clearance said:
I presume you don't know that the handle doesn't "go between the legs" It goes behind your right knee.
Harry K
Drop starts
- Thread starter scrench
- Start date
Help Support Arborist Forum:
I presume you don't know that the handle doesn't "go between the legs" It goes behind your right knee.
Harry K
Quote:
I also hate to see saws drop started while holding the rear handle. I think this is what got drop starting a bad rep in the first place
I haven't seen a saw drop started that way .......... you mean one hand is on the rear handle and the other is on the starter rope ?? Now that would be really dangerous! Unquote:
Oddly, every dealer I have seen start a saw does it that way. Looks totally stupid to me and dangeous. Now, drop starting with left hand on front handle, while not recommended does give some control over the saw. I use the 'between the legs' unless I am having trouble and then it is 'on the ground'.
Harry K
Harry K
I also hate to see saws drop started while holding the rear handle. I think this is what got drop starting a bad rep in the first place
I haven't seen a saw drop started that way .......... you mean one hand is on the rear handle and the other is on the starter rope ?? Now that would be really dangerous! Unquote:
Oddly, every dealer I have seen start a saw does it that way. Looks totally stupid to me and dangeous. Now, drop starting with left hand on front handle, while not recommended does give some control over the saw. I use the 'between the legs' unless I am having trouble and then it is 'on the ground'.
Harry K
Harry K
Monkeyhanger
ArboristSite Guru
Hi,
it looks like I'm also a saw starting "retard" AND I still keep my hands at 10 and 2...
Bye
it looks like I'm also a saw starting "retard" AND I still keep my hands at 10 and 2...
Bye
VT-Woodchuck
ArboristSite Operative
136 Husky, yes 066 no
Ekka
Addicted to ArboristSite
Isn't it amazingly coincidental that stihl have the decompress button perfectly located for your left thumb to depress it whilst the left hand is on the front handle ready for a right hand pull on the starter ....
.... funny about that.
.... funny about that.
manual
Addicted to ArboristSite
Monkeyhanger said:
That shows me that you are a man that pays attention to details.
Monkeyhanger said:
Yeah, but youve got the Autobahn there. At those speeds Id have two hands on the wheel too!!!
Monkeyhanger
ArboristSite Guru
manual said:
Hi,
you may well be quite right there. Anyway, I find the "between the legs" method safer than drop starting and easier on my back than bending down to start the saw.
As for driving, I live in Germany which many will know has mostly no speed limit on the Autobahn/Freeway/Motorway and when driving at speeds over 210kph/130mph or when driving quickly through the Harz Mountains with frequent gear changes etc. then I find the driving school 10 and 2 gives the best control. It may not look cool but it does work.
bye
SawTroll
Information Collector
Opposed to earlier, I mostly drop start with the right hand on the front handlebar, left on pull handle, by now. With my saws, I feel that I have full control (usually no chainbrake on).
Pulling with the right hand just hurts my artritis too much, so I had to quit using the "between the legs" method.
Pulling with the right hand just hurts my artritis too much, so I had to quit using the "between the legs" method.
manual
Addicted to ArboristSite
Monkeyhanger said:
I like what you said about less strain on your back starting your saw between your legs Today I am going to cut a couple cords of firewood and will try this method,
Been to Ramstien quite often because of this Iraq war. The Autobahn yes 10 and 2 always comes to mind.
Kneejerk Bombas
ArboristSite King
- Joined
- Oct 7, 2001
- Messages
- 36,971
- Reaction score
- 9,982
There are two things to consider. First is possible injury from the saw flailing around. Second, is long term repeated motion injury to your joints.
Every safety manual on chainsaws says not to drop start. Thats because they look at injuries, determine how they happen, and develop safety guidelines from there.
When you start the saw by snugging the rear handle under your thigh, you should not be pulling up towards your tallywacker. The pull is more to the side, so there is no tendency for the saw handle to move towards your family jewels.
Like a lot of people, when I first started sawing, I learned to drop start saws. Then as a climber, I enforced the bad habit of drop starting on the ground, by drop starting in the tree, which is really the only way I know how.
Personally, I think the best way to drop start a saw is to hold the rear handle, because there is no tendency for the bar to fly around, you can keep your hand on the throttle, and you can reach out and start cutting the instant the RPMs get up.
Obviously holding the rear handle doesn't work good on longer saws, unless you're in a tree because the bar hits the ground, but up in a tree, it works great.
Starting bigger saws on the ground should be done by sticking the handle behind your thigh. It doesn't take any longer, you have more control so it doesn't fly around, and the main reason is: it's easier, you don't have to throw the saw.
The hard part is breaking yourself from the old bad habit of drop starting.
Every safety manual on chainsaws says not to drop start. Thats because they look at injuries, determine how they happen, and develop safety guidelines from there.
When you start the saw by snugging the rear handle under your thigh, you should not be pulling up towards your tallywacker. The pull is more to the side, so there is no tendency for the saw handle to move towards your family jewels.
