A chainsaw is unsurpassed at cutting down trees and pruning large branches. If you’ve ever chopped trees by hand, you’ll be positively satisfied by the ease and speed of a chainsaw. Small trees and branches may be fallen and be removed in a matter of minutes.
Chainsaws can be dangerous, but they now have several features that make them moderately safer and easy to handle. In our guide, you’ll learn how to handle a chainsaw safely.
While it is intended to cut with either the top or bottom of the blade, anything that comes into touch with the top half of the blade’s end tip (known as the kickback zone) might change the cutting motion and cause the saw to bounce back against you. Kickback can cause catastrophic harm, thus users must take extra measures and always practice good chainsaw techniques to avoid misfortune.
Table of Contents
Wear Protective Clothing When Using A Chainsaw
Safety Helmet
These resemble construction hard helmets and are intended to protect the user’s head from the force of contact from the bar and chain if kickback occurs, as long as the chain brake is engaged and the chainsaw chain is not spinning. They will not prevent the guide bar or chain from cutting if they are in motion.
Most safety helmets have ear defenders and, in some cases, translucent plastic or fine-mesh visors to shield the eyes from flying woodchips and dust.
Ear Defenders
Chainsaws are extremely loud, and continued usage might result in hearing impairment. Wear ear defenders whenever you use fuel, corded electric, or cordless battery equipment. Ear defenders are often included in most safety helmets.
Chainsaw Trousers
Chainsaw trousers are comprised of layers of specialized cloth meant to snag the chain and slow it down. They won’t entirely block the path of a spinning chain, but by slowing it down, the subsequent damage will be less severe. The cost of chainsaw trousers varies greatly, with a top-of-the-line branded pair costing the most.
Chainsaw Gloves
The left hand is substantially reinforced with cloth similar to that used in chainsaw trousers, whereas the right hand is often less protected because of its proximity to the blade. They’re made to safeguard your hands while yet allowing you to work comfortably.
Safety Boots
To prevent accidental slippage when using a chainsaw, invest in a pair of chainsaw safety boots with a steel toe cap and a solid grip.
Chainsaw Safety Features
- Anti-kickback or low-kickback chains lessen the likelihood of the chain becoming trapped in the wood you’re cutting, causing the machine to hurtle back toward the user’s head and shoulder.
- Chain brake for the chainsaw. The chain brake, often known as the front handguard, is intended to reduce the danger of damage from kickback; if the blade is flung upwards and rearward towards the user, their left hand will hit the chain brake lever, activating this brake.
- A chainsaw chain catcher is intended to catch the chain if it slides off the guide bar, keeping it from spