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Link Posted: 12/18/2017 10:57:00 PM EST
[#1]
Good info here. Tagging
Link Posted: 12/18/2017 10:57:07 PM EST
[#2]
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That is a poulan model 361. I own my grandfathers poulan 306a bow saw that he used in the 1960's cutting pulp wood. I learned on that saw and it is nice not having to bend over while bucking logs(I'm 6'4)

i own 4 bow saws and as long as you use them as intended and do not treat it like it is a strait bar you are good. You must always keep the dogs engaged in the wood. The chain pulls the saw into the wood. I also have a host of stihls as well with anything from a 14in bar up to a 28in. Always wear boots, long pants, chaps, helmet and no loose fitting clothing

almost forgot they are nolonger made because the federal government outlawed them
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To be clear, that is not my saw. I just grabbed a pic of one that is similar to the one I remember using.
Link Posted: 12/18/2017 11:00:26 PM EST
[#3]
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Only real close call I've had in over 30 years of running a chainsaw was with that things twin.  Those things are of the debil.  If I hadn't had chaps on that day I probably wouldn't be sitting here typing this right now.

I'll say this, out of all the tools and equipment I've used a chainsaw is the single most dangerous tool you will ever pick up. I've run a chainsaw regularly since I was 19, almost 53 now.  Other than with a bow saw I've only had a handful of times I've experienced kickback.  None violent or harmful and only one or two that caused the chain brake to engage.  Chain brakes and safety chains are a godsend, especially to occasional users.  Watch that tip on the bar, especially the upper quadrant, wear the PPE, don't cut when tired, use lots of common sense, if it don't feel right don't do it.  If you are a new user, or even just an occasional user it would be well worth the money to go take a chainsaw safety class.  My old job required us to recert every other year.  I was certified to do everything but climb and saw.  Wanted no part of that.
Link Posted: 12/18/2017 11:03:40 PM EST
[#4]
I'll never forget the story my dad told me of when I was real little and they lived in upstate NY. Neighbor came over to my parents with a couple of his fingers in a bag and asked my dad to drive him to the hospital
Link Posted: 12/18/2017 11:53:07 PM EST
[#5]
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You don't know how lucky I felt, for myself, that he wasn't hurt.

Did you see any wings flying away, cause warren has a guardian angel.
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I know guys that take jugs and cases of beer with them out cutting firewood. Come back with a load on. Never got hurt or wrecked that I recall.  The Lord watches out for fools, I guess. I'm extra cautious around chainsaws.

About 30 years ago I got a job cutting trees away from power lines. The dude I worked with was a wiry little half wit, but he worked hard. We were out in the boonies. The boss left us alone with our lunches and took off for parts unknown. I think he had a woman on the sly. Anyway, we had a row of about 30 trees to take down and bust up. Got down to the last tree in the row. A hairy Chinese elm. I stood and watched while Warren crawled into that jungle of branches and commenced to cutting down that tree. Just as it started coming down, a funky gust of wind, like a whirlwind, came up and spun that tree around 180 and it fell right across Warren. I knew he had to be fucked up. I ran over there, dove into the branches, and found Warren doubled over on has knees with the trunk across his back. The saw still running hard and the chain was no more than 2 inches from his nose. I shut the saw off and lifted what I could and Warren came up out of there laughing his ass off.  Not a scratch. Tree didn't crush him and the saw didn't cut him. Sometime I think about what a nightmare that would have been if he got fucked up and us having no transportation and no way to call for help.
You don't know how lucky I felt, for myself, that he wasn't hurt.

Did you see any wings flying away, cause warren has a guardian angel.
Link Posted: 12/18/2017 11:56:19 PM EST
[#6]
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for me, it's the second item there -- after a storm, when you have a bunch of leaners all wedged up, it's a potluck jackpot.
felling a single tree, when you can work on it slowly and the wedges do their thing, no problem.
but a pre-tensioned tree, all hung up on others -- you got a box of chocolates waiting for you.
fucking pay attention.

ar-jedi
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Most has been said, but won't be appreciated.

