Do you wear chaps?

Campinspecter is a future incarnation of myself.

 

Its a good spot to go to if you want old growth Douglas fir.
More of the scenery. I really enjoy going out for firewood!

Helicopter setting! Really good for old growth D Fir .

 

Beautiful!

 

For 30 years I didn't and I had many scars on my coveralls....close calls! Then after 60 years of dodging the bullet I had several accidents, injuries. Not chain saw related, but changed my mind set and I started thinking about a lot of things. Mostly my son. So one Christmas, I bought him a Stihl helmet with ear protection and face shield, and leg chaps (bought myself the same thing) At first my son was reluctant and didn't think he needed that stuff. But now we both wear our PPE religiously. My chaps have saved me once already. Chain saws are dangerous animals, even when used responsibly. It just makes sense to take all the precautions you can.

 

Christmas present from Woodwidow a year ago . It found the faller pants twice in 2013 .

Lithium battery powered.

 

Yep

 

Had to chuckle a bit TC… "Don't rib the guys that don't wear the full pep, they're either cautious or they're participating in natural selection". I've been reading and posting on here for only a couple weeks, but one thing is pretty clear. Individual choice is what makes all Hoarders tick. All good. I've never enjoyed this damm computer more than when I'm on this forum… I don't even bother with news sites anymore… they've been driving me nuts anyway.

I'm glad to hear you're gonna try chaps. You'll find other good reasons to wear them (more than a fashion statement). One is if you're wading through brush or lots of branches while cutting, they slide right off the chaps making it a lot easier to wade/bull through…

 

Yep no cockleburs stuck to your pants.

 

I've participated in plenty of hazardous activities over the years, some I've done my best to prepare for, others not so much. Some of the dangerous things I've done include driving vehicles without seat belts, riding a motorcycle (no seat belt), I've flown hang gliders and aircraft for 30+ years (sometimes without a backup parachute), been kayaking in rough water with no life vest, used illicit drugs purchased from strangers in my youth, done a little rock climbing, picked fights with guys much bigger than me, and yes I still use my chainsaw with only gloves, glasses and ear protection as my only PPE, even after nicking my thigh once some 30 years ago.
I'm still kicking and actually pretty healthy compared to my siblings and most of my old friends from my age group, I owe that to the fact that I try to eat right, minimize alcohol consumption, exercise regularly and don't smoke.
One thing I do know is there are people out there who feel they need a helmet just to walk around town, and there are others of us who are alert and aware of our surroundings enough that we manage to consistently make the right decisions at the right time to avoid serious injury even while doing things these other people could never do. I'll never laugh at, or try to tease, those people who feel safer wearing a helmet while walking around town, since I know of people who have tripped on curbs before and hurt their heads. By the same token I hope they don't try and tease or make fun of us, who feel comfortable enough to not wear a helmet all the time. Of course there's lots of people in between those two extremes, I guess it's up to each one of us to figure out individually where we fit in there and how much PPE we need for the sorts of activities we engage in.

 

Lumbar Jack, not arguing with you at all....I understand, but I spent 52 years of my life, accident free, always thought I was smart enough to avoid them. And, as a 36 year veteran of the fire service, and Fire Chief for 20 years, it has been my job to look out for the safety of others. Then one day in 2000, again in 2002, and again in 2011, thing s went to hell, 3 accidents for me in 10 years. Prior to that I had apparently dodged the bullet. Now, I am even more cautious than ever before. I always thought I was the most careful guy in the whole world, and life still caught up with me. Just sayin.

 

Jack & Chief… I've enjoyed reading your posts. I've ridden motorcycles, I've flown aircraft too, even instructed ultralight pilots for a while. Safety, has always been important to me (especially with my 2 sons). I remembered an old pilot line that Jack probably remembers too. I don't think anyone flying for 30 years hasn't heard it… "There are old pilots, and bold pilots, but no old bold pilots"…

I wish I could say I was in great shape these days. I'll admit I can't. My back is toast. And, I make the dumbest mistakes sometimes that really get my attention. I try to change what I did the next time, (if I remember it ) I too, quite a few years back, "nicked" my thigh with my saw, through 2 layers of Carharts and jeans. That "individual choice" thing kicked in, and I went with chaps… mostly because I saw how easily I got nicked, and knew I'd probably do it again. I don't know for sure, but I'll bet there's a majority of guys on this forum who love the whole firewood experience (you know… "They'll have to pry my chainsaw from my cold dead hands"), but wouldn't call themselves loggers. I sure don't. Guys who work in the woods for a living have to be in good shape, or they don't last long. I usually last just about long enough to cut some wood, and then I stop before I do something stupid, usually… but, that's just me…

 

Always wear them.

 

Your always thinking raybonz. LOL. Are you in the path of more snow tonight? I see the folks on the east coast are going to get hit again.

 

Not to mention splinters too… sittin on that stump…