Like a lot of people, when I first started sawing, I learned to drop start saws. Then as a climber, I enforced the bad habit of drop starting on the ground, by drop starting in the tree, which is really the only way I know how.
Personally, I think the best way to drop start a saw is to hold the rear handle, because there is no tendency for the bar to fly around, you can keep your hand on the throttle, and you can reach out and start cutting the instant the RPMs get up.
Obviously holding the rear handle doesn't work good on longer saws, unless you're in a tree because the bar hits the ground, but up in a tree, it works great.
Starting bigger saws on the ground should be done by sticking the handle behind your thigh. It doesn't take any longer, you have more control so it doesn't fly around, and the main reason is: it's easier, you don't have to throw the saw.
The hard part is breaking yourself from the old bad habit of drop starting.
Kneejerk Bombas
ArboristSite King
- Joined
- Oct 7, 2001
- Messages
- 36,971
- Reaction score
- 9,982
I'm not sure of your point, every approved method of starting includes your left hand on the front handle, but so does drop starting.Ekka said:Isn't it amazingly coincidental that stihl have the decompress button perfectly located for your left thumb to depress it whilst the left hand is on the front handle ready for a right hand pull on the starter ....
.... funny about that.
Kneejerk Bombas
ArboristSite King
- Joined
- Oct 7, 2001
- Messages
- 36,971
- Reaction score
- 9,982
Good post.Monkeyhanger said:
It is a lot easier than drop starting, but like I mentioned, the hard part is breaking the old, bad habit of drop starting.
SawTroll
Information Collector
I agree with you on that, and it never was a consern for me.Mike Maas said:
Monkeyhanger
ArboristSite Guru
Hi,
when using the "between the legs" method I hold the top left part of the handle where the corner is. This tilts the saw a little to the right and gives a more natural pull keeping the cord in line with the movement of my arm. It also means I'm not pulling towards something I would rather not have a saw handle bump into...
Bye
when using the "between the legs" method I hold the top left part of the handle where the corner is. This tilts the saw a little to the right and gives a more natural pull keeping the cord in line with the movement of my arm. It also means I'm not pulling towards something I would rather not have a saw handle bump into...
Bye
RED-85-Z51
Addicted to ArboristSite
Monkeyhanger said:
Like I said earlier, I learned this the hard way...Starter bound up and sent the rear handle right up into man land...Oh, I was done cutting for that day
THALL10326
The Champ
RED-85-Z51 said:Like I said earlier, I learned this the hard way...Starter bound up and sent the rear handle right up into man land...Oh, I was done cutting for that day
Ouch, damn Red I gotta show you how to properly drop start a saw and of course break all the rules in the process. I drop start everything from a little 200T to that big 051 of mine. Will admit for the EZ start models behind the knee works best since your not cranking the engine anyway.
manual
Addicted to ArboristSite
Well I'm back cutting wood. Every time I started my saw and it was a lot of times. I started the saw, handle under my right leg body of the saw resting on the front of my left leg.Monkeyhanger said:
Old habits are hard to break I started my saw twice by drop starting it. When I did I shut her down and started it the other way.
I like started it under my leg felt safe even felt as if I got a better pull.
I am going to try to make it a habit.
Hey Guys, Thanks for all the inputs on safe saw starting.
Good 4 U !
I wanted to see this thread to turn out to be a "learning" thread and not a "bashing" thread. As a lot of people said here that drop starting was the only way they new how OR how they were taught , it good to see a turn around if people get it a chance. He(( .... I didnt start using a chainsaw with all the PPE , It was a chainsaw and me and that was it. latter i made sure i had good work boots and with a lot of information and research found out about the proper PPE to use . You can teach an ole' DOG new tricks but the ole dog has to want to learn in the first place. Now with that said "every body dog pile on Thall" !!!!!! We'll get that ole' dog to change his ways and also for him to teach the new chainsaw owners at his shop not to get into bad habits .
I wanted to see this thread to turn out to be a "learning" thread and not a "bashing" thread. As a lot of people said here that drop starting was the only way they new how OR how they were taught , it good to see a turn around if people get it a chance. He(( .... I didnt start using a chainsaw with all the PPE , It was a chainsaw and me and that was it. latter i made sure i had good work boots and with a lot of information and research found out about the proper PPE to use . You can teach an ole' DOG new tricks but the ole dog has to want to learn in the first place. Now with that said "every body dog pile on Thall" !!!!!! We'll get that ole' dog to change his ways and also for him to teach the new chainsaw owners at his shop not to get into bad habits .
manual said:
THALL10326
The Champ
Rspike said:
hahaha, pile on all ya like, I'm used to it. Fact is I said I do indeed drop start but I "don't promote it". As for Red taking a handle up in the "family jewels" I'd be glad to teach him how to drop start to avoid that. As I said I'm not bending over all day to start saws. I'm not hooking my leg around the handle all day either. If its scary to ya stay on the porch, I'll start the saws,lol
Similar threads