-when you're smoked and getting sloppy with technique
-trying to cut wood laying in odd spots/angles
-wear ppe
for me, it's the second item there -- after a storm, when you have a bunch of leaners all wedged up, it's a potluck jackpot.
felling a single tree, when you can work on it slowly and the wedges do their thing, no problem.
but a pre-tensioned tree, all hung up on others -- you got a box of chocolates waiting for you.
fucking pay attention.

ar-jedi
Storm damage is by far the sketchiest thing I have to do with a chainsaw.  I usually try to use the MS361 with a 20" bar because it's pretty tame and light.
Link Posted: 12/19/2017 12:09:39 AM EST
[#7]
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Always a good idea to use both hands. I would agree that filing the rakers is risky at best for an inexperienced tree trimmer. But it’s standard practice on all the crews I worked on. When you filed the teeth, you’d run a flat file across the rakers so as not to loose tooth depth. We were fairly aggressive with our rakers. My 12” trim saw had the rakers flushed with the chain. Nothing but teeth. BUT, we took safety extremely serious. No one touched a saw without proper PPE. Not EVER. Not even for that one last minute cut. Many a time we’d have to get the chaps and helmets back out. For one cut. That, and technique. Positioning yourself in line with the bar is a recipe for disaster.

Safety is no accident.

Corny saying, but it’s true.

You must learn how to be safe, train to be safe and then put those practices into use every single time.

That’s how all my guys and I went home in one piece each night.

Saws are like guns, in the respect that you shouldn’t fear them. But you must respect what they can do, and learn how to properly handle them.
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I think you don't have any clue what you're talking about and don't understand the relation between "rakers" (you must mean depth gauges unless you have a gas powered crosscut saw) and cutters.
Link Posted: 12/19/2017 12:12:27 AM EST
[#8]
Been around chain saws my whole life. Never had a problem.
Have a good friend who cut trees and such for a living, and has the scars of a few trees that didn't go the right way, and a saw that kicked back on him.
Like driving, I guess if you log enough hours on a piece of equipment its bound to catch up to you
Link Posted: 12/19/2017 12:28:53 AM EST
[#9]
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I think you don't have any clue what you're talking about and don't understand the relation between "rakers" (you must mean depth gauges unless you have a gas powered crosscut saw) and cutters.
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It is possible my terminology is incorrect. I’m referring to the little thingies that stick up between the teeth. That’s what my foreman called them when I was new to trimming and felling trees. I was more concerned with cutting a proper notch and a proper back cut, and learning to tie my brake knot so I wouldn’t fall out of the tree and die. I apologize if my saw vernacular leads you to believe that I don’t have any clue.

Make no mistake, whatever it is, depth gauge or raker, I know very well how to run a saw. Maybe you’re better at looking at diagrams with pictures and words.

We were busy cutting trees...
Link Posted: 12/19/2017 7:19:45 AM EST
[#10]
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I'm going to buy an MS261 next week. This was a good thread to read.
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To all the chainsaw newbs reading this thread.  See how many people have first-hand accounts of this happening to people they know?

It happens all the time!  A chainsaw is always dangerous.  Never be complacent with one.
I'm going to buy an MS261 next week. This was a good thread to read.
Make sure to buy all the protective gear at the same time incuding chaps to protect your legs, helmet/face shield/ear muffs combo to help protect your head/face/hearing, and leather gloves to protect your hands.

You don’t need a Mexical drug cartel member holding the saw to get hurt badly.

ETA:  If you lift your face shield up, don’t forget to put it back down when you re-start the saw!

