My First Chainsaw Accident

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prajna101

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Hearth Supporter
Oct 15, 2009
137
Portland OR
Safety rules must be there for a reason huh. Like always wear gloves. My accident is not bad by any means but sure made me feel stupid.

I was in the yard when some folks were loading up their rig with some stuff I sold them on craigslist. I decided I could use this time to quickly touch up my saw chain. Grabbed the file and sat down in the driveway. Filed a couple of teeth then grabbed the chain to rotate it and my hand slipped. A perfect kerf of finger came out on a tooth. Yuck. It sure bled a lot! It makes me think about what it would do if it were spinning around. Wow. Just a touch of a running chain turns my stomach.


todd
 
Glad your accident was not too bad! Everytime I fire up the saw, I purposefully remember the old saying 'there's no such thing as a small accident with a chainsaw'. I take my time and try my best to be as safe as possible. When I see folks around me cutting with poor technique, it really makes me shiver - some folks I've cut with are unbelievably careless - its scary. Sounds like you are a safety first kind of person - keep it up and wear those gloves!
 
Glad it was not bad considering.

Change your title to omit the word "first". First implies there will be more.
 
Vic99 said:
Glad it was not bad considering.

Change your title to omit the word "first". First implies there will be more.
Click to expand...
if there are more then let's hope they are all along these lines and nothing worse. i don't think I've drawn any blood with my saw, but i did nasty shin bump (i posted a while back).
 
I slipped once with leather gloves on, and still cut a knuckle a bit. Now I place my round file across the back of a cutter and move the chain ahead with one hand at each end of the file. That works good in case you run it to a tight spot in your chain. That's when the chain stops and your hand doesn't. After 25 years, I still wear all my safety gear. Climbed for some time, etc. No accidents and no chainsaw cuts. Knock on wood. I've always cut with respect, as to the damage that chain can do, and also acknowleged when I was tired to stop and think. Chainsaw accidents happen before you know it. Did utlility line clearing at one time too, no second chance there either. Work safe means just that. If your lucky, chaps will even let you see how tired you were, while cutting, and still maybe give you a lesson learned second chance. Same goes for a hard hat. I had a guy I worked with , take a saw kick back, to the brim of his hard hat. Just nicked the very edge of his ear. Knocked the hearing protector, clear off his helmet. He still has his ear. Stuff that makes me think.
 
I used a chainsaw once and liked it pretty good. I've never had an accident using a chainsaw, 'cause I've never owned one. Where I live, it's so far to a tree that your warranty will run out before you could get to it.

It's amazing to me that all the wood I have found in this tree-forsaken place has been cut to lengths I could use "as is" until I got a Fireview. Now I've got to cut some. However, I've found that I can use a circular saw with a carbide blade and score 'em and then strike 'em on another log and they snap right off! FUN! I DO wear a face shield and gloves, however. Wish I had a leather apron, too!
 
Texas boy said:
Where I live, it's so far to a tree that your warranty will run out before you could get to it.
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Any time I would fly into Lubbock on the approach from the East I would look down at that one big tree out in the middle of miles and miles of open fields. Nice fence around it and well taken care of. Not another one in sight for thirty miles.
 
BrotherBart said:
Texas boy said:
Where I live, it's so far to a tree that your warranty will run out before you could get to it.
Click to expand...

Any time I would fly into Lubbock on the approach from the East I would look down at that one big tree out in the middle of miles and miles of open fields. Nice fence around it and well taken care of. Not another one in sight for thirty miles.
Click to expand...

That about sums it up, 'cept now I think it's a HUNDRED and thirty miles to the next one. :lol:
 
Texas boy said:
BrotherBart said:
Texas boy said:
Where I live, it's so far to a tree that your warranty will run out before you could get to it.
Click to expand...

Any time I would fly into Lubbock on the approach from the East I would look down at that one big tree out in the middle of miles and miles of open fields. Nice fence around it and well taken care of. Not another one in sight for thirty miles.
Click to expand...

That about sums it up, 'cept now I think it's a HUNDRED and thirty miles to the next one. :lol:
Click to expand...
Wow! That's a bummer. I couldn't imagine that.
Does that star on your avatar map of Texas mark where the last tree stands?
 
Carbon_Liberator said:
Texas boy said:
BrotherBart said:
Texas boy said:
Where I live, it's so far to a tree that your warranty will run out before you could get to it.
Click to expand...

Any time I would fly into Lubbock on the approach from the East I would look down at that one big tree out in the middle of miles and miles of open fields. Nice fence around it and well taken care of. Not another one in sight for thirty miles.
Click to expand...

That about sums it up, 'cept now I think it's a HUNDRED and thirty miles to the next one. :lol:
Click to expand...
Wow! That's a bummer. I couldn't imagine that.
Does that star on your avatar map of Texas mark where the last tree stands?
Click to expand...

LOL!!! There MIGHT be a tree somewhere in the blue, but most all of 'em are all east of it and the farther east y'go, the more there be! FYI--Near's I can reckon, the center of th' star is 'bout Big Spring an' if you've ever been there, y'know it was accidental!
 
I have a Fiskars hand saw and the teeth on that are SHARP.
It's gotten the same finger a number of times. Just a one-hole to-the-bone poke, not a flesh rip.

If my chain saw has gotten me, I don't remember it.
 
It wont be my last accident. I am sure sitting on the couch is the safest option presented every morning, its just not my style. Most of my injuries over my life have been preventable and yet I dont really regret any of them. Some made me feel more stupid than others. But I am happy to have the opportunities in life to get injured. I means I am living well.

My hope is not that accidents never happen. I just hope that I dont make the same mistake twice.

Always make new mistakes,

Todd
 
I guess you learned:
When filing a chain, use the file to pull the chain by hooking to the backside of a tooth & pull the top of the chain in the cutting direction.
Sure bleeds good, I remember ;), I got 2 fingers, years ago. Self teacher & only one lesson required.
 
Yikes!!! that has to hurt...I always use the file to 2 hand push the tightened chain away from me 2 teeth at a time.
 
savageactor7 said:
Yikes!!! that has to hurt...I always use the file to 2 hand push the tightened chain away from me 2 teeth at a time.
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+1
I push the chain along with the file, not my hand.
 
I used to cut myself in the restaurant buz on a weekly basis. Blood is gross.
 
Wow I posted this just to make a fool of myself. But I learned something (other than typing with a cut on the tips of my fingers hurt). Pushing the chain with the file is a great idea!!! Thanks

t
 
Many moons ago I nicked the front of my thigh with my chainsaw (still have the scar). I thought about getting some chaps, but just decided to be more careful instead. That was about 30 years ago, never came close to cutting myself again.
I wear gloves when I'm working with, or sharpening the saw. I just pull the teeth forward to sharpen the next tooth, have yet to cut myself. I use an electric dremel type tool for sharpening, not a file.
 
I,m not afraid of my saws I just respect the heck out of them.
 
I did tree work for 20 years and my only accident was a ripped pair of pants. I could of been allot worse, the saw kicked back on me. The Ionic thing is I was explaining saw safety to one of the younger workers at the time. I lost focus for a second and that's all it took.
 
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