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> I strongly suggest that people using chainsaws wear some protective gear. Minimum - steel capped boots, safety glasses and mask and proper gloves. Best idea -
by JackFr 7y ago
> I strongly suggest that people using chainsaws wear some protective gear. Minimum - steel capped boots, safety glasses and mask and proper gloves. Best idea - proper chainsaw trousers.
Ear protection too. Working with chainsaws (and similar equipment) all day long is not great for hearing in the long term (though admittedly less dramatic then slicing a toe off.)
- throwaway_pdp09 7y agoWell, TIL as the saying goes. I assumed chainsaw trousers were a kind of metal mail armour, but no. From https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Chainsaw_safety_clothing https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Chainsaw_safety_clothing "The outermost layer [of chainsaw protective fabric] can be made both tough and slippery, to protect against minor damage which could compromise the filler material. Beneath this, long, loose fibres of polyester, Avertic, ballistic nylon or Kevlar are laid in layers. When a saw contacts the trousers, the outer layer is immediately cut through but the inner is drawn out and wraps around the saw's drive sprocket, locking it solid and halting the chain, limiting damage to the operator's leg"
- jccooper 7y agoA video for the curious: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=UZWsv3Jp8Cs https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=UZWsv3Jp8Cs
- wool_gather 7y agoThat's a pretty clever mechanism. Is it possible to clear all that stuff out, or is the saw completely sacrificed in the process of saving your leg?
- throwaway_pdp09 7y agoNah, follow wiki link, it tells you more "After stopping a saw, the damaged trousers must be scrapped, having done their job. The saw must be field-stripped to remove the fibres, and to allow it to run again."
- dylan604 7y agoThanks for this. I too was curious about chainsaw pants, but not quite curious enough to go look it up on my own since I have no plans of becoming a lumber jack. However, since you did do the leg work, I'm too realized that what my imagination concluded these pants were was nothing like reality.
- madaxe_again 7y agoYup. If I’m doing something quick, then I’ll just use ear protectors - if I’m doing any kind of extended work, then it’s boots, gloves, shin guards, ears, face shield. I only had to use a chainsaw once without ear protection to swear to never do so again.
- hedora 7y agoElectric models are much quieter. You still need safety gear though.
- madaxe_again 7y agoYeah, but the cost difference is substantial. Considering getting a dinky makita electric one for small work, but for a day of lumber work you can’t beat the energy density of a can of gas.