Sometimes forums are like Facebook, people post only the good stuff generally, when they are on top of the world, but you posted the truth and as you can see on this forum, no one is calling you dummy, or saying I told you so. You are sharing the good and the mistakes, and you very well could save one of us from the same mistake. Thanks for posting, and hope you heal up soon. I cut through jeans onetime because of a stupid rule i had about taking breaks only when the saw ran out of gas. I got older, saws got more efficient, and arms got more tired than i realized, thankfully only at idle, cut through my jeans (right where chaps would have been) and didn't break skin. Then another time had a big tree down on a three inch little sampling, cut the thing at full throttle not paying attention to which side or how far up, four foot piece sprung up straight and tapped by helmet brim, 6 inches more at that force would have broken my jaw or nose or several teeth. Remembered for that one if you think you can dodge something sprung like that, it will have hit you and knocked you out before you even think about moving. Last one was that I thought men/tractors/trucks could change the direction of tree after it was already falling. Learned quickly if you are not using wedges to make the first move/direction, no normal humans and trucks pulling on it will matter once it is falling, and i mean for big trees. Unless you could tie it to a rocket ship or dragster. Experience comes to those that have made all the mistakes and lived, or from listening to good honest posts from friends.
Even if you don't cut into the flesh like the O.P., a chain spinning at 45 mph can do some nasty things if all doesn't go right.
Chaps are a good idea, i hate wearing them they just seem uncomfortable. I too have had a couple boo boos over the years, the worst being the time i decided to cut more camp wood after about 9 beers. Chain was moving as i was holding the saw, a beer and trying to talk to my buddy at the same time. If this seems like a stupid action it was, only got my jeans cut and a little blood. Chainsaws and alcohol dont mix. Ya i think im gona start looking for some chaps.
Ordered mine just now. I have cut my jeans twice, so my day was coming. I hope to prevent it, thanks to you. Greg
Bought mine last season after I cut a hole in my brush pants by just touching my knee with the chain STOPPED I always put on brush pants only because my woods are so overrun with pepperbush so now I just put on the chaps instead. Thanks for posting this as you reminded me that I need to replace the belt on mine as it broke last time I was cutting. Hope the healing goes well and fast.
I find them comfortable. They usually stay on until I'm unloaded as they protect my jeans from brush and prickers. Mine are well seasoned after maybe 7 years of use, might be able to wring 'em out and get a saw's worth of bar oil and mix.
Hope you heal up quickly. We have a new neighbor who is new to using a chain saw and felling trees. He was out cutting this weekend and while he was wearing ears and eyes he had no chaps. I asked him where is chaps were he said he didn't need them. I remind him that the fire department and closest ambulance is 7 miles away and the closest er is about 18 mile away.
I bought my brother new chaps for his birthday. The other day he was cutting down sick ash trees in his yard. Yep no chaps on. I almost always wear them now. Near 100% of the time - should be all the time even for a small job. I am on my 2nd set now as I did a very small hit on my thigh that caught the innards last year. I didn't even think I hit it as it was barely turning, but enough to catch some threads. I always wear my seatbelt except for the one time we rolled off the neighbors driveway - luckily only had some stitches on my head. People at work ask why I always put it on even for a short trip... Your lucky to have your leg and a knee without surgery.
Had to take my boss into the ER when his chainsaw bit him on the knee. Like others have reported here it happened after the cut and when the saw was slowing down. It is all to easy to relax the concentration after making the cut. A chain moving at a fraction of full speed can still do a lot of damage. Thanks for the reminder about always wearing chaps. Pray you heal up quick.
Yep...this thread has reminded me of the need for the chaps again. Since buying them, I was only wearing them a small % of the time. That will change.
Woodrat1276 , thank you very much for posting your experience. As I read replies, others(me included) have in fact learned from your misfortune. I have one pair of chaps myself and, until this point, wore them maybe 75-80% of the time. My 15 yr/old son helps me with wood and within the past couple years has begun to run a saw. After seeing your thread, I immediately searched craigs and found a pair for him so we both have our own. When we have saws running, we will both be wearing them 100% of the time. $40 for a pair of like new Labonville. Score!
Thanks for all the kind words. In doing better today it's healing and less painful I still can't bend my knee. Which is primarily because of the stitches and let me tell you not being able to bend your knee sucks after a while because you are constantly maintaining it at one position and your leg begins to get stiff It's stupid to say this but I'm glad this happened for a couple reasons the first one is it made me realize what I was doing was stupid no protective equip . That will be corrected Second others have seen the light by my misfortune and corrected them selves before anything like this happened So it's a good lesson for everyone like I said I remember it happening. Just a second was all it took that fast
Hadn't seen this thread until tonight, I placed an order with Labonville a couple of days ago for a set of chaps.
Madsens has pants that take Labonville inserts(snap in). I have a few pairs, they are more comfortable than chaps.
