Anyone Ever Been Bit?

I have been bit with a chainsaw twice, bit none seriously...but then again they are all minor chainsaw mishaps if you are on this side of the sod.

The first was when I was a kid, I was 15 and had just started logging and was felling a big Spruce. I had made my notch, but when I went to make my back cut, the saw caught on a small (3/4") sapling that ran up along the trunk. My saw rotated back, but being horizontal, and with my hand on the side of the bar, it shot back into my chin taking a pretty good chunk out of it.

I did pretty well for 20 years, but then one day while cutting firewood in heavy snow, I went to top a tree out. The snow was up to my waist and as I trudged through it, I brought my saw down through the top at the same time I brought my thigh up to move through the snow. Bad combination; the saw ripped right through my thigh, but being wet and cold out, it had to go through Cartharts Overalls, Jeans and Long Handles or it would have been worse. I also had my lunch with me and had some packets of sugar to clot the wound.

being clobbered by widow makers a few times, some spring poles and rolling logs, but that is just about it. God's protection I guess.

The one thing I wish though is that my wife would check on me. I have been pinned many times and working alone, that sucks. One night I was topping out my wood pile and a log rolled and pinned me. It was well after dark and while I expected Katie to come and check on me; she never did. Ultimately I was able to grab a top and lever the log off me, but I was pretty upset. If I am not home before dark, something is wrong and she never checked up on me.

 

I have never been bit...yet. There is one habit that has saved me a few times. When I'm finished with a cut, in between cuts or moving from one spot to another, I always set the chain brake. I started doing that 20 years ago and hope I remember to do it every time, no matter how minor the move seems to be. Getting cut by a chain scares me. My dad has been bitten a couple times and I'd rather skip that experience.

 

It can indeed be dangerous at times, I had a kick back incident many moons ago cutting in a pile of rounds next door to me (neighbor used to have a tree service). Saw came up straight at my face but my reflexes made me move my head and it nicked my cheek and then my ear. I put my hand up and it was covered in blood, I was sure it had cut my ear badly but it was fortunately just good nick but bled good. Only other one was after my good friend bought me a pair of chaps and said please wear them, well I was used to not wearing but was learning to. I was in a hurry to cut a load after work before dark set in and tore into it, brought the saw down across my leg and it just ripped my jeans. Saw does not start now without my chaps.
Please be careful out there.

 

Been operating a chainsaw for 33 years. Never been injured. I have a healthy respect for all things sharp and spinning, and do not wish to become a statistic. I'm not always good about chaps, but always wear eye, ear and head PPE as well as heavy boots and gloves. Same in my woodworking shop - eye, ear and respiratory protection as needed. I don't work in shorts and I always wear boots.

I spent the first 10 years of operating a chainsaw without benefit of a chain brake or anti-vibe either. That saw got permanently retired once I finally realized the danger, and now I engage the chain brake as a matter of habit. If I am done with a cut, the brake goes on. This won't do a damm thing for kickback, but the way to prevent that, for the most part, is to always be aware of the location of your bar tip.

I've read and heard that it's not IF you get injured by a chainsaw, only WHEN, and I do not believe that. With the proper precautions and an active awareness for your safety, anyone can remain injury-free.

 

I agree - never been cut in 16 years operating a saw. Not that I do anything special other than having safety first on my mind always. I also don't cut when I'm tired, or in a hurry, or when conditions are bad (snow, ice, rain, etc).

 

I had one close call about ten years ago. I somehow zoned out enough to hit my left leg above the knee with the running saw; I immediately stopped the saw. I was in such a shock that it even happened I could feel nothing but a sickening feeling in my stomach. I dropped my pants to the ankles to inspect the damage and was amazed to see the chain had cut through the pants but only left a few scratches on my leg - no bleeding - just like a cat had scratched me with its claws.

My entire life is filled with these kinds of "close calls" or "miracles" and if I shared them all, you would likely see me as a truly blessed man or a fool being watched over by a benevolent benefactor (I'm fine with either designation). I suspect everyone can look back on their lives and find similar evidence as I have seen.
The difficult part comes in being thankful when the same benefactor allows you to hit your thumb with a hammer ... his way of saying ... I'm still here taking care of you!

