HorseChestnut
New Member
Hi, this is an amazing site. I am going to operate a chainsaw for the first time in a couple days, any neat tricks or warnings for a newbie?
Any Tips?
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Lawn Masters
Addicted to ArboristSite
yes, wear protective gear, chaps, helmet, earmuffs, and be careful.
TonyM
ArboristSite Guru
And learn the difference between a sharp and dull chain. Do not hit anything other than wood with the chain. Even a small amount of dirt will dull the chain immediately. This is one of the best saftey tips I can give, for you and the saw. A dull chain causes the operator to use excessive force, which wears you out, and makes it harder to feel and react to what the saw is doing, and wears out the cutting attachments while allowing the saw to over-rev. If you are planning on using a saw more than just occasionally, learn to hand file with a flat file guide.
Dadatwins
Addicted to ArboristSite
Read the owners manual for the saw, it does have some useful info if you have never used a saw before. Most manufacturers have online manuals if you do not have one. Most dangerous part of using a chainsaw is kickback, that is letting the spinning saw tip make contact with another object, forcing the saw to kick-back up towards you, the operator. This is the number one cause of accidents with chainsaws. What type of saw are you going to run? Welcome to site and be careful.
begleytree
H. sapiens moderatus
Always keep TWO hands on the saw. If you could safely use a saw with one hand, the saw would only have one handle.
respect the saw, any wood you cut will be harder than your hide. remember that.
Get used to using the chainbrake. Use it everytime you are not cutting.
Wear your PPE, yeah, its hot and it sucks, and it may save you a huge doctor bill, or 3
-Ralph
respect the saw, any wood you cut will be harder than your hide. remember that.
Get used to using the chainbrake. Use it everytime you are not cutting.
Wear your PPE, yeah, its hot and it sucks, and it may save you a huge doctor bill, or 3
-Ralph
2Coilinveins
Former Member
What everyone else said, plus:
An optimum route would be to have someone with experience there watching and offering tips. Have someone close by who can come running if they hear a scream, or at the very least keep your cellphone or cordless home phone in your pocket.
Oh, and don't let the saw run out of gas while your WOT in the cut.
An optimum route would be to have someone with experience there watching and offering tips. Have someone close by who can come running if they hear a scream, or at the very least keep your cellphone or cordless home phone in your pocket.
Oh, and don't let the saw run out of gas while your WOT in the cut.
buck futter
ArboristSite Guru
go to a saw manufacturers site stihl or husky, husky has a great instruction manual on basic do's and don'ts I think it is well worth the time to look through. also practice handling the saw a couple of times without the saw running get used to it and its controls. one of the best things in the owner manual is what force the saw will exert in the cut. Also with every cut think about if the saw were to kick back where would it go and what would it hit before you begin the cut. Set yourself up before every cut, stable stance, nothing in the way of the cut, think of the strain that the tree is under and what will happen when you release it, make sure that the sprocket tip will not hit anything, above all Take your time, its better to take twice as long to think about the cut and then do it as opposed to being in a hurry and getting hurt. THIS IS A VERY DANGEROUS TOOL!!!! take your time. I also like the suggestion of watching someone that knows what they are doing. but be careful you are not talking to someone that just thinks they know what they are doing
lucky
lucky
ross_scott
ArboristSite Guru
Remember to keep the toe or heel of your boot on the rear handguard this will stop the nose of the saw touching the ground and kicking back at you when the chain starts spinning on fast idle(half choke) when the saw bursts in to life. Don't drop start the saw if you must start the saw off the ground(warm starting or on unven ground) use the step over method (rear handle between your legs). Always have the chainbrake engaged while walking to the next tree if you are felling or handing the saw to someone.also make sure you have a safety mit on the wrap around handle this makes you keep two hands on the saw good deterrent from scratching while halfway through a cut.
Diesel JD
ArboristSite Guru
Wear ear protection. It's easy to think of as just something the paper pusher safety guys say, but it will save you from losing some hearing earlier than you should. Be aware of your surroundings. The nose of teh bar is your kickback danger zone. Don't let the nose hit another log or anything else while your cutting. Stand as much ot of it's probable path in the even of a kickback as you possibly can. Don't plunge cut until you get more experienced. If you watch someone, it might be better to watcha pro. If you watch a hack like me you might pick up some bad habits instead. Be careful and use common sense and you won't get hurt.
pbtree
Addicted to ArboristSite
Start with a smaller saw...
Proj Eng
ArboristSite Operative
Everything else written above this and make sure you wrap your thumbs too! Not leaving them in-line with the handles. read your Owner's/Operator's Manuals, they have good info for newbies. That is the first thing I did before even starting my first saw. Learn where the kickback zone is and avoid it at all times. Gain good experience while working along side someone with lots of experience.
And take your time!
And take your time!
Add to advice on sharpening. A sharp chain will feed itself into the cut. If you find yourself putting force on the saw, stop and sharpen it. A dull saw makes for work. Do not work when you are fatigued, take plenty of breaks.