Link Posted: 12/19/2017 7:34:43 AM EST
[#11]
After a guy down the road got throat cut by one years ago, I'm extremely cautious with mine. Chainsaws and spring compressors make me a little nervous.
Link Posted: 12/19/2017 7:36:50 AM EST
[#12]
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I'm glad for this thread. My dad cuts a lot of trees at his cabin and it always makes me nervous, especially because he just wears boots and jeans. Anyways I've been trying to figure out what to get him for Christmas and this thread gave me the idea to get him chaps and a helmet/facemask for Christmas. Just ordered.
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Good idea.  Convince him to wear them!
Link Posted: 12/19/2017 7:52:53 AM EST
[#13]
Double tap
Link Posted: 12/19/2017 8:05:26 AM EST
[#14]
Link Posted: 12/19/2017 8:06:56 AM EST
[#15]
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Quoted:
Been around chain saws my whole life. Never had a problem.
Have a good friend who cut trees and such for a living, and has the scars of a few trees that didn't go the right way, and a saw that kicked back on him.
Like driving, I guess if you log enough hours on a piece of equipment its bound to catch up to you
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Yes, sooner or later is going to get you if you do it a lot.

Had a couple happen but luckily it drove the saw over my head.

ETA:  Always happened when I was getting tired.  Should have taken a break.
Link Posted: 12/19/2017 8:08:12 AM EST
[#16]
It's how my former doctor died.
Link Posted: 12/19/2017 8:08:59 AM EST
[#17]
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It's how my former doctor died.
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Damn!!
Link Posted: 12/19/2017 8:12:03 AM EST
[#18]
My brother and my dad were using the chainsaw to cut some poles and had a kickback.  My brother was holding the logs and dad would cut them.  The saw kicked up and cut through my brothers jeans and one layer of his pocket, right over his femoral artery.  We quit for the day.  Dad didnt let us near the saw until he got some chaps.
Link Posted: 12/19/2017 8:13:48 AM EST
[#19]
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Obligatory "it happens faster than you would think" video.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=fQprZevgbxU

I try to keep my face and body out of the chain line.  Wear ppe always and don't cut when you are tired.
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He ran the tip into the chainlink fence; kinda expected.
Link Posted: 12/19/2017 9:54:29 AM EST
[#20]
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One of the safer ways to fell a tree involves a plunge cut.
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For one, proper plunge cutting limits kickback risk by having the tree in the way (the initial plunge) and also by rotating the saw away from the danger zone. Also, I don't know anybody who recommends using plunge cuts if they can be avoided. I see them used for stump cutting, not felling, so I'd argue it's not one of the safer ways. Notching with chains and hoists is the most common way I've seen.
Link Posted: 12/19/2017 9:57:34 AM EST
[#21]
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For one, proper plunge cutting limits kickback risk by having the tree in the way (the initial plunge) and also by rotating the saw away from the danger zone. Also, I don't know anybody who recommends using plunge cuts if they can be avoided. I see them used for stump cutting, not felling, so I'd argue it's not one of the safer ways. Notching with chains and hoists is the most common way I've seen.
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One of the safer ways to fell a tree involves a plunge cut.
For one, proper plunge cutting limits kickback risk by having the tree in the way (the initial plunge) and also by rotating the saw away from the danger zone. Also, I don't know anybody who recommends using plunge cuts if they can be avoided. I see them used for stump cutting, not felling, so I'd argue it's not one of the safer ways. Notching with chains and hoists is the most common way I've seen.
I have never mastered the plunge cut...........I'm thinking I am just too apprehensive and nervous.

Plunge Cut............
Link Posted: 12/19/2017 9:58:41 AM EST
[#22]
People make it sound like chainsaws are murder machines. Modern saws come with safety chains and anti-kickback guards. Of course, safety chains also prevent cutting anything larger than a pencil, so you might want to use a chisel chain. These have a higher risk of kickback, but if you know what you're doing and respect the tool you won't have a problem. Proper cutting techniques are intuitive for the most part.

