Safety first and foremost

[CHEESE2009]

If I'm doing small tree/plant removal jobs, guess what tool I use? I kid you not, it works wonders. Loosens the soil under the plant up too, good perk.

[dpld]

Lawn care business tips

Originally Posted by wandfsmall I think that came out wrong for me I was not trying to lecture on that post I was asking a question as a lot of people on here buy from a box store. I have never noticed a pair of chaps for sale in any of the local box stores or even the farm stores around here. Personally I never fire up a chainsaw without chaps on, I have talked to people that have almost cut their legs off and do not want to do that myself. that is because if the box store told you that you needed them to prevent the saw from cutting your leg off they probably would not sell as many chainsaws. plus the big box stores don't care about you, they only care about you giving them what is in your wallet. they also don't want anyone to be afraid of their products and according to them you don't need to pay a professional a thousand dollars to remove that old oak tree when you can go to their store and buy a leg chopper, i mean chainsaw for a $200.00 and risk leaving your children parentless to save a buck. these big box stores and places like home cheapo are one of the reasons it is so hard for a contractor to make a living these days. i did not think you were giving a lecture even though the original topic was not related to chaps but none the less you made a good point.

[Steve]

That was a great point. I never even thought about bringing that up.

What is your view on how chaps actually work as a safety item? Do you find certain chaps are better than others? I can imagine big box store chaps being little more than costume material.

I wonder if they have any kevlar in them at all.

Check out this video on chaps.

<iframe width="420" height="315" src="http://www.youtube.com/embed/pilcLXpdJK0" frameborder="0" allowfullscreen></iframe>

[dpld]

Originally Posted by Steve

That was a great point. I never even thought about bringing that up.

What is your view on how chaps actually work as a safety item? Do you find certain chaps are better than others? I can imagine big box store chaps being little more than costume material.

I wonder if they have any kevlar in them at all.

Check out this video on chaps.

<iframe width="420" height="315" src="http://www.youtube.com/embed/pilcLXpdJK0" frameborder="0" allowfullscreen></iframe>

well, in theory when the saw makes contact with the chaps the material allows slight penetration so the saw chain will grab thus causing it to stop.
i have had a saw one time make contact and they did their job but i still got nicked up a little bit and it hurt like the beejesus.

they don't totaly prevent injury but the alternative is far worse and more severe.
it also depends on the type of saw you are useing as well as the speed of the chain when contact is made, the smaller saws like what we would use in a tree can hit the chaps and cause little damage but something like a big stihl .064 with a 24" bar is gonna take a bigger chunk out of the chaps as well as tear up some flesh underneath but once again without the chaps the alternative would be a partially chopped off limb and massive bleeding.

they also make calf guards that are made from a high density plastic for when you are bucking lumber in case of a kick back that also can be worn in conjunction to the chaps.

saftey is no accident and your next mistake can be your last.
considering you can buy a decent pair of chaps for $50.00 it is a lot cheaper then paying a doctor to sew you back up and being out of work.

when it comes to PPE's i have a zero tolerence policy and make no exceptions
and the first time a guy needs to be told to use what i supply him he goes home for the day and if it happens a second time, he has no job.

[CHEESE2009]

Had to...



All this talk about chaps.


& Steve... that video is going to give me nightmares. lol

I would like to see him actually try to cut through, instead of just slapping the saw against the pants. I wanna see if the material jams the blades prior to ...death or not... while using pressure.

[dpld]

Originally Posted by CHEESE2009

Had to...



All this talk about chaps.


& Steve... that video is going to give me nightmares. lol

I would like to see him actually try to cut through, instead of just slapping the saw against the pants. I wanna see if the material jams the blades prior to ...death or not... while using pressure.

thats actually pretty funny that you posted that because when i first started wearing them and before i could apprecate them that is what i felt like wearing them.
but after seeing that video i would rather look like one of the village people or even a *** cowboy sitting around eating pudding then have my leg all hackalouied up.

[Steve]

Before I saw the video, I really didn't understand the value of the chaps. Holy crap do I understand it now.

Check this out from NY state website: most chain saw injuries occur on the lower left leg and thigh, the left arm and the back of the left hand. Be sure to protect your body.