Safety Advice for Wood Cutting

[light rain]

Since a lot more folks may be cutting wood this year than last what advice would experienced wood cutters like to share. I have a lot to learn but here's my input.

Talk to your doctor 1st to get their advice on the wisdom of this activity.

Try to go out with a partner and ALWAYS carry a cell phone and check and make sure to have a signal.

If alone, always let someone know where you are going and what time you should be home.

[simi-steading]

What's a Dr? Know your own limits...

A cell is a good idea, but I carry my gun on my hip, because my wife knows three shots means come running....

I don't use them, but for people not experienced, a pair of safety chaps can save your legs.. .

Keep your saw sharp and in good working condition.

If at all possible, never work alone, or without someone around.

Learn to read how the tree will react. When limbing a downed tree, the tree can roll, or branches can spring back and injure you.

Wear goggles and a shield...

Don't try to lift logs bigger than you.

Always watch your footing. Know where your escape routes are. Keep your area as clean as possible of debris.

That's just the easy stuff.. .

[Sawmill Jim]

Those saw chaps are good for briers too Also a good hard hat an't a bad idea .

I got the chaps after I was walking with a running saw and bumped my leg , this before saws with the chain break . But chain breaks take up time if you are going for production .

I got the hard hat after the 14 stitches

I like Semi's gun idea ,if no one comes it could reduce suffering

[CurtisWilliams]

Never cut without both feet on the ground. A couple of years ago I was cutting a tree at a crotch about six feet up. I wanted to save the 1/2 tree that was still living. The tree decided that it didn't like the way that I wanted it to fall. It went down before I had anticipated. The remaining connection caused it to twist and kick back. I jumped from my ladder with a running chainsaw. I tossed it as I fell, but still landed dangerously close to it. The tree crushed my ladder, and if I hadn't jumped when I did, it would have crushed my legs along with it.

I could have easily been killed or worse.

[1shotwade]

Keep your head in the game. Complacency is not an option!

Wade

[simi-steading]

Originally Posted by CurtisWilliams

Never cut without both feet on the ground. A couple of years ago I was cutting a tree at a crotch about six feet up. I wanted to save the 1/2 tree that was still living. The tree decided that it didn't like the way that I wanted it to fall. It went down before I had anticipated. The remaining connection caused it to twist and kick back. I jumped from my ladder with a running chainsaw. I tossed it as I fell, but still landed dangerously close to it. The tree crushed my ladder, and if I hadn't jumped when I did, it would have crushed my legs along with it.

I could have easily been killed or worse.

You mean don't do this????



So long as you finish your beer first, you'll be fine.. you don't want to spill it ya know.. .

[flewism]

When your tired,
rest.

[JoePa]

The 2 situations that I have to be doubly careful is when I cut down a tree and it doesn't fall to the ground but leans against another tree - and when cutting a dead tree and having to look up making sure a dead limb doesn't fall on me -

When the first happens I carefully cut a notch about five feet from the bottom on top of the leaning tree - then cut under the notch - what happens is the tree will smap and the 5 foot piece will fall on the ground and the remaining leaning tree will drop lower - then I repeat the procedure until the leaning tree falls to the ground or is short enough for me to push it over - cutting a dead tree with limbs can be very dangerous so what I do is look up while I'm cutting - if a limb starting coming down - I outta there -

[1shotwade]

Joe-That's smart of you. I was just thinking how I have cut soooooo many like that and anymore I can pretty much look at it and maybe one out of five i'll make a single top cut,not even a notch then buck it with the back of the saw.And the other four are where I can just go in and buck it from the bottom.
Then the thought just came to me that this is just like law enforcement. It's not the neeby that gets shot up on a traffic stop. It's that 7-8 year veteran that has done it sooooo many time that it's just a routine stop,until he buys a bullet from letting his guard down. Scary! That's the way I've become with dropping trees! I'm really glad you brought this up. It was a wake-up call for me. You might have just saved my life! Thanks.



Wade

[bja105]

Quit when you get tired. I have twice cut my pants with a saw when I kept going when I was exhausted.

Buy a second bar and chain. When you pinch your bar in a log, you can leave the bar in the tree and use the spare to cut it out.

Don't ever run your chain out of bar oil, not even for one more cut before you quit. That kills the oil pump, which is expensive. Check that your saw is oiling by pointing the tip at a fresh cut and running it up to full throttle. You will see drops of oil on the clean wood.

Don't get killed!

[DaleK]

Don't turn your back on a tree until it stops bouncing.

[wirejeweler]

Eye protection and chaps. Many an experienced logger has required the services of an emergency room and/or surgeon. After many years of cutting and splitting wood, while wearing shorts and tennis shoes, I started wearing chaps when operating a saw.

[NC_hobbyfarmer]

Dont use an electric chainsaw, with one hand, on an aluminum ladder, in the rain, with an extension cord running on the ground to the house, with the other hand holding a hose to spray the bees above you and lastly have a boat anchor on the rope thrown in the crotch of the tree above you to have your buddy pull on towards the ladder. Watched this with 3 of my friends from a Goodwill parking lot.... the video is priceless!!! Well they had one thing right which was don't cut alone cause they had a crowd forming to watch this action unfold!

[NC_hobbyfarmer]

Originally Posted by simi-steading

You mean don't do this????



So long as you finish your beer first, you'll be fine.. you don't want to spill it ya know.. .

That's a beer? No way, it looks like it could be a Diet Coke from here with the silver bottom and all.

For inexperienced people I would suggest using proper safety equipment & working for a while with someone that knows what they're doing .

[CurtisWilliams]

Originally Posted by simi-steading

You mean don't do this????



So long as you finish your beer first, you'll be fine.. you don't want to spill it ya know.. .

Nope. Not a chance. I had a close call that gave me something to think about. No amount of firewood is worth my life. And triply no amount of firewood is worth a fate worth than death.

I have done many dumb things, but that guy takes the cake.

[Jolly]

I like:

1. hardhat
2. steel toes
3. chaps
4. two saws, one pretty good size and the other a bit smaller. If I pinch a saw, I can keep on working. If I'm getting tired or I'm into the limbs, I like the smaller saw.
5. double-bit ax
6. 6 lb maul with two iron wedges and two plastic wedges.
7. gas, oil and wrenches
8. company

[DaleK]

Steel toed boots aren't much better than running shoes. Chainsaw boots protect the whole top and front of your foot,ankle and shin, you can slip in a liner for the winter, and they cost about the same as other boots

[Travis in Louisiana]

Always take your time, don't rush the job and think through what you are about to do. Safety equipment is a must like the others have said. Also, do not cut alone.

[MichaelZ]

• Have a clear escape path so you can run away quickly if needed. I have used this at least once.
• Stay away from the larger trees over 12" in diameter. If they hang up, they can be near impossible to get free. Hard to load. Hard to split. Hard on equipment. Hard on your heart. In general more dangerous.
• Make sure tree has a definite lean. Cut to accommodate that lean. Never cut against it.
• Never cut against a stiff wind.
• Know how to cut. Cut out a V on the fall side. Then cut from the back toward the top of the V. Best to have an experienced person show you the first time.
• If the tree hangs up and is leaning safely, free it up by pulling the base away from the lean. This may be done safely with a come-along from a distance.
• Do not cut rotten trees. These can break midway and fall virtually any direction!
• If a tree looks unsafe to cut, rotted, tangled with other trees, let it be. Don't cut it. Or if it hung up and may go down in any direction, leave it be and call a logger to take it down.
• As mentioned, keep a sharp saw.
• Wear protection for hearing, eyes, and the rest of your body.

No room for error here. If a large tree falls on you, it is all over.