hearing and eye protection who uses it?

[neverenough]

Maybe a stupid question, but why would anyone need teh screen unless it was justa conveniencce thing along with teh helmet that you should be wearing when felling or climbing? Doesn't simple eye protection and ear plugs provide adequete protection?

Go buy the hard hat/ear muff/screen combo set up and you'll wonder how you got along without it. I used to just use muffs and glasses. The combo set up is some of the best money I ever spent. I just love mine. No more saw dust/chips in the hair, on my face, and in my mouth. It's kind of like wearing sun glasses too. It's a little tough to see as the sun goes down, but it's nice when the sun is high in the sky.

 

[NWCS]

i allways wear hearing protection when using a saw. i have sensitive ears so even 5min with a saw has my head ringing and a headache coming on if no protection. i wear glasses so other eye protection can be a fit problem for me, so i usually order safety rated lenses when i renew my perscriptions. not many safety glasses fit over eye glasses i find. and if they do they feel funny or flop all over. as for the hardhat if i do anything with overhead danger (anything thats not bucking an allready limbed log) the hardhat gets worn. the one thing i do not have yet is a pair of chaps.

i like my body in tact and functioning the way it was designed. so safety gear is allways on my mind. i did enough to myself when i was younger..

 

[Leebo]

Re: Wearing "Flip Flops" while cutting wood....

Accidents aside, doesn't the guy get splinters in his toes/feet?

I don't know, but I've seen it more than once. A few weeks ago I stopped and when he shut off his 031 I noticed that his chain was loose...about 3/4" slack at the bottom. I said "Looks like your chain loosened up" or something. He replied, "I always run them like that". I keep waiting for the sound of the EMS sirens this time of year.

 

[jokers]

My neighbor cuts firewood in the summer wearing shorts and flip flops.

Like this?

You will note that I am atleast wearing sandles with secure straps for sure footing.

I don`t recommend anyone else follow my lead on this particular example, but on the other hand, those of you who are relying on full length jeans and sturdy shoes to protect yourselves are enjoying a false security. Layers of clothing are cut so readily that most guys don`t even notice they`ve nicked themselves and leather boots cut easier than wood. Ask Stihl Magnum. He bucked into his foot wearing name brand steel toe loggers.

Good work practices with emphasis on a clear mind and situational awareness are your most valuable ppe. All the fancy nylon, kevlar, and steel clothing in the world can`t protect a careless or distracted person.

Russ

 

[Mr_Brushcutter]

I always were eye protection sometimes a mesh visor and safety glasses. Hearing protection is on the side of the helmate so i often wear that unless i'm just using the saw for 30 seconds or so.

You've only got one set of eyes and you'd kick yourself for ever if you were blinded in one eye/both eyes because you didn't wear a quids worth of plastic googles. You only get one chance to protect your hearing i've dammaged mine with loud music so i'd like to save it as much as possable.

As for chaps and boot i always wear them when using a chainsaw not just because its the law but its good practice. End of the day you could use a chainsaw for 30 years with no PPE what so ever its the one time something unexpected goes wrong that matters. I can see the point about PPE approprite to climate my STIHL hiflex were good here in the summer but i wouldn't want to wear them in a florida summer

 

[Newfie]

Good work practices with emphasis on a clear mind and situational awareness are your most valuable ppe. All the fancy nylon, kevlar, and steel clothing in the world can`t protect a careless or distracted person.
Russ

Now that's an old picture.

What Russ said is too true for words. If you're using a saw pull your head out and pay attention.

 

[Blowdown1]

Peltor helmet/muffs/screen. That screen gets filthy, so it means it isn't in my face. I wear glasses so saftety glasses are not worn. Actually used foam plugs this weekend under the muffs since I am losing a little hearing.

Usually wear chaps, leather gloves, and steel toe boots, more to keep my toes from getting crunched from a big log, but certainly will help keep the toes if I ever pull a boner and put my saw where my feets are.

 

[ajc4]

All of this talk about PPE, why do so many people here hate "low kickback" chains? All of my new(er) chains are the safety chains. I honestly dont notice a difference in cutting performance between low kickback and regular chains. Just keep them sharp.

 

[TimberPig]

Low kick chains have bumper drive links and bumper tie straps that create extra drag and reduce the chain's ability to bite into the wood. This reduces the speed at which the chain cuts, because it takes more teeth passing over the same piece of wood to cut it than with non-safety chain. If you are not noticing a difference with low kickback chain versus non-safety chain, then something is wrong. Properly sharpened non safety chain against properly sharpened safety chain should show a noticeable difference in cut speed.
As to why no one prefers safety chain? It cuts too slow compared to non safety chain.

