Drop starting saws

[windthrown]

OK boys and girls, we all know that we should put the saw on the ground or on a stump and put your foot on the bottom of the handle and use the pull starter in that position. But really... how many of us really do that? So here is a poll to find out if you are an OSHA trained safety team tree removal specialist or a wild sawyer in the woods related to Bigfoot.

opcorn: opcorn: Popcorn anyone??? opcorn: opcorn:

 

[GASoline71]

....or a wild sawyer in the woods related to Bigfoot.

Guess I'm part of the latter...

Drop start every saw I own or have ever run.

With the exception of the 40" and longer bars that I rest the bar on a log or stump.

EDIT: Oh yeah... one more exception... the V-8.

Gary

 

[LarryTheCableGuy]

EDIT: Oh yeah... one more exception... the V-8.

Gary

..and here we thought you were a big ol' tough guy!

Oh wait, NOW I get it...you don't drop start the V-8 'cuz it doesn't have a recoil, not 'cuz it's too big.





.

 

[GASoline71]

Yep... totally self contained... gots its own starter...

LOL... Thanks Larry!

Gary

 

[PB]

Drop start only. The only time I don't is if I am showing someone how to use the saw for the first time.

 

[windthrown]

Yep... totally self contained... gots its own starter...

LOL... Thanks Larry!

Gary

I bet you could make the 6 o'clock news drop starting the V-8...

 

[Tree Sling'r]

Did not know there was any other way than drop starting.

 

[GASoline71]

I bet you could make the 6 o'clock news drop starting the V-8...

I'm sure my chiropractor would be suprised too...

Gary

 

[PB]

I bet you could make the 6 o'clock news drop starting the V-8...

I can see it now: "Local man rips his arm off trying to start a modified chainsaw"

 

[joecool85]

I do it like "b" for the first start and like "a" for warm starts.

**edit**
I do drop start my weed wacker though.

 

[SawTroll]

Allways, the last few years.

 

[Spotted Owl]

Everytime. No people around us ever. When anyone beside crew shows up all work stops until they are gone. For their safety of coarse. If possible to be seen from a road that is the first place we start as to block the view.
Seems being able to use the weight of the saw to start it really helps the wear and tear on the shoulder and back for me anyhow.


Owl

 

[ralphbsz]

Drop start in the sense of: Hold saw handle with one hand, hold starter rope with the other hand, swing the saw down while holding on to it? Always.

Drop start in the sense of: Hold the starter rope with one hand, completely let go of the saw, fling the saw away from you, the rewind spring on the recoil starter will return the running saw to you, perhaps even with flicking the running saw into the air a little bit to switch the hand from the starter rope to the handle, all that while working high in a tree? Never myself. But I've seen it done by climbers; probably they were only showing off because an amateur was around.

Related question: I nearly always put the chain brake on before warmstarting a saw, because it can be started with no throttle, and will go right to idle speed. Coldstarting is done with the throttle half open, so the brake is off, and I rev the saw for a few seconds, until it has a steady idle speed. Is this commonly done?

 

[GASoline71]

What's a chain brake???

Gary

 

[WRW]

I never respond to these safety polls and threads cause I don't want to set a bad example.

 

[windthrown]

Drop start in the sense of: Hold saw handle with one hand, hold starter rope with the other hand, swing the saw down while holding on to it? Always.

Yah, that is the basic definition of drop starting a saw. Letting the saw go is the amateaur way, and I doubt that many are still able to type with all their fingers that use that technique for very long. I start the saw with my left hand and my right on the wrap bar. On a TH Echo I have my right hand on the trigger, as it usually requires an open throttle to cold start it.

As for proper drop starting, it is a shame that all the safety BS is related to starting a saw on the ground. I think that drop starting is safer, easier, faster, and well, its the only way to start a saw (save for the V-8 and 660/880s with 30inch+ bars). There should be a safety method for drop starting a saw. But anyone daring to do such is beyond the scope of safety, and thus... we are OSHA outlaws.

 

[spacemule]

I drop start on the ground........in the tree...... in a bucket. .

That's very great Sam I am.

 

[partsman51]

In the manual that came with the saw when I bought it used in the mid 70's says to push the saw away while pulling the cord, so that is how I have always done it.

 

[ASEMASTER]

always drop start

or start with the saw supported between my legs the same as the pictures that joe cool had . my foot does not like to fit the saw handle and its hard to operate the throtle with my toes.

 

[XJWoody]

I do it like "b" for the first start and like "a" for warm starts.

**edit**
I do drop start my weed wacker though.

You're a Good Man Charlie Brown.

I tend to cold-start like "b" but use the reviled & scorned drop start most any other time.

The only time I'd consider "b" on a warm saw is if I was down there on the ground after fueling/oiling up or something.


So I voted "usually" - although guilt or safety-mindedness isn't why.