I can get fatigued quickly in the heat of summer cutting, and I have caught myself "holstering" the saw to one hip before letting the chain come to a stop... I need to quit that habit.... now! Thankfully no snags, but that darned Murphy is a mean old rascal
I know it may be hard to do Wood, but get back on the horse. You are smart, get the chaps, take your time the first 3 or 4 times to get back in the groove. Nothing wrong with a little fear, with fear, comes respect. Hope you heal well and fast my friend!!!!!
For a confidence booster and refresher watch some of the BC Faller (feller?) series on youtube. Excellent instruction and good reminders of how it supposed to be done. Go back it with a good mind set.
I wish when I started cutting, that my first experiences wasn't the way I learned. I bought a saw, and started cutting. No instructions, demos etc. except the booklet that came with the saw. I survived 15 years of that before I moved on to oil. Now I burn pellets. When my son started cutting, he started with an experienced cutter. I sure felt better about that. Today, we have these forums, youtube etc. I would have give my right .... to have the advantages available today.
I was watching an episode of "This Old House" the outdoors/landscape guy (Kevin O'Connor) demonstrated what a chainsaw would do. Took a mannequin with chaps, removed the chaps from one leg, then fired up an electric Husky chainsaw and cut each leg of the mannequin. I was amazed the leg with the chaps had no damage. Ask This Old House - TV Show, Episode Guide & Schedule | LocateTV I never had used chaps until about a month ago. I consider myself lucky that I've never had an accident.
