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.

 

[Hermio]

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.

That is your right. I just hope that the one instant that can send you to the hospital or morgue does not happen to you.

 

[Hermio]

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.

Yes, it only takes once. And it can happen to experienced, capable people.

 

[toppers]

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.

Except running a power saw and consequential kickbacks have a million more dynamic angles to it than a managing a fire pit...bad comparison.

But go ahead, Darwin awards are always being handed out and the general public frowned upon seatbelts when they were first installed in automobiles, too.

 

[MrTreeGuy]

Except running a power saw and consequential kickbacks have a million more dynamic angles to it than a managing a fire pit...bad comparison.

But go ahead, Darwin awards are always being handed out and the general public frowned upon seatbelts when they were first installed in automobiles, too.

Fires have been killing people much longer and in larger numbers than gas chain saws. At the same time, some people have been using fire with no problems. I wonder why?

As for seat belts, that's an entire debate in itself.

 

[MacAttack]

I feel like I should be seriously looking at some chaps... I'm probably a little over-confident after years of not having an accident. Maybe Santa will leave a pair under the tree...

I'm 6'1", I wonder if I got the Echo Full wraps would I want the 36" or 40"?

 

[Hermio]

Fires have been killing people much longer and in larger numbers than gas chain saws. At the same time, some people have been using fire with no problems. I wonder why?

As for seat belts, that's an entire debate in itself.

Numbers are not the correct comparison. Percentages are. There are more people building fires than using chainsaws. The logging profession is the second most dangerous profession, after North Sea fisherman. It actually used to be the most dangerous. In the 1980s, the statistic was that 5% of loggers would not survive their career. It has gotten better, and I don't know all the reasons why. Better training may be one. But I imagine the use of chaps has contributed to safety.