I just saw a tree guys handy work on his leg. Nobody is running a saw here without a set anymore.
I'm interested in what y'all have and your opinions
I'm interested in what y'all have and your opinions
Chainsaw chaps
- Thread starter oneshot86
- Start date
I'm running one of the more basic looking Stihl sets. I like them well enough. Hell of a lot cheaper than a visit to the ER.
Just got a pair of Stihl chaps. Have not used them yet, but the reviews are good and I figured Stihl probably knows what they are doing 
PGI 5-Ply Para-Aramid Chain Saw Chaps
UL classified to NFPA 1977-Current Edition for Protective Clothing and Equipment for Wildland Firefighting and built in accordance with U.S. Department of Agriculture Forestry Specification 6170-4G. Designed to clog a running chain saw upon contact to give the user substantially more reaction...
I use chaps identical to these for work. The pocket is perfectly made for keeping files, scrench, and a couple wedges on hand at all times.
E: For those of you who don't wear them, think about ya damn safety. Everyone's a badass until they're bleeding out in the middle of the woods while some doofus fumbles with a tourniquet.
The Stihl chaps are bulky but they do work well. Stops the saw FAST! It takes a while to clean all the fibers out of your saw and bar after the incident but the work as advertised
I’d like to think it was the bulkiness of the chaps that caused my one and only experience but after the experiment I won’t cut without them
I’d like to think it was the bulkiness of the chaps that caused my one and only experience but after the experiment I won’t cut without them
Leather chaps won’t be any help at all. You need to stop the saw.
I recommend them ,knew a guy that cut into his upper thigh and didn't make it 20 ft.
Any sawyer who has ever done forestry professionally will tell you that they've had at least one situation where something unpredictable happened or they were too complacent and not paying enough attention and the saw kicked back, bounced, or got bound and ended up nicking their chaps or legs. I've even had chains snap while running full bore that managed to put a couple gouges in the chaps I was wearing.
It's a less-than-$200 investment in your life; much cheaper than any ambulance, life-flight helicopter, hospital stay, or funeral.
It's a less-than-$200 investment in your life; much cheaper than any ambulance, life-flight helicopter, hospital stay, or funeral.
I've still got the scars on my thigh, from when a chainsaw went through the track-pants that I was wearing, whilst climbing up inside a tree, and cutting with one hand. (this happened back in the early 90's, before I started working in a sawmill)
I highly DON'T recommend it, and I truly URGE ya'll to get and use proper bucker's pants/chaps. Eye protection and ear protection is also paramount. Gloves on your hands is right up there too.
One is not 'cool' and doesn't need protection. One uses protection and LIVES,,,,, and keeps their appendages.
Stop Being Stupid.
And yes, I'd have my own bucker's pants here, but I'm afraid that my chainsaw days are over. Sorta-kinda hard to drive a chainsaw one handed, whilst the other one is on a cane. And wheelchairs really aren't all that maneuverable in chainsawing areas/terrain.
I highly DON'T recommend it, and I truly URGE ya'll to get and use proper bucker's pants/chaps. Eye protection and ear protection is also paramount. Gloves on your hands is right up there too.
One is not 'cool' and doesn't need protection. One uses protection and LIVES,,,,, and keeps their appendages.
Stop Being Stupid.
And yes, I'd have my own bucker's pants here, but I'm afraid that my chainsaw days are over. Sorta-kinda hard to drive a chainsaw one handed, whilst the other one is on a cane. And wheelchairs really aren't all that maneuverable in chainsawing areas/terrain.
I have been running a saw since I was 12. Worked fire suppression. "C" Faller. "C" Bucker. Worked in the logging industry (Bumped knots on the landing, set chokers.) I always wear them. The first time I dinged a pair, I was sold on them. "That could have been my fucking leg"
Guy I knew decided to cut a limb he was under...when it hit him in the head he ran the saw across his thigh, nice.I knew a guy who was cutting a limb and the saw kicked back, hitting him in the face.
I watched it all happen but I was too far for him to hear me yelling over the saw or make it over to stop him, still close enough for a good view.
I’d probably get whatever the forestry guys use, I’d hope they don’t cheap out.
I like the labonville chaps.
www.baileysonline.com
I believe they're made in America too.
Safe sawing!
Labonville X-Treme Competition Apron Chainsaw Chaps
Professional chainsaw protection chaps from Labonville. Labonville has been making chainsaw chaps in the U.S.A. since the mid 60's, and they have set the bar for quality and innovation. Labonville X-treme competition wrap chaps are designed to reduce the risk or severity of injury to your front...
Safe sawing!
homeboys leg did not look good, and he is young.
ill be wearing a set.
seemingly, sthil pro mark has 9 layers and my ace hardware across the street has them.
Thankyou dudes
And, those are 10 layer vs Stihl 9 layers, I'll u tube themI like the labonville chaps.
I believe they're made in America too.Labonville X-Treme Competition Apron Chainsaw Chaps
Professional chainsaw protection chaps from Labonville. Labonville has been making chainsaw chaps in the U.S.A. since the mid 60's, and they have set the bar for quality and innovation. Labonville X-treme competition wrap chaps are designed to reduce the risk or severity of injury to your front...
Safe sawing!
I was a climber. I worked for Asplundh on their so called brush crew. We trimmed around high tension power-lines, where the trucks couldn’t go.
Climbing a tree in 20 below in Maine and firing up a chainsaw will test your salt. They didn’t have chaps back then.
I've been running a saw since the late 70's.
When I bought my 350 Husqvarna the dealer gave me a set of chaps, it took a long time to get used to wearing them full-time.
About a year later I was limbing a 20" tree when without notice it rolled on me.
The tree pinned my feet and pushed me over backwards and the saw landed across both my legs at my crotch.
