Which safety gear would you recommend?

[zolodon]

I need to buy the following safety gear and would like some recommendations based on your experience with different products (keeping in mind that I'm more interested in quality, price, and ease of care/use than brand names):

1. Chaps
2. Forestry Helmet (with hearing protection)
3. Cutting Gloves

I'm prone to overheating and sweating way too much, so I'm looking for protective gear that isn't too stifling. Stuff that "breathes" and doesn't slip around too much (primarily the helmet) would be best.

Thanks in advance,
-Josh

 

[Teddy.Scout]

Ya, safety really is not my cup of tea!
only 4% of my saws have chain brakes!
Only recommendation i can add is ear protection with a radio! MAN how did I saw before with out it!!!!!!
Baileys has them, they are Peltor brand!

Baileys has a good selection to look over! LINK: http://www.baileysonline.com/
Along with ebay as a reference to what is out there.

 

[jeepyfz450]

Well i like full length full wrap chaps. I have a pair of Stihl chaps my Father inlaw bought me. I never understood the point of chaps that stopped at the knees. I always like the Stihl forestry helmets better but i think they changed the designes as of late. I just wear mechanics gloves in the woods or leather.

 

[Modifiedmark]

The best safety gear you can bring is a good brain and some common sense.

 

[lone wolf]

I think ear and eye protection would come first.

 

[Bruce 46]

A Husky forestry helmet and Labonville full wrap chaps, I wear regular leather work gloves. The most important safety gear is between your ears!

 

[056kid]

Me, I like hard hat & ear plugs. glasses are nice when it gets cold out and cotton or polyester gloves are nice to.

Chaps are dangerous. . . . if you guys cannot run a power saw without cutting your legs off, just find somthing else to do. Are you listening US govt??

 

[Teddy.Scout]

The best safety gear you can bring is a good brain and some common sense.

I think ear and eye protection would come first.

A Husky forestry helmet and Labonville full wrap chaps, I wear regular leather work gloves. The most important safety gear is between your ears!

All the above!
And as said, COMMON SENSE!

 

[gemniii]

Ear plugs - get on sale at Amazon
http://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B000F6T1KE/ref=oss_product

Milwaukee 49-17-3200 NRR 27 DB Corded Reusable Earplugs, Box of 50

for $9 plus shipping if you have to pay it.

can't go wrong

These are the "barbed" type, not the roll up squishy foam plugs.

Now I've got time to write:
#1 is Eye protection - Eyes are real difficult to replace
#2 is Blood protection - if you do any major cutting of standing stuff get a helmet, gloves and chaps
#3 is Ear protection - my ears were fairly sensitive and i'd like to keep them that way, if I'm milling with my saws I wear earplugs AND muffs

 

[kemo]

I started cutting, again when I was young(er) and dumb(er), without the head protection, chaps, and boots. Today, I look back and wonder why no one ever kicked me in the rear.

All things I took for granted until I started thinking things through!

 

[JustinM]

The best safety gear you can bring is a good brain and some common sense.

SO true.

I think ear and eye protection would come first.

Ya. I personally will never cut without some sort of ear/eye protection & gloves. After that, I vary in what I wear, but the first 3 are pretty much guarateed (albeit gloves are as much comfort as they are protection imho).

 

[slowp]

What is the style in your neck of the woods?

For instance, out here, it is full brim hardhats, earplugs and some kind of eye protection. The latter being whatever is comfie and won't fog up.
I prefer bugz for the eyes.

Colors can be coordinated. I feel it is important to be seen, so i wear an orange hardhat. I do not care for that color, but it can be seen and also coordinates well with saws.

Suspenders are safety gear too.

 

[StihlyinEly]

I need to buy the following safety gear and would like some recommendations based on your experience with different products (keeping in mind that I'm more interested in quality, price, and ease of care/use than brand names):

1. Chaps
2. Forestry Helmet (with hearing protection)
3. Cutting Gloves

I'm prone to overheating and sweating way too much, so I'm looking for protective gear that isn't too stifling. Stuff that "breathes" and doesn't slip around too much (primarily the helmet) would be best.

Thanks in advance,
-Josh

1. Labonville full-wrap green chaps
2. Peltor helmet
3. Any gloves that give you added grip without being too stiff.

 

[zolodon]

Me, I like hard hat & ear plugs. glasses are nice when it gets cold out and cotton or polyester gloves are nice to.

Chaps are dangerous. . . . if you guys cannot run a power saw without cutting your legs off, just find somthing else to do. Are you listening US govt??

What!? You consider chaps (or any other safety gear) to be dangerous!? Name me one person that ever planned on cutting their leg off...or planned any less severe accidents? How in the world do you consider safety equipment that doesn't interfere with common sense more dangerous than going without?

