I was wondering if anyone else carries their chainsaw over their shoulder when they have a walk a long ways to where their cutting with it? It seems like an easier way to carry the saw, but whenever I do the saw will "dig" into my shoulder or hand. (of course the saw is turned off, lol!) So I was wonder if there is a trick to swinging it onto your shoulder and off?
Carrying saw on your shoulder?
- Thread starter burroak
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I do if I have to walk a good distance with a 32" bar, but otherwise if you plan on carrying a saw on your shoulder, set the power head on your shoulder with the bar facing back.
logging22
Cuttin to live, livin to cut
Get the cool leather strap that goes on your shoulder.
clearance
Addicted to ArboristSite
Worked with a guy who told me this-He had a 394 with a long bar and big dogs (of course, it was in the PNW) walking an old growth sidehill. He stumbled and fell, the dogs drove into his neck. He bled real bad, almost over. 
Something to think about.
Something to think about.I've got one, very compfterable, but I never use it.
Its nice when you have a good distance to go, like down a road. but when your trompeling through the hills, carrying the saw by the handle bar is best. You want a low center of gravity when your in the hills. otherwise you can go tumbling like a vat of lard with a sharp ass saw looking you in the face...
i think shouldering a saw came from our fathers & Grand pappys that ran 30 lb powerheads attached to 35 lbs of bar & chain. you cannot carry a homie 990g with a 72'' bar hangin from your hand with out digging a trench. & if I was falling & bucking 120'' dbh reds all day, Ide try & keep my cutting tool as clean & sharp as I could, & that means NO DIRT CONTACT.
Just my take. . .
MM, When you gonna answer my question dude?? ?? ?? ??
i think shouldering a saw came from our fathers & Grand pappys that ran 30 lb powerheads attached to 35 lbs of bar & chain. you cannot carry a homie 990g with a 72'' bar hangin from your hand with out digging a trench. & if I was falling & bucking 120'' dbh reds all day, Ide try & keep my cutting tool as clean & sharp as I could, & that means NO DIRT CONTACT.
Just my take. . .
MM, When you gonna answer my question dude?? ?? ?? ??
mile9socounty
Two-Stroke Swope
I carry my saw over my shoulder damn near every time I have to pack it more than 100ft. Just easier for me. You can do the bar over you shoulder or reverse it and set the power head on your should. Makes no difference to me. Just learn how to ditch the saw when you go over. I know there is no way in hell I'm going to carry the saw by the forward handle 3/4 of a mile up a 75% slope hill.
Dayto
ArboristSite Operative
In the PNW/Westcoast most fallers do carry on shoulder (we have 30+ bars ,90cc Powerheads) and some guys will have the old style strap shoulder pad in the states , but you rarelly see them on the Coast of B.C I just stick my extra glove on the side under the bar I carry on (I run Leather Husky gloves) On steep ground I never shoulder a saw like "056" said DANGEROUS I carry the handel with one arm and bar facing back.
The most of a shoulder pad I see sometimes Is guys will get the Slip on bar covers made by stihl,oregon,etc . Cut the end off slide them up the bar to the contact point were it sits on the shoulder so the chain dont rip up are Stanfields
The most of a shoulder pad I see sometimes Is guys will get the Slip on bar covers made by stihl,oregon,etc . Cut the end off slide them up the bar to the contact point were it sits on the shoulder so the chain dont rip up are Stanfields
oregoncutter
ArboristSite Operative
Is there others out there???
Most everyone I know including myself carry the saw over their shoulder, sometimes I wear a pad on my suspenders sometimes I don't. Out of logging for over 13 years I have yet to seriously injure myself packing a saw that way with the bar in front of me. I have packed alot worse things on my shoulder like 100+lbs of riggin blocks, spiked tree plates and etc all on steep and brushy ground. My advice would be don't trip and fall, if You feel like you might fall simply toss the saw away from You with the hand touching the end of the bar. If You don't feel comfortable about it or have concerns of being hurt don't pack it that way. I don't mean to sound rude but You might just have to practice and practice til You figure out how to get a saw on You're shoulder.
