Wear those chaps people

[brick_haus]

I’ve made the same mistake. Luckily no tendon/ligament damage.

 

[brick_haus]

yes, a little expensive, but custom made, and they wont snag on everything like chaps, the Clogger Zero's arent very hot in the summer (worked all of last summer at 95+ degrees with a heat index above 120 without an issue)
I believe they are also safer than chaps but not 100% on that, the ripstop nylon is amazing, feels like theres nothing to the back of them, like a parachute, but you cant tear it, snagged my ass on the sharp corners of the trailer hundreds of times and not a single mark in the nylon, although I was bleeding afterwards, front is a normal chap like material

I need to get a pair myself. Thanks for sharing your experience.

 

[user 188535]

I need to get a pair myself. Thanks for sharing your experience.

Yes, you do.

Get them here:

https://arbsession.com/safety/saw-protection.html

 

[gerrywoodsy482]

This is an older post, but I'm going to add to it anyway. This is such an important topic. I've heated with wood most of my life, so I have quite a few cords of wood under my belt. I try to remind myself each time I use a saw that it is the most dangerous tool that I use on the farm. It's hard not to just get used to it and think that after all those hours of sawing, that, "you must be really good at it and bulletproof".

In this picture, you'll see the one cut in my chaps which are about 20 year old. It only cut the nylon on the outside, just a "nick". Well the location of that cut is right where the femoral artery is on your leg/hip area - what If I hadn't had the chaps on and what if would have been deeper? Don't like to think about that.

Another interesting point is that I don't know when that happened!?!? One day when I put the chaps on I saw it and though, OMG! After that incident, I made a vow to myself to ALWAYS put my chaps on - even to just make one cut. My rule is no using the saw without the chaps. It's hard to do, but after many years now I have not violated it.

Absolutely, safety first! That nick on your chaps is a chilling reminder of how things can take a dangerous turn.

 

[Chainsaw Collectors]

What do you guys think of cheap chaps like this? I’m considering them.
https://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B08PBTRRG5/ref=ox_sc_act_title_1?smid=A450RC3KJPIQL&psc=1

 

[toppers]

My first intro to how important chaps are: I was younger, wearing chaps and swinging around a 441C with a 25" bar, being careless about the bar tip. Got carried away and made a dumb cut plunging the tip into some willow stump, just showing off and being irresponsible. Instantly the saw kicked straight back into my left quad and stopped running from the textile. Went far enough to even nick my skin underneath and cause a tiny blister.

That was eye opening to say the least, and a paradigm shift for how I operate a saw that day forward, I am always laser focused on where that bar tip is since that experience.

The choice to wear chaps or not, was the difference between bleeding out in a bad way, and being here now.

 

[cuttinstihl]

What do you guys think of cheap chaps like this? I’m considering them.
https://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B08PBTRRG5/ref=ox_sc_act_title_1?smid=A450RC3KJPIQL&psc=1

FWIW, I wear the 36” length Echo chaps, about $70. They’re good quality, super comfortable, and not too awkward for when you’re walking in brush. Only complaint is that they’re a bit short for me, and I’m about 6’0-6’1. Idk how tall you are, but if you’re over 5’11-6’0 you’re probably better getting 40” chaps

 

[Chainsaw Collectors]

FWIW, I wear the 36” length Echo chaps, about $70. They’re good quality, super comfortable, and not too awkward for when you’re walking in brush. Only complaint is that they’re a bit short for me, and I’m about 6’0-6’1. Idk how tall you are, but if you’re over 5’11-6’0 you’re probably better getting 40” chaps

I’m just under 5 11. What does FWIW stand for?

 

[ZinTrees]

I’m just under 5 11. What does FWIW stand for?

"for what its worth"


fwiw, legit chaps from echo, stihl, husquvarna, etc arent much more
$400-500 for a pair of clogger Zero chainsaw pants, worth every penny

 

[cuttinstihl]

I’m just under 5 11. What does FWIW stand for?

For what it worth. 36” should do you fine then.

 

[cuttinstihl]

For reference, here’s what the 32” Stihl chaps look like on my frame. Notice they’re considerably shorter than they should be

 

[toppers]

Echo makes a tall version of their chaps, I went with those. Not great to have your shins exposed.

 

[cuttinstihl]

Echo makes a tall version of their chaps, I went with those. Not great to have your shins exposed.

Yep. Hindsight I should’ve went with the taller chaps

 

[MrTreeGuy]

I can see why people would choose to wear chaps. For me, I won't wear them though.

Anything can be dangerous when you don't take the proper precautions. A fire pit can burn down a house in an instant but if you take the steps to prevent it from becoming dangerous, there's no need to install a water sprinkler right above it.

One can even make the argument that certain PPE will make you less cautious.