Chaps

[Sagetown]

Jim didn't talk much, but I was looking at photos of the brown water Navy Monitors, he said they were used as bait for them.

Dirty work, but it had to be done.

 

[z71mike]

Even though I was issued a Flak Vest, Gas Mask, Helmet in Viet Nam, I hated to don that stuff. The mask was too cumbersome to carry, the vest was hot n heavy, and the helmet gave me a krick in the neck. So, more often than not, I didn't wear the stuff. Just a full bandoleer, couple o grenades, and knives, my AR, and whole lotta your Self Preservation MindSet.

This is an ever growing burden on the warfighter today. We're constantly trying to come up with ways to lighten kit while increasing combat effectiveness. We have a couple neat things in the pipeline right now for commo gear and ballistic composites. As long as Uncle O gives us funding, Picatinny Arsenal will be cranking out more stuff other than M1913 rails

All the guys around my age are moving into leadership roles now. Our fathers and uncles fought Vietnam. We're taking learnings from you guys and applying them today, finally.

Hooah.

 

[2dogs]

I usually wear chaps, always a hardhat and goggles and ear plugs, sometimes gloves. The heat doesn't seem to effect me as much as others though I am no where near as heat tolerant as I used to be. It is what I am comfortable in and I don't feel over burdened. There is no safety officer checking up on me (except on the rare fire I work). However I never let my guard down and depend on my PPE to keep me safe. I always try to keep my brain fully engaged.

 

[Red Amor]

Even though I was issued a Flak Vest, Gas Mask, Helmet in Viet Nam, I hated to don that stuff. The mask was too cumbersome to carry, the vest was hot n heavy, and the helmet gave me a krick in the neck. So, more often than not, I didn't wear the stuff. Just a full bandoleer, couple o grenades, and knives, my AR, and whole lotta your Self Preservation MindSet.

Um glad ya mate it home olson yeah ;o))

 

[anlrolfe]

My dad was a logger in the Sierra Mountain Range in the 1930's. He wasn't much of an instructor in the 60's , but a very good demonstrator. He showed how it was done, and expected you to do it, and do it right. So, by watching him, you learned not only how it was done, but why. The only safety equipment we used was our noggins'. Never heard of chaps, or earplugs.

Same, but with my Grandfather. I lost my Dad when I was 14. The whole family tightened up and I shouldered the burden by picking up Dads Mac 10/10 and Redwing boots. Gramp had worked teams of Ox and draft horse in the Maine woods and knew which end of an ax to swing and could do it with such ease that I'm still envious. He would walk and talk. Explaining what he saw, the dangers and task at hand. The most dramatic demonstration he showed me involved removing a pair of spring falls with an ax. Explaining the dangers then the correct method first removing the tension followed with demonstrating the full potential danger. Walking in the woods he would point out the hangers and widow makers. When it came to chainsaws he simply said that he had see men seriously injured. He wasn't one to to elaborate but the way he said it you just knew he was serious.

 

[Red Amor]

I vividly remember working with Dad and other very capable men in the bush and at the mill and yes they wore none of the safety equipment available today
It just wasn't around then,BUT would they have worn it if they had it ?
I think yes , They didn't survive so long uninjured or sustaining only minor injuries because they were fools
their smarts were what got them through SMARTS say were ya safety gear
Ive been very lucky up to now I think Im better educated to the dangers of saws and the tasks there used for and watch out for not only myself but those around me some have no clue and are a danger to themselves as well as others but Im not as steady or quick on my feet or as strong , and am sometimes quite forgetful Im glad I bought the safety pants Id like a jacket when I can afford one ,
My ears ring and whissel and screech like buggery THERE IS NO SUCH THING AS COMPLETE SILENCE, WEAR HEARING PROTECTION I never heard this sound of good advise when it WAS voiced to me , the fool I was
Ive a friend that teaches chainsaw safety and procedures for a living for the government here some of the stories and photos he has to show are frightening shocking the damage done
Im no whimp but I not wear my gear
I couldn't bare to loose fingers or hand I love my gold and guitar to much I could get buy without a foot or leg maybe , BUT IDrather not have to yeah haha;o))
mind how you go you blokes at your days work , Id hate to hear of your demise ay ;o))

 

[Rockjock]

Gents what does it cost when you guys go to emerg for stitches ? More or less than proper PPE?

 

[RandyMac]

Gents what does it cost when you guys go to emerg for stitches ? More or less than proper PPE?

WoW! Someone had an original thought.
opcorn:

 

[Red Amor]

Nooooww Rannnnnnnnnnnndy;o))

 

[RandyMac]

I go armed, not armored.

