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Bobby. wrote on Apr 7
th, 2026 at 7:57pm:
Valkie wrote on Apr 7
th, 2026 at 6:23pm:
When my son cuts up stuff on his farm, with his monster chainsaws, he wears these special spats.
They don't stop injury, but they do seriously limit the severity.
He also wears a helmet with faceguard and heavy duty gloves.
But he is adamant that careful prep and watching what you are doing is crucial.
He has only had the chainsaw kick back once, and the kill switch killed the chain instantly.
He admits he was trying to cut with the tip, a NO NO.
HE DID HAVE ONE SERIOUS, POTENTIALLY DANGEROOUS INCIDENT.
When some idiot had put some nails in a tree and he didn't adequately check before attacking the tree.
Destroyed the chain and it whipped back and hit his spats.
Bloody Greenies thought they were going to log that area several years ago.
My toy hasn't the power to truely kick back, it just stalls.
Safer for me, and I always make sure BOTH hands are on the tool, never one handed...EVER.
Sounds like you know what you're doing.
More like I'm a coward who hates being unnecessarily injured.
My trade was originally as a TOOLMAKER
Those who know what that is, will know that removal of fingers was fairly common in the 50s to 80s.
You used to work with open machines, guarding was virtually impossible, and milling machines and lathes are never forgiving.
Nearly all the tradesmen I worked with in the early 70s were missing at least part of a finger, one was down to 2 fingers on one hand.
With newer machining centres these days, injuries are far less frequent.
When I was working as a maintenance contractor, I saw the result of a careless man working on a fairly innocuous task.
Removal of a blower fan on an aluminium soaking pit.
He was carried out in two pieces when the machine fell on him.
To a young man, it was quite a wake up call.
Fast forward 10 years, I became an engineer and later a OHS manager included in the role.
The stupidity and amazingly carelessness of those injured was a constant bane to me.
I could tell you stories.
From the day that poor man was crushed, my entire attitude changed.
I now never mow without steel capped work boots, check the yard before and even wear my safety glasses throughout the exercise.
I never shortcut, care taken saves time going to hospital.
But.....even the best of us make mistakes.
I was removing the waterproof sealer from the base of my shower as it was going mouldy, ( used the wrong stuff)
I was very careful to keep my free hand away from the sharp blade.
But it got stuck, I braced myself with my free hand on the floor and the blade snapped.
I cut a 2 inch cut on the side of my thumb, cutting a vein and cutting to the bone, the only thing stopping it going further was it lodged in the bone.
Trip to hospital, microsurgery to reconnect the vein and six weeks recuperation later before it was healed enough to be fully functional again.
I cut nerves and now (several years later) the back of my thumb is still numb to touch.
A moments stupidiy.......
So yes, I try to be very careful.
I do my best and at nearly 70 have few scars to show.
But I don't want any more.
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