Yes, I would rather cut without wearing a layer of gear, but I'd prefer to limit the severity of an accident in case it ever happens (let alone long term eye/ear damage). Hopefully, do to my common sense and attention to safety that will never be an issue, but who can ever be sure an accident won't happen? Who can guarantee what a fellow cutter will do around you in the woods? I'd prefer to take more precaution than risk, but that's just me.

Regardless, thank you for the other constructive posts and specific recommendations. I have used regular apron chaps many times, but never full wrap ones. Is there a specific advantage to the later type that I am missing? The thought of wearing more wrapped around me than I have too seems like an invitation for oveheating, but I'm willing to reconsider if necessary.

I like the foresty style helmets with the mesh face shield and hinged hearing protection. I personally find them easier to adjust than ear buds of any sort...especially when I'm working with others and need to chat on occasion. I know I've used some very nice ones and some really crappy ones...but I never paid attention to branding on borrowed gear. Oops!

Please...keep suggestions coming. They are helping narrow down my search for gear. Likewise, I'm curious if there are specific products you've encountered that you'd recommend I avoid.

 

[zolodon]

What is the style in your neck of the woods?

For instance, out here, it is full brim hardhats, earplugs and some kind of eye protection. The latter being whatever is comfie and won't fog up.
I prefer bugz for the eyes.

Colors can be coordinated. I feel it is important to be seen, so i wear an orange hardhat. I do not care for that color, but it can be seen and also coordinates well with saws.

Suspenders are safety gear too.

I don't work on a cutting crew where any particular style matters. I help a few different people with land and timber management so we base our gear on personal preference. Otherwise, I typically work solo carving up downed trees to feed my woodworking interests.

 

[BobL]

If you want quality hearing protection don't get just ear plugs. Don't be fooled by the hype coming from the people selling them - there is some very good research clearly demonstrating that even trained audiologists cannot always fit them properly. A similar problem exists but to a lesser extent with muffs. Because I have very little hearing left I use both.

 

[pgg]

First choice a helmet, should always just go with the chainsaw, it gives you a 3 in 1, earmuffs, mesh visor and keeps nasty things from belting you round the head. Chaps are OK in a lot of situations but a PITA in others. Earplugs under the earmuffs are damn good if you run modded/opened mufflers. Fly-eyes I don't like because you can't flick them off and on like a hinged visor. You don't need fine mesh on the visor, it's too dark and misty, just average mesh is good. Goggles are useless because they fog.

 

[Slamm]

Before the First:

Working Brain

First:

Rockman Helmet <---- Heavier but like a Cadillac -- For pure cutting get this one is tops, just a pleasure to wear.

Peltor <-- Lighter, earmuffs are a pain to open and close -- For combo machine operation and cutting get this one. The peltor visor screen lets saw chips/dust go through and it falls right into your eyes when you look up to check for falling branches and such, very poor in my book.
Second:

Saw Chaps <---Some full lengh ones will do fine.
Third:

Hulkster Gloves <---- Finest working gloves ever invented for rough work, will outlast leather gloves and provide a much better grip than any other glove made, PERIOD, I've spent hundreds trying them all out. I can even work my Flippy Caps with them, LOL.
If you need more than the above items, you need to re-evaluate the Brain part, because if you are lacking there, it will be pretty hard the for the purchased items to save you from damage.

My opinion,

Sam

 

[pgg]

Before the First:

Working Brain

First:

Rockman Helmet <---- Heavier but like a Cadillac -- For pure cutting get this one is tops, just a pleasure to wear.

Peltor <-- Lighter, earmuffs are a pain to open and close -- For combo machine operation and cutting get this one. The peltor visor screen lets saw chips/dust go through and it falls right into your eyes when you look up to check for falling branches and such, very poor in my book.
Second:

Saw Chaps <---Some full lengh ones will do fine.
Third:

Hulkster Gloves <---- Finest working gloves ever invented for rough work, will outlast leather gloves and provide a much better grip than any other glove made, PERIOD, I've spent hundreds trying them all out. I can even work my Flippy Caps with them, LOL.
If you need more than the above items, you need to re-evaluate the Brain part, because if you are lacking there, it will be pretty hard the for the purchased items to save you from damage.

My opinion,

Sam

Yep, but first:first:first: a brain - then a working one...

and yeah, most visor setups seem to let sawdust through the top and it falls straight into your eyes when you tilt your head to look up, a slack-ass piss poor design that's never been improved by the boof-head designers. Eventually it becomes automatic instinct to sweep the brim before looking up

 

[nmurph]

chaps, ear plugs and a brain. i am going to add a pair of bugz-eye goggles.