If you fear the tool, don't use it.
Link Posted: 12/19/2017 10:23:08 AM EST
[#23]
I do a fair amount of cutting on my property, and I carry a very healthy respect for the body shredding potential I'm holding in my hands.  It doesn't scare me, (much) but I'm very aware that I'm just a few inches from being able to star in a horror movie without make-up.  
Link Posted: 12/19/2017 1:46:24 PM EST
[#24]
Link Posted: 12/19/2017 2:07:34 PM EST
[#25]
not going to watch that video
Link Posted: 12/19/2017 2:49:23 PM EST
[#26]
A guy I work with had it happen to him about 2-3 yrs ago.  If it wasn't for him living about 10 mins from a hospital he would of been a lot worse off.  He damn near lost his hand over it, he has probably 50-60% use in it.  He can use his thumb, index, and middle finger some.  Only saving grace was it happened to his non-dominant hand.
Link Posted: 12/19/2017 3:18:59 PM EST
[#27]
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Obligatory "it happens faster than you would think" video.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=fQprZevgbxU

I try to keep my face and body out of the chain line.  Wear ppe always and don't cut when you are tired.
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Heads to the shed to throw away his chain saw.
Link Posted: 12/19/2017 4:55:59 PM EST
[#28]
What I'm cutting scares me more than what I'm cutting with. The tree's more dangerous than the saw IMO.
Link Posted: 12/19/2017 5:15:52 PM EST
[#29]
I had one do it the first time I used it.  It happened damned quick and I'm very thankful for the safety thingy.
Link Posted: 12/19/2017 5:34:48 PM EST
[#30]
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What I'm cutting scares me more than what I'm cutting with. The tree's more dangerous than the saw IMO.
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This is true.

I have control of the saw. Saw fuckups are my fuckups.

Trees are truly unpredictable. They can still kill you after taking all of the safety precautions.
Link Posted: 12/19/2017 5:38:00 PM EST
[#31]
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This is true.

I have control of the saw. Saw fuckups are my fuckups.

Trees are truly unpredictable. They can still kill you after taking all of the safety precautions.
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What I'm cutting scares me more than what I'm cutting with. The tree's more dangerous than the saw IMO.
This is true.

I have control of the saw. Saw fuckups are my fuckups.

Trees are truly unpredictable. They can still kill you after taking all of the safety precautions.
Yup.  I’ve tackled a deadfall with a chain and a truck more than once.  Safer.
Link Posted: 12/19/2017 6:12:41 PM EST
[#32]
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I'm glad for this thread. My dad cuts a lot of trees at his cabin and it always makes me nervous, especially because he just wears boots and jeans. Anyways I've been trying to figure out what to get him for Christmas and this thread gave me the idea to get him chaps and a helmet/facemask for Christmas. Just ordered.
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Great move and great gift.

Did the same for my grandfather about ten years ago.

Getting him to wear the chaps will be a lot harder than buying them.
Link Posted: 12/19/2017 6:20:04 PM EST
[#33]
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This is true.

I have control of the saw. Saw fuckups are my fuckups.

Trees are truly unpredictable. They can still kill you after taking all of the safety precautions.
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I use an excavator to direct all my trees where they fall.

Fact is a 30 ton excavator or even 5 ton excavator - depending on which I use - will win over a tree.
Link Posted: 12/19/2017 6:50:23 PM EST
[#34]
Thanks for all the great info guys!
Tag @RockHard13F
Link Posted: 12/19/2017 6:52:59 PM EST
[#35]
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I don't think that is a chainsaw accident.
Not jagged enough.  
And something is in there.  
Looks like a chop saw blade.
Link Posted: 12/19/2017 7:57:19 PM EST
[#36]
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Quoted:

It is possible my terminology is incorrect. I’m referring to the little thingies that stick up between the teeth. That’s what my foreman called them when I was new to trimming and felling trees. I was more concerned with cutting a proper notch and a proper back cut, and learning to tie my brake knot so I wouldn’t fall out of the tree and die. I apologize if my saw vernacular leads you to believe that I don’t have any clue.

Make no mistake, whatever it is, depth gauge or raker, I know very well how to run a saw. Maybe you’re better at looking at diagrams with pictures and words.

We were busy cutting trees...
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Depth gauges are supposed to be filed with the cutters.  They're the only thing that controls how deep the cutters go.  Filing the depth gauges down to the chain wouldn't work unless you had an extremely strong chain and a V8 to pull it.
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