Thread: Chaps ?...Do I need them for chainsawing ?

Is she talking about the ones that the cowboy in the Village People wears

Yes you want chaps as they offer some protection in the event that the chain brakes or for some reason the saw makes contact with your leg. Stihl sell chaps that would suit what you want to do and would be available at most saw shops. https://www.stihl.com.au/STIHL-Produ...rotection.aspx

Yes, yes and yes. You want chaps.

Id also suggest you either enroll in a chainsaw course, or if you can't find one, order the CSIRO "Chainsaw Operators Manual" (https://www.publish.csiro.au/book/6166/).

They can be a very safe tool if understood and used correctly, or very dangerous if not.

Oh, and did I mention that you want chaps? The helmet with integrated ear muffs and mesh face shield is also fantastic and highly recommended.

Enjoy the chainsaw journey though, they're a great tool that will open up a world of new opportunities for you!

This picture shows chainsaw injury numbers by body location during 1999.
The hand injury result mainly from ning-nongs thinking they can hold a branch with one hand and a running CS with the other - the CS skates along teh branch faster than you can blink and - WHAMO.
If you keep both hands on the saw at all times while it's running your risk of hand injury drops dramatically.
The next major area are legs - chaps reduce those injuries by more than 95%.


Injuries3.jpg

BTW I got my chaps from direct Labonville.com in the US.
I have two pairs of "wrap chaps" and a pair of "competition chaps" - not that I'm competitive but it's a full belt and braces when I'm, in tight situations.
I don't know what the shipping would be these days but they have worn really well.
If you follow their measurement directions on the web they will fit properly.

BTW steel caps protect toes but may not protect the upper foot. The chain can skate along the steel cap and plunge into the upper foot.
To protect this area chainsaw boots with built in chap like layers are used. The other option are chap like boot liners. I reckon these are only really needed if you are doing a lot of ground work.

One more thing, chaps need to be kept clean to work properly. The kevlar fibres inside the chaps will over time matt together under constant pressure and exposure to oils, sweat and sap. This means they may not run out freely when they need to save you. The chaps should be light machine washed in something like a wool wash. It also keeps them soft and fluffy.

I wont pick up the chainsaw without chaps. I worked in the forest industry for 20 years and while most chainsaw users wont have an accident, I know several people who avoided severe injury to their leg thanks to their chaps.
Sort of reminds me of the old Clint Eastwood line "are you feeling lucky punk" or words to that effect.

Tony

Watched a bloke years ago felling a paddock Maple at 'Malaan',Atherton Tablelands...he was employed by a contractor too!
Took his eyes briefly off the task and promptly sliced his kneecap in half
Shock set in for a moment as he didn't/couldn't move...and soon after i saw jelly starting to ooze from the wound!
Almost severed the leg...it happens to even the very experienced
Highly recommend the wearing of ALL safety apparatus when engaging in chainsaw/milling activities...MM

Originally Posted by Beardy

Is she talking about the ones that the cowboy in the Village People wears

I'm not planning to have a bare backside or my todger out the front when I am using a chainsaw........... In the privacy of my home is another matter.

BobL...there are some sobering statistics you have ...no more chainsaw until I get my chaps & full face mask.

Sometime in the 1980's? Forestry NZ did a survey of chainsaw injuries by forestry workers and the average cost of a chainsaw injury was around $20k, this included the medical costs and lost wages but did not cover loss of future earnings. They then mandated chap use and experienced the biggest reduction in workplace injuries they have ever had. I wear them religiously while milling even though the risk of CS injury is low when milling but every now and then when prepping logs etc they are already on so I don't need to stop and put them on.

Talking about todgers, one of the few times I was not wearing chaps and got hit was when I cut down a small tea tree for my mum. I was actually wearing chaps when I cut the tree down. The tree was some 12ft high but the main trunk was only about 6" in diameter and I cut it down leaving a 2ft high stump. I sawed the branches into pieces that would fit in mums green bin. Mum also trawls the street looking for bin space and managed to get rid of the tree in a week. Then I stopped and had a cup of tea with mum and when I came out to go mum wanted the stump cut shorter. One cut - no worries - no chaps. Unbeknownst to me the chain was already loose and jumped the bar. The chain catcher caught it but it whipped around and got me fair in the goolies. No cuts just a big purple bruise on the nut sack. It's likely that the chaps wouldn't have prevented this but it goes to show you can never be too careful

Chainsaw Chainsaw man
I want to be...a Chainsaw man
Chainsaw Chainsaw man...i want to be a Chainsaw
Crikey...all of a sudden i feel i bit crook...MM

Chaps, or a couple of fellas to pick up the wood can be of help

Canadian forest industry still employs buckers and fallers on the steep mountainsides.
Full safety kit and you get to go home to supper, every night.
I've been gifted( !! ) 2 power saws. Not used as have not bought chaps yet.

You can go without chaps but you can't go without legs.

Originally Posted by skot

BobL...there are some sobering statistics you have ...no more chainsaw until I get my chaps & full face mask.

When I bought a bunch of never used chainsaw milling gear in 2009 it came with 2 pairs of Stihl chaps both of which were too small for me, plus I already had a pair that fitted me. I advertised them on GT for around half the RRP (which was what I paid for them) and of course the bargain hunters came out and offered me half that. You won't believe the arguments I had with a couple of so called prospective buyers who reckoned they were still too expensive. Anyway they did not sell so I left it for a while. Then I stumbled across that diagram above and readvertized the chaps and included the picture in the ad. Both chaps sold within 24 hours for my asking price.

Full face mask is a good idea. The mesh masks are worth considering if you do a lot of CS work as they are a bit cooler. I have a mesh mask but I still prefer the protection of a polycarbonate mask.