Hermio
Addicted to ArboristSite
Just bought some Husqvarna safety gloves. They are rated category 0, which is 16m/s or 36 mph. My MS 500i has a no-load chain speed of 62 mph or 28 m/s, so a category 3 would be recommended. But my local stores do not carry category 3. On the other hand, I expect my chain brake would get the speed below 16 m/s by the time it could hit my hand; probably down to zero. Then it would just be a matter of cut protection. I plan to use them in the woods when removing the smaller branches from trees or treetops, as that is when kickback is most likely. When I drag them out into my fields for bucking, my footing is better and there is almost no chance of a rotational kickback, so I might not use them then. I could still get a linear kickback, but I don't think the gloves would help with that. I have had that happen a few times, but it never even caused the saw to hit me. The chain brake was triggered by that kind of kickback also.