When bucking, work from the top of the log to base. That releases tensions a bit at a time instead of suddenly. Work from the uphill side.
Harry K
When bucking, work from the top of the log to base. That releases tensions a bit at a time instead of suddenly. Work from the uphill side.
Harry K
andrethegiant70
Addicted to ArboristSite
Keep your face away from the area over the bar. I always make sure that if the thing DOES kick, no part of me is there to take the hit. Your philosophy should be the same for all dangerous activities.... do all the things you can reasonably do to maintain safety, and maintain a high standard! It's easy to get lazy when you get comfortable or tired
2Coilinveins
Former Member
After a couple days of use(or even a couple hours, depends on you) you'll get nice and comfy with it, start thinking that chainsaws are pretty neat and not that big of a deal. THIS IS WHEN YOU NEED TO BE ON YOUR GUARD THE MOST, for this is when you will get bit.
JohnL
Addicted to ArboristSite
Keep engine at full throttle during cut.
Chris J.
Addicted to ArboristSite
Try to first work with someone who knows how to properly operate a chainsaw. This was already mentioned, but it's worth repeating.
HorseChestnut
New Member
Wow, thanks for all the tips, they are greatly appreciated.
Tips/saw/newbie
Something few do but more should do. As you read the manual, take the side covers off and look at what the saw looks like new/clean. The real thing is so much better than the pictures in the manual. Learn how to adjust the chain before you take the saw out to cut. The chain will loosen up as you run the saw and you'll have to know how to tighten it. When you take the chainside cover off it will not go back on if the chainbrake is locked. DO NOT get a bigger hammer to put it back on. Unlock the brake and it'll slide back on. Check the oiler setting and set it a bit higher before you put oil in the saw. Pull the top cover and look at what a clean airfilter looks like. Remove the airfilter and then work the choke to see how it moves as you move the switch. Do this before you gas it up. This way you can look over a new saw and learn without all the dirt, oil and sawdust you'll incounter into after you have run the saw a while. This will also allow you to read the manual without smearing oil/dirt all over the pages/leaving fingerprints as happens after you run the saw and are looking for a solution to your problem. Get to know your saw before you fire it up and run it. It will pay dividens later out in the woodpile. I can not tell you how many guys buy a saw and never take the covers off. They put gas and oil in and head for the woodpile then show up at my door when it quits running, cutting or throws a loose chain. All simple things to fix but they have never had the covers off and don't know what it looks like under the hood. By the time they need the manual it's been misplaced or lost and they can't fix anything because they can't find the manual or it has oily finger prints over the part numbers. Take the time to look the saw over BEFORE you run it! Check all the bolts to see they are tight before you run the saw. You don't want lose cover bolts falling off in the woods never to be found again. If you take the time to look under the hood now, before you fuel up and go, you'll be ahead of the game when something goes wrong out in the woodpile. You'll also know what the saw should look like when you clean it after a hard days work. How long your saw lasts is going to depend on how well you maintain it. You can't maintain it if you don't know what it should look like when clean and new. Now get your PPE and fuel up for the woodpile.
HorseChestnut said:
Something few do but more should do. As you read the manual, take the side covers off and look at what the saw looks like new/clean. The real thing is so much better than the pictures in the manual. Learn how to adjust the chain before you take the saw out to cut. The chain will loosen up as you run the saw and you'll have to know how to tighten it. When you take the chainside cover off it will not go back on if the chainbrake is locked. DO NOT get a bigger hammer to put it back on. Unlock the brake and it'll slide back on. Check the oiler setting and set it a bit higher before you put oil in the saw. Pull the top cover and look at what a clean airfilter looks like. Remove the airfilter and then work the choke to see how it moves as you move the switch. Do this before you gas it up. This way you can look over a new saw and learn without all the dirt, oil and sawdust you'll incounter into after you have run the saw a while. This will also allow you to read the manual without smearing oil/dirt all over the pages/leaving fingerprints as happens after you run the saw and are looking for a solution to your problem. Get to know your saw before you fire it up and run it. It will pay dividens later out in the woodpile. I can not tell you how many guys buy a saw and never take the covers off. They put gas and oil in and head for the woodpile then show up at my door when it quits running, cutting or throws a loose chain. All simple things to fix but they have never had the covers off and don't know what it looks like under the hood. By the time they need the manual it's been misplaced or lost and they can't fix anything because they can't find the manual or it has oily finger prints over the part numbers. Take the time to look the saw over BEFORE you run it! Check all the bolts to see they are tight before you run the saw. You don't want lose cover bolts falling off in the woods never to be found again. If you take the time to look under the hood now, before you fuel up and go, you'll be ahead of the game when something goes wrong out in the woodpile. You'll also know what the saw should look like when you clean it after a hard days work. How long your saw lasts is going to depend on how well you maintain it. You can't maintain it if you don't know what it should look like when clean and new. Now get your PPE and fuel up for the woodpile.