Most everyone I know including myself carry the saw over their shoulder, sometimes I wear a pad on my suspenders sometimes I don't. Out of logging for over 13 years I have yet to seriously injure myself packing a saw that way with the bar in front of me. I have packed alot worse things on my shoulder like 100+lbs of riggin blocks, spiked tree plates and etc all on steep and brushy ground. My advice would be don't trip and fall, if You feel like you might fall simply toss the saw away from You with the hand touching the end of the bar. If You don't feel comfortable about it or have concerns of being hurt don't pack it that way. I don't mean to sound rude but You might just have to practice and practice til You figure out how to get a saw on You're shoulder.
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joesawer
Addicted to ArboristSite
The trick is cotton or nylon fallers gloves, and a leather pad.
If you are using a short bar put the bottom or the starter cover on your shoulder with the bar behind you. It will have some uncomfortable pressure points, but just move the saw a little every now and then.
With a long bar put the bar on you shoulder and the power head behind your shoulder. This starts to balance nice for me with a 32" bar. I have never cut myself or stabbed myself with the dogs this way but have singed my shoulder blade pretty good with the muffler. If it is hot just carry it with the power head up.
If you are using a short bar put the bottom or the starter cover on your shoulder with the bar behind you. It will have some uncomfortable pressure points, but just move the saw a little every now and then.
With a long bar put the bar on you shoulder and the power head behind your shoulder. This starts to balance nice for me with a 32" bar. I have never cut myself or stabbed myself with the dogs this way but have singed my shoulder blade pretty good with the muffler. If it is hot just carry it with the power head up.
Most everyone I know including myself carry the saw over their shoulder, sometimes I wear a pad on my suspenders sometimes I don't. Out of logging for over 13 years I have yet to seriously injure myself packing a saw that way with the bar in front of me. I have packed alot worse things on my shoulder like 100+lbs of riggin blocks, spiked tree plates and etc all on steep and brushy ground. My advice would be don't trip and fall, if You feel like you might fall simply toss the saw away from You with the hand touching the end of the bar. If You don't feel comfortable about it or have concerns of being hurt don't pack it that way. I don't mean to sound rude but You might just have to practice and practice til You figure out how to get a saw on You're shoulder.
When you are side hilling & your up hill hand drags on the ground, carrying the 660 seems to work better when you keep her near the deck...
I have gone face up, tumbling down thoes steep hills, having a saw 6 inches from my head is just somthing I dont need to deal with. .
oregoncutter
ArboristSite Operative
To each their own
Yeah, I have fell a time or two myself. Over the shoulder with the bar in front is how i've carried one since day one. There has been times I have carried em by the handle, and times the ground was so steep and slick I,ve had to find brush or a flat spot on the ground above me to set my saw and jugs so I could use all four to crawl up the hill. I guess in the end carry in a manner that makes the most sense to ya depending on the situation.
Yeah, I have fell a time or two myself. Over the shoulder with the bar in front is how i've carried one since day one. There has been times I have carried em by the handle, and times the ground was so steep and slick I,ve had to find brush or a flat spot on the ground above me to set my saw and jugs so I could use all four to crawl up the hill. I guess in the end carry in a manner that makes the most sense to ya depending on the situation.
Exactly, I have cut so many trees that where under 3' in diameter, but Sawing the face I had the saw extended over my lid, then finishing up the back cut I am squatting & digging out an area for my powerhead to go. . .
If you drop your saw , you will find her at the bottom of the mountain type stuff. I showed my bosses brother how to get te butt of a big red oak to contact the deck quick with a wide kirf full face dutchman. I explained to him how the face would work before i let her go, & when I let her go his 62 year old face lit up. he congadulated me on my work which was very motivating.
If you drop your saw , you will find her at the bottom of the mountain type stuff. I showed my bosses brother how to get te butt of a big red oak to contact the deck quick with a wide kirf full face dutchman. I explained to him how the face would work before i let her go, & when I let her go his 62 year old face lit up. he congadulated me on my work which was very motivating.