It was all done and over with before I even realized what happening.
I felt the pressure of the saw against me and thought for sure I was cut badly as the chaps were ripped to shreds.
I lived and went on without a scratch.
I have no doubt they saved my life that day, absolutely no doubt at all.
Those chaps are hanging on the wall at the dealers as an example accidents can to any one at any time
Labonville chaps for the win. You'll probably bleed out if you cut your leg(s) with a big saw without safety gear. Accidents happen fast.
@oneshot86
Mike, in the early pages of the woodchuck/firewood thread, Nelson posted a few pics of his chaps saving his little buddy that hides in his pants.
He was running the saw left handed to remove a branch and it kicked on him.
If it wasn't for the chaps, Julie might not have had a husband.
Mike, in the early pages of the woodchuck/firewood thread, Nelson posted a few pics of his chaps saving his little buddy that hides in his pants.
He was running the saw left handed to remove a branch and it kicked on him.
If it wasn't for the chaps, Julie might not have had a husband.
I cut timber for independent contractors in Montana, once for the head of the Flathead Kootenai tribe, and in Virginia for Westvaco Corp. in the 70's. Never had them in Montana, but Westvaco provided them. Those things were made out of about 8 layers of heavy as shit fiberglass and nylon and covered with a thick layer of canvas heavy enough to make tents. We only wore them in January and February when it was freezing. Imagine wearing 20lb chaps when it is 103% F, 90% humidity and working down in hollows where not a breeze stirred. The humidity was far worse than the heat. You couldnt stand it because the canvas would get soaked with sweat and add another several pounds.We just had to ae a decision, either wear them and only be able to work half a day due to heat exhaustion or stroke or not wear them and get a full day's pay.
I only saw one accident with chaps. One of the other sawyers got tangled in home heavy brush and fell landing the chain of an '056' Sthil almost wide open on his thigh. The chaps stopped it or he likely would have lost a leg.
The only time I got cut was when I didnt tighten the flywheel cover enough so it came off and the flywheel caught my jeans, jerked the flywheel into my thigh and ripped out a nasty chunk of flesh. We put some pine sap on it, duct taped it shut and I wen on working. Still have the scar from that one. I worried more about getting killed by a widow maker or a careless skidder operator.
Those Stihl ones look nice, much lighter for the safety they provide.
Recommended by Maggot.
I only saw one accident with chaps. One of the other sawyers got tangled in home heavy brush and fell landing the chain of an '056' Sthil almost wide open on his thigh. The chaps stopped it or he likely would have lost a leg.
The only time I got cut was when I didnt tighten the flywheel cover enough so it came off and the flywheel caught my jeans, jerked the flywheel into my thigh and ripped out a nasty chunk of flesh. We put some pine sap on it, duct taped it shut and I wen on working. Still have the scar from that one. I worried more about getting killed by a widow maker or a careless skidder operator.
Those Stihl ones look nice, much lighter for the safety they provide.
Recommended by Maggot.
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I worked for Stackhouse doing the same thing. Running a air saw from a bucket truck one morning, clearing lines that carried some high voltage...440?880? dont remember that but I do remember it started snowing and I could literally feel the ions flowing between the lines. That was spooky.
That happened here mikie, and I still didn't learn. Seeing the cut, did me in
I got some foresters , in camo! UL / ASTM approved , but labonvilles are the best
Amazon product ASIN B017TKJC4S
Can anyone explain the class difference with chaps? Mine are class B
Amazon product ASIN B017TKJC4S
Can anyone explain the class difference with chaps? Mine are class B
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This happens quite a bit. Even pros have it happen. Always I mean always keep your thumb around the handlebar. Lots of people do it with their palm and if you get a kickback their is nothing to keep the bar from hitting your face. Thumb lock it in and you can react to a kickback. Also cutting with the tip. If you just have to keep a death grip on the handle bar.I knew a guy who was cutting a limb and the saw kicked back, hitting him in the face.
It depends upon the saw. A corded electric saw is going to be very difficult to stop if the user keeps mashing the trigger; the series-wound motors used in these saws can provide ma massive torque at low speeds and are very difficult to stall. Modern cordless saws with brushless motors will often have overload protection, and thus will stall if blocked. They also don't have the stored kinetic energy of a gas saw. At the least, a good set of chaps might buy a moment of time in which to let off the trigger.
Disclaimer: I haven't personally tested either type of electric saw against my chaps and will continue trying not to.
The mounty hat, and wooly chaps would lead me to believe otherwise. If he really was no one would claim him.
(I know it’s the man posting I’ve seen his other posts) I’m just being stupid I couldn’t keep it going lol
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They have electric chainsaw specific chaps , make sure you get the right chaps
I started as a ground-man on a truck. The bucket guy was trimming close to the truck and I was headed to one of the tool box doors on the side. I stopped short and looked up, to make sure I was safe.
Right then he cut the power line and it swung down BOOM
BOOM BOOM hit the chipper and blew the line. If it had hit me it would have blown my head off. 
I freakin hated working on a truck as a ground man. When they needed climbers, I jumped at the chance. I was a natural. They nicknamed me fire-starter because I would light up brush piles to stave off the cold Maine winter. We’d march in through two feet of snow at 7 am carrying our gear. As soon as we got some limbs down I’d make a pile and light it up.
They had me train new guys and that was terrifying. Some folks are just not cut out for that.
And you know what else is fucking w my head???
The literal hours and hours running the saw. A tree guy, throughout his day doesn't put the saw hours in like a guy cutting rounds on the lot. I have a couple hundred gallons of gas through saws over the 15 years I've been commercially selling firewood.
It's like this, Im pushing the odds here. No injury's from a chain w all these hours has me spooked after seeing his leg.
I'm not cutting again w out them.
Thanks again mudda fuckkas, lol.
