Again a theory. I am 99.9% sure my stihl chaps said to wash them prior to use. I just observed them before and after I washed them and came to that hypothesis.
Saw chaps/pants?
- Thread starter Ex Umbra
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Again a theory. I am 99.9% sure my stihl chaps said to wash them prior to use. I just observed them before and after I washed them and came to that hypothesis.
Red Elm
Ridgerunner
I don't see that it would hurt anything. Most guys never wash their chaps at all but an occasional scrubbing probably is a good idea. Labonville advises hand washing and line drying. Some people do, some people don't.
One of our landing guys had a pair of Stihl orange chaps that stopped an 046 with chisel chain. Stopped it cold and with no injury to the man. They were practically black from a couple of years of daily use and the normal accumulation of oil, dirt, sawdust, snoose, piss dribbles and whatever else got slopped on them. We looked them over pretty good and all that was really dirty was the orange outer layer. Even with all the crud on the outside the insides were clean and did the job they were supposed to do.
That being said, I usually give mine a light scrubbing every year. A light scrubbing. Like when you can scrape the gunk off the outer shell with your thumb nail and they start to smell bad.
HuskStihl
Chairin'em for the sound
I'm pretty sure you were supposed to wash those old Levi 501's before wearing them, or maybe it was the opposite?
I also went out to look at mine. You r right it says follow proper washing instructions but nothing about washing them prior to use. But for whatever reason I did wash them prior to use and I would not just do that for the hell of it. I will shoot an email to grand forest inc. and see if they can confirm or discredit my rationale for washing them prior to use.
Well? What did you find out?
I have 2 pair of chaps, both are FSS wildland firefighting style chaps. My old 12" chaps say to use a brush and soapy water to clean. The newer (6/12) PGI chaps say "do not machine wash or dry". Washing like that screws up the felt layering and can damage the woven layers.
Buying by brand name means nothing. Stihl makes fine chainsaws but their low bid chaps contractor (Swedepro?) makes cheap quality chaps out of unknown materials. Same for Husqvarna. You buy by the level of protection offered, coverage, etc.
BTW I finally took Gologit's advice and put suspenders on my wildland chaps. Wildland pants don't have suspender buttons.
Buying by brand name means nothing. Stihl makes fine chainsaws but their low bid chaps contractor (Swedepro?) makes cheap quality chaps out of unknown materials. Same for Husqvarna. You buy by the level of protection offered, coverage, etc.
BTW I finally took Gologit's advice and put suspenders on my wildland chaps. Wildland pants don't have suspender buttons.
jra1100
Addicted to ArboristSite
I am in the Labonville camp. I'll try to be quick as I have said this all before. Until I joined AS I didn't know there was such a thing as chainsaw chaps, and I'd been cutting for over 30 years then. Somebody posted a video using a ham as a leg, and I didn't saw till the Labonville's got here. I just got done cutting some RR ties, with the chaps on as always. Had an interesting call on Memorial Day. I was having a lazy day getting coffee and the phone rings. It was my neighbor who has a home near the Mississippi River. He says "hey whats the name of those chainsaw chaps you have?" "So how bad was the cut," I asked. "Oh not that bad, but it's going to take a while to heal." He had cut a 6" long gouge about 4" above his left knee. It's still healing. I asked him why he never took my advice and got the chaps BEFORE , and he said they were to expensive. He only makes about 200K a year, and the bill for the emergency room was a bunch and the deductible that he has to pay is about 10 times the cost of the chaps and still climbing with checkups. I have used mine once, and it stopped the saw DEAD, and NOW. Cheapest insurance you can buy. JR
HuskStihl
Chairin'em for the sound
Mine say "dry clean only"
Here is the reply that I got from grand forest inc......
Hello Rory,
We do suggest that the new chaps be washed, as it gently fluffs the patented
cut-resistant fabric embedded in them, thereby enhancing their performance.
Though they will certainly perform sufficiently without being washed. You
can certainly continue to wash them according to instructions, throughout
the course of owning them.
Please call if there are additional questions.
Regards,
Chela Gilmore
Customer Service
Grand Forest Inc
219 Varnfield Drive
Summerville, SC 29483
(843) 875-0240 tel
(843)821-2285 fax
[email protected]
www.grandforest.us
-----Original Message-----
From: roryfredricks
Sent: Sunday, August 03, 2014 4:49 PM
To: [email protected]
Subject: Comment from Grand Forest Website
Customer Type:
Customer interested in learning more about our products.
Literature Needed:
Customer Name:
Rory Fredricks
Customer Address:
Customer Phone:
Message:
Hello. Last year I bought a pair of 6ply stihl full wrap chaps. They say on
the tag made by grand forest inc. correct me if I am wrong but are you
supposed to wash the chaps BEFORE you use them? If yes can you explain to me
why? Thank you, Rory Fredricks.