RandyMac
Stiff Member
I have carried big saws on my shoulder, powerhead forward, mostly, getting a spike in the back of the neck never appealed to me. I used a big thick felt pad and cotton gloves to cushion and cover the pointy things. Nothing like getting a spreading bar oil spill on your shirt and covering it with chips.
Ya the bar oil + saw chips will turn your summer wear into extra winter wear kinda quick. I used to rat around under loaders & such in the mornings, getting covered in greasey fluids just to go out & cut timber for the day, Il say its allmost as bad as having a crotch levle hole in your left pant leg in the summer. Then again, I spent most days dealing with both. Used to run "seemless" boots as well. had to empty them of dirt & wood several times a day.
As I have said 20.00$ is alot to me. . . . .
As I have said 20.00$ is alot to me. . . . .
I don't usually go off the road much. I have packed in to work on trail clearing. I'm a klutz, and a weak girly woman. I only pack it on my shoulder when on a trail and it looks like I won't trip. There would be a Hell of paperwork if I jabbed myself with the little dogs on Twinkle or The Barbie Saw. A true Hell.
My solution? Since my shoulders get tired from packing it that way, I switch back and forth. I made a scabbard pad out of a sleeping pad and of course, colorful Duck Tape. That way, I can switch shoulders. The pad is made for backpacking so it is very light. Here's a picture. It has slipped down a bit in the picture, but you'll get the idea. Then, when you need to sit or kneel in the woods, you can use the pad to keep you off the wet ground.
I haven't done much of trail clearing, but since the last time, I made a pack out of an Alice Pack? frame to carry the saw in. Packing it for a mile on the shoulder is too much for me. That, plus cutting makes for a long soak in the hot tub afterwards. Hmmm, there needs to be an emoticon for being tired and whiney.
I only pack it on my shoulder when on a trail and it looks like I won't trip. There would be a Hell of paperwork if I jabbed myself with the little dogs on Twinkle or The Barbie Saw. A true Hell. My solution? Since my shoulders get tired from packing it that way, I switch back and forth. I made a scabbard pad out of a sleeping pad and of course, colorful Duck Tape. That way, I can switch shoulders. The pad is made for backpacking so it is very light. Here's a picture. It has slipped down a bit in the picture, but you'll get the idea. Then, when you need to sit or kneel in the woods, you can use the pad to keep you off the wet ground.
I haven't done much of trail clearing, but since the last time, I made a pack out of an Alice Pack? frame to carry the saw in. Packing it for a mile on the shoulder is too much for me. That, plus cutting makes for a long soak in the hot tub afterwards. Hmmm, there needs to be an emoticon for being tired and whiney.
Try grabbing the side handle with your right hand, the tip of the bar with your left hand and just swinging it up onto your shoulder in one smooth motion. After a few times it will feel natural and you won't think about it. Watch out for the dawgs. Wear gloves.
I agree with most of the replies so far. A shoulder pad is good for long carries and if the ground is rough or steep you might want to just hand carry it.
And all that oil that drips on you? Wear the same clothes long enough without washing them and you'll be waterproof when the rainy season arrives. Plus, when you stop at the 7-11 on your way home nobody stands too close to you in line.
mile9socounty
Two-Stroke Swope
I know the cheapest bar covers I have ever laid my hands on was from the Canyonville Fire Department. 3" rubber inner, cotton outer fire hose. Just cut it to the length of your bar. Bam! There you go.
Greystoke
Tarzan
The bar oil down your back sucks, but it is better than gassing up your saw...forgetting to screw your caps back down...picking up saw with gas tank right at crotch level...feeling like you wet your pants...short while later feeling like you are on fire down there...wanting to go home and scrub in the shower, but not wanting to explain to the bull-buck why you have to go home. Don't ask me how I know.
On the shoulder is the only way I could ever carry a ready to go saw for any distance. You have to be ready to get rid of it at all times without thinking about it. I seen a guy have a rigging fit while packing a saw. He levered it off his shoulder and the dogs caught in his collar, the bar kind of spun around his neck. Nothing serious, but a lot of blood and hollering and floping. We had a good laugh.
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