 

I have had the pleasure of being bit by many things throughout my life. Right now, the only times I can recall from a chainsaw are across the upper region of my mouth as I was pulling it out of a log (stuck). The chain was fresh sharp and thankfully the engine was off. Another time just nicked my leather boot but not all the way through....whew! Not steel toes that time! And again nicked but not all the way through on my thigh-ruined the pants and just the skin a bit.

Some of the animals I have been bitten by include your normal domestic dog, cat, birds (parakeet house bird type). Outside animals would be snakes, woodchucks, squirrels, chipmunks, rabbits, bats, mice, horses, fish (while removing hooks), turtles (they never let go!), countless wasps hornets bees centipedes spiders they don't count, right? Put it this way- as a kid always running a "catching" (cornering) things in the woods/waters of my childhood if the animal could defend itself with drawing blood, I was it's victim!!
Parents probably would have made me stay inside as a child if there was ever an outbreak of rabies!!!

 

Many years ago, tired at the end of a day... I let the saw down not paying attention, and an almost stopped chain caught my leg, just above the knee. Cut through my Carharts (double layer) and my jeans, and knicked my leg just a bit. Woke me up. Bought my first pair of chaps next day.

 

I have been bit, just not by chainsaws. A table saw, air nailer, an ax, 1/2 inch drill, a horizontal mill and a PSYCHOTIC blue heeler.

 

I've been stung a few times with a chainsaw, but never bit. The chain was still moving but my finger wasn't on the trigger as I swung the saw sideways to move to the next cut. It just snagged my pants and a teeny bit of skin. But I have been bit by a table saw, cut halfway through my middle finger at the second joint from the tip. Another time I was using a miter saw, cut about halfway though that same middle finger but this time it was close to the first joint from the tip. I must be getting paid back for all those yahoo's I've flipped off, given the bird to, over the years. First time I sutured it up I used red thread, and the second time I used black thread with a regular sewing needle.

 

OK but if I don't cut in some of those scenarios I would only cut 2 times year.. ice no but snow yes just not over knee deep will shovel around a tree.. cut it and drag whole treatment to a processing area thats blown open..

Got bit once right knee cap 20 or so stiches.. but I was not running saw.. cleaning out old road 20 foot tall 4 inch dbh tree I was holding it guy cutting went right threw tree to me 2 feet away.. learned lesson know who your working with!

 

Maybe.......

 

OK, in 1972 I went to work for a sewer line construction company, I was 19 years old. 1st day on the job I was assigned to an old man cutting right of ways for the future sewer lines. He gave me a chain saw and said to cut everything between the flagged stakes. I didn't know anything about felling or chainsaws. On the job training....I guess. Did OK until I came to a tree (think it may have been a dogwood but don't really remember) that was covered with honeysuckle (yeah you've seen them). I started cutting the vines, to get to the tree. The next thing I knew the saw hung up on the vines, pulled to my left leg, and ripped my blue jeans from the cuff to the mid thigh. Completely opened the blue jeans, but did not even scratch my leg...yeah WOW. When we went in for lunch and the boss saw my jeans, I was switched from right of way clearing to powder man (blasting rock). I have a healthy respect for any vines to this day. The Lord looked after this fool a whole lot through the years, including (but not limited to) the powder man career. That was also OJT.

 

OK, I am hanging up the saws after this post.

 

I came real close to getting bit last winter, I was on my last cut for the day. I know now when to take a break.

 

As I recall, after 44 years, I was swinging the chainsaw like it was a light saber. Not a good practice, but I didn't know that at the time.

 

Puts a new meaning to "photochopped".

 

By dogs at least twice requiring stitches. I have drilled through a fingernail once and into my leg once. Got bit by a motorcycle twice, and quit riding when I saw my leg bones protruding the 2nd time. I recently hit the same finger twice with a hammer within 10 minutes, the 2nd really hurt.

Regarding the chainsaw, I have twice cut through my pants at the left thigh, without hitting my skin. I now wear chaps.

I got love bit 32 years ago, still smitten.