 

[ajc4]

Timberpig, I usually file the rakers to 1/4", perhaps it would be more noticible if I went to 0.3 or so? I do keep the bumper straps filed down to the same depth as the rakers. Perhaps that takes the "safety" out of the safety chain?

I'm just an occasional firewood cutter. I suppose differences in cutting speed that I may have otherwise attributed to the varying hardness of the different logs I cut may actually be due to which chain I happen to have on the bar. I usually finish bucking whichever log I am on if I start to notice the chain is getting dull, change it, and start on the next log -- which I guess makes it more difficult to notice any performance benefit of different chains. Thanks for the info.

 

[Stumper]

The difference in speed comparing pro chain to safety chain with bumpers is about10%-significant but not huge. The real problem with safety chain is that it interferes with certain types of cutting (most notably, boring ) and reduces the operators ability to perform certain operations-things that most amateurs aren't prepared for anyway.Not all safety chain is so limited-the Oregon Vanguard chain has wide depth gauges. It bores quite well and cuts pretty efficiently but still qualifies as a reduced kickback chain. I like Carlton's pro chain but their bumper tie strap stuff is quite "safe" in kickback potential and quite awful for boring-- or any bar nose work.

 

[neverenough]

Timberpig, I usually file the rakers to 1/4", perhaps it would be more noticible if I went to 0.3 or so?

Holy chit, you can get the saw to pull that chain????

 

[ajc4]

whoops, your right, neverenough. misplaced the decimal point. that should be 0.025" (not 1/4) and 0.03", respectivley.

 

[SawTroll]

Just ordinary glasses, no hearing protection, no helmet.
I like to hear what is happening, but will probably regret it some day......

I always use protective pants and boots, though. :angel:
The new Forestwear Comfort pants from Stihl is really nice.

 

[Mr_Brushcutter]

I've got a 15" full chisel chain with go guard links on it and it cuts very fast. Also got a 20" semi chisel with kick back protection only the drive link ones no extra thick bumper straps.

Personly i like the vibration damping the safety chain gives you, it does cut slower but i'm in no hurry. I think in the UK safety chain will become a standard thing here soon, we already have inforced vibration exposure laws limiting us to 2.5m/s2 per day and i think that this chain will be forced upon everyone by the bright sparks at the HSE in due course.

Safety chain the full stuff with bumer tie straps with tie guards and drive guards defantly has its place on top handled saws. Don't care how long it takes to cut i want that extra kickback protection especially if i'm one handing or boring.

 

[TimberPig]

You're going to have a tough time getting low kickback chain to bore. They do not bore well at all. That is one major reason for using non safety chain.

 

[pinus]

Cup, glasses and small pieces of batting in ears. Not too much, sry.
If there is danger for the sudden unwanted breakage and fall then no ear protection and sometimes for finishing instead saw the axe.

 

[BlueRidgeMark]

You've only got one set of eyes and you'd kick yourself for ever if you were blinded in one eye/both eyes because you didn't wear a quids worth of plastic googles. r

I know a man who lost one eye as a kid, in one of those accidents your mother always warned you about. That's a bummer, certainly, but at least he still had one eye.

At age 20 he lost the other one. Working in a machine shop, a piece of metal flew across the shop from someone else's work, and the lights went out for the rest of his life. Freak accident? Yep. They happen. All you can do is try to improve your odds. There are no guarantees.

Improving your odds is what safety gear is all about.


I figure there are two kinds of people in the world:

• Those who learn from the mistakes of others.
• Those who provide lessons to the first group.

 

[brent denny]

I usually try to wear at least glasses and muffs or plugs (I have to admit if I am making one or two cuts and don't have the stuff on I dont bother). I wear the helmet system if I am doing a lot of falling. I dont even own chaps but I have a pair of labonville pants with cut resistant inserts that are really nice for cutting in winter.

 

[woodsrider]

I'm no pro -- just a weekend warrior. Almost without exception, I wear chaps, my Husky helmet/muffs/screen, gloves and boots.

This is an interesting post -- it's amazing how many folks wear only limited protection (even pros?). I try my best to wear my PPE at all times. Accidents rarely wait for times when you have all the right stuff on.....