 

[bnmc98]

I didn't read the whole thread but one thing I might add. I don't wear chaps. Reason being... above all the most common way that I get hurt is... tadah.... falling down. I have fallen head over butt climbing over trees, I have fallen off banks of dirt roads, I have tripped countless times. I have fallen off logs while limbing. I am more concerned about hurting myself that way than I ever will be with my saw. sometimes I get hurt real bad too. Just plain statistics I will get hurt more with falling down than with a saw. when I started falling (trees, not on the ground) I wore chaps. I got so sick of having them catch on everything and falling over them. I know there are other versions that aren't as long but I work on steep hills with tons of deadfall and rocks most of the time. the amount of energy that it takes to walk up and down that stupid mountain 100 times a day and the heat exhaustion that I get... worn out with them weighing me down and dragging on my legs also plays a huge factor. tired = less focus and more mess ups. I am not advocating that people don't wear chaps, I am just offering my different perspective. If you are not safe and have little experience or are able to do it easily or whatever... Even if I dare say you are afraid; or if you just want to. wear them.

 

[Philbert]

. . . the most common way that I get hurt is... tadah.... falling down. I have fallen head over butt climbing over trees, I have fallen off banks of dirt roads, I have tripped countless times. I have fallen off logs while limbing. I am more concerned about hurting myself that way than I ever will be with my saw.

You sound like a real hazard. What if you fall . . . tadah . . . with your saw or on your saw?

Philbert

 

[Cider]

I don't wear chaps ... I got so sick of having them catch on everything and falling over them ... weighing me down and dragging on my legs

I've never cut in chaps, but just trying them on I'm inclined to agree that they are less than ideal.

Next time you are near a Stihl dealer, see if you can try on a pair of the Pro chainsaw trousers. Blue with orange embroidered Stihl logo and orange bits on the ankles. I was really surprised how comfy they are. They're a bit warmer than jeans, but I reckon you'd get used to that. Main thing is they feel great and allow full movement (more like track pants than jeans).

 

[Red Amor]

Well I am saying don't wear chaps , I feel there accidents waiting to happen , they cause accidents Im saying wear safety pants the better quality the better mine are the cheaper one only have the safety padding half way up the back of the leg , full in front , but better than chaps
To bnmc98 Mate you sound a real staunch Fella , I just hope you never have a bad prang involving your saw , good onya , mind how ya go Mate yeah ;o))

 

[Rockjock]

With all this talk about people tripping and falling down because of chaps, getting all hot and dehydrated by going up and down a hill all day leads me to believe that wearing PPE is really dangerous! I wear mine all the time and I have never fallen over. Then again I keep the bar sheath on when I am walking through the bush to get to the tree I am after. Growing up in Germany I guess I got used to all the rules. Proper kit for a proper job. Being trained and equipped for most situations. Hell every car I had there come with a first aid kit, warning triangle and safety vest. While wearing PPE does not make you 100% safe. Only a fool would believe wearing it makes you feel invincible.
And only a Jabroni would believe that his training is enough to keep them safe.

 

[Jameson]

I just bought a pair of elvexes and a husqvarna helmet / face shield. Why the fook not?

I work on roofs and chimneys, no ropes, no support - just freewalking. It is just a matter of time, but the risk is worth the money, it is a calculated risk.

Not using chaps I cut alot of wood, and caught one pair of jeans in an old poulan saw. It was winding down after a cut and my finger was off the throttle. Just a ripped pair of jeans.

About ten years back that was, and every time i picked up a chainsaw after that day, or a circular saw or sawzall, I payed a shitload more attention to what I was doing with power tools. No serious accidents since.

A pair of chaps and cheap helmet/shield is just stupid not to own. My problem is, I didn't even know what chaps were until I started modding saws and buying chains and parts on the Internet.

 

[bnmc98]

You sound like a real hazard. What if you fall . . . tadah . . . with your saw or on your saw?

Philbert

Why is that? Because a person that falls down more than they cut themselves with a saw is hazardous right? (which was the point of the post) What do you know about me and being a hazard seeing as you have seen me work, where I work, and the conditions? And, you know I always walk while running my saw full throttle... tadah!!
besides, any time I have fallen with my saw its upper body that comes closest, I don't throw my saw under my leg as I am falling.

You can go ahead and flame me if you want but I even posted that I am not trying to tell anyone not to wear chaps.

 

[treeslayer2003]

any one who has never fell down in the woods hasn;t worked in the woods much

 

[z71mike]

Safety arguments are like the democratic primaries. Jeezis kriste.

 

[Philbert]

What do you know about me and being a hazard seeing as you have seen me work, where I work, and the conditions?

All I know about you is from your 2 posts in this thread. One mentioned falling off a log while limbing, so I assume that meant while the saw was running. Falling and getting cut don't have to be mutually exclusive events.

Philbert