If you are doing diy over the lockdown please read this

Forums › Home Workshop DIY › If you are doing diy over the lockdown please read this

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Ge0rge

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#2455359 5-Apr-2020 20:38

Dratsab:
Ge0rge: Is that a 660 under the axe on the right, Dratsab?

Would've replied earlier but I've been outside doing some DIY...

Yes, a MS660 with a 24" bar.

My 044 (hidden inside the blue box with only the bar cover poking out) is a real grunter too :-)

Yeah, they're a great saw. I've got a 661 with a 24" and 36" bar. It's like having a really big hammer - not needed most of the time, but when it is needed, there's only one that'll do the job.

Handle9

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#2455366 5-Apr-2020 20:50

Dratsab:

I think a lot depends on your attitude to safety. Obviously I know completely nothing about the person mentioned or their attitude towards anything so that comment is not meant as a slight on them, it's just a general comment.

When I'm chainsawing I always have my steel capped shoes on, and my chaps, decent gloves (although I need new ones) and a helmet if I'm using my big saw. I'll use a saw appropriate to the job I'm doing ie, anything less than about 40cm diameter gets the small saw with the pico chain. Vertical cutting on bigger stuff is always done on an angle so if there is a kick it goes away from me. With horizontal stuff such stumps I'm always walking ahead of the saw so if it kicks it'll go off to the side of me.

I get binding now and again, as everyone does, but the big thing -the really big thing- is that I am always aware of the tip; where it's going and if there's anything it's likely to come into contact with. If you don't stay aware of that tip and keep it clear of other objects (such as another branch if you're cutting on a woodpile) you will get kickbacks. In the last 7 years of regular chainsaw use (myself and 4 other chaps have cut down a lot of trees for firewood) I've had one minor kickback which didn't even come out of the massive branch I was cutting. Even if it had, the cutting angle would've saved me.

But yeah - fully agree with the sentiments expressed above. Be extra careful during this time. The hospital staff don't want you there at the best of times.

Chainsaw pr0n below - younger viewers may want to shield their eyes... (most of our saws from an outing, last year, to property that's being developed in the depths of the Akatarawas):

Edit: resized the rather large photo and clarified when the outing was...

Unless you need (rather than want) to cut something with a chainsaw at the moment using one is a pretty dumb idea.

They are pretty tricky to use safely, even with good PPE and in the hands of a skilled operator. What's the benefit vs the risk at the moment?

wratterus

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#2455466 6-Apr-2020 08:35

I'm probably your typical 'she'll be right' sort of guy, but even I thought twice the other day about firing up the chainsaw. Always use the right gear - steel caps, chaps, hard hat/face shield and try not to do dumb stuff....but sh*t can still happen.

Someone earlier in this thread mentioned a paramedic was quiet? That is exactly the desired outcome at a time like this I would think.

@Dratsab that is an awesome line up of saws....🤤

Dratsab

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#2455480 6-Apr-2020 09:00

@Handle9 Agree with your first comment which is why I'm not using one. Haven't done so for about a month and have no plans to do so until towards the end of winter when some wood which is a bit too big for my fireplace will need cutting down.

I disagree with the tricky to use comment though. They're very easy to use which is the problem as a lot of people don't seem to take the time to figure the dynamics of not only what they're doing but what will happen as a result. And they also don't take into account what unexpected things may happen.

Being sensible is tricky. But that's not a function of the chainsaw.

Edit: reread your comment. You say 'use safely', so fully agree.

MikeAqua

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#2455532 6-Apr-2020 10:08

A chainsaw is one of the higher risk tools available. I wouldn't use one right now other than for urgent things like a tree likely to fall on something.

But there is safer DIY. DIY is more important now than ever as it gives people constructive to do, and you can't get anyone in to do stuff.

Now that my work has quietened down, I plan to rebuild my work bench and workshop shelving. The lawns need a mow, the hedge needs a trim, the list goes on.

There needs to be perspective ... plenty of people hurt themselves simply walking around their own home. That poor woman died after falling while running near ChCh.

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