Hello Rory,
We do suggest that the new chaps be washed, as it gently fluffs the patented
cut-resistant fabric embedded in them, thereby enhancing their performance.
Though they will certainly perform sufficiently without being washed. You
can certainly continue to wash them according to instructions, throughout
the course of owning them.
Please call if there are additional questions.
Regards,
Chela Gilmore
Customer Service
Grand Forest Inc
219 Varnfield Drive
Summerville, SC 29483
(843) 875-0240 tel
(843)821-2285 fax
[email protected]
www.grandforest.us
-----Original Message-----
From: roryfredricks
Sent: Sunday, August 03, 2014 4:49 PM
To: [email protected]
Subject: Comment from Grand Forest Website
Customer Type:
Customer interested in learning more about our products.
Literature Needed:
Customer Name:
Rory Fredricks
Customer Address:
Customer Phone:
Message:
Hello. Last year I bought a pair of 6ply stihl full wrap chaps. They say on
the tag made by grand forest inc. correct me if I am wrong but are you
supposed to wash the chaps BEFORE you use them? If yes can you explain to me
why? Thank you, Rory Fredricks.
None of mine say to wash before wearing. Pretty consistent about NO bleach and NO hot drying.
Jonsered pants (made in Canada):
Husqvarna apron chaps (made in Canada):
Husqvarna wrap chaps (made in Mexico):
Philbert
Jonsered pants (made in Canada):
Husqvarna apron chaps (made in Canada):
Husqvarna wrap chaps (made in Mexico):
Philbert
I wash mine, infrequently, laying flat in the bathtub (the chaps; not me). Brush the dirty spots on the outside, and knead the wash and rinse water through them without a bunch of wringing or twisting.
Roll them up tight to squeeze out excess water, then lay them over a drying rack.
Philbert
Roll them up tight to squeeze out excess water, then lay them over a drying rack.
Philbert
Ok so I bought some junk freakin chaps. $100 I would hope not but what do I know? I guess I will have to just test them out and see.
zogger
Tree Freak
I am not interested in strap on chaps, I wear pants when I cut, so, eliminating an unnecessary- to me-extra step, I got regular cutting pants, husqvarna brand. Comfortable, fit well, plenty of pockets that close, easy to get on over cutting boots, then zip and snap closed. Cost about the same as good chaps, full around the leg protection, fit to the top of the boot, plus the pockets.
I have a pair of Jonsered pants - got a good deal on them so I tried them. When they got hot, I can take the chaps off, for breaks, lunch, etc. Even though the pants have ventilated backs, they get hot and I can't just drop them anywhere. I guess I could wear gym shorts underneath . . .
Philbert
Philbert
bryanr2
Addicted to ArboristSite
This thread's a reminder for me to get some chaps before this fall cuttin. Not that I should need a reminder since I have had a chainsaw accident a few years ago (and paid dearly for it $). Just always put it off. Anyways, Im getting older and smarter and am going to order some Labonvilles from Baileys on my next order. I have never owned chaps before or wore them. Reading some of the previous post, Im a little confused as which to buy. I am 6'5'' and usually where a 34'' inseam Carhart paint low on the waist.
What size do I need to order?
36'' pad 40 overall or the 40'' pad 44 overall? It seems like the 36/40 would sit on the boot just right but maybe they should be a little long so that they cover the boot? Im looking at the Xtremes with 10 ply and there is only a $5 difference in the two. Id just hate to order the wrong size and then go thru trying to sell them.
What size do I need to order?
36'' pad 40 overall or the 40'' pad 44 overall? It seems like the 36/40 would sit on the boot just right but maybe they should be a little long so that they cover the boot? Im looking at the Xtremes with 10 ply and there is only a $5 difference in the two. Id just hate to order the wrong size and then go thru trying to sell them.
KenJax Tree
Terraphobic
Measure from where your belt is to the floor and subtract 2". You want them to just touch the top of your foot any longer and they get caught on brush and trip you.
hseII
Addicted to ArboristSite
I looked on Madisens earlier, but all I saw were the kind that tie in the back, or inserts for pants.
I think I want a pair of "pants" that work with Spenders, and are cut resistant.
Made in the US is the final requirement.
Where to find those?
I think I want a pair of "pants" that work with Spenders, and are cut resistant.
Made in the US is the final requirement.
Where to find those?
hseII
Addicted to ArboristSite
Google "chainsaw protective pants". A number of arborist supply places sell them. Mine are Jonsered's brand, but were made in Mexico. Bailey's and Tree Stuff list a Husqvarna brand. STIHL dealers can order some. Labonville sells pants that use separate cut resistant insert pads. Etc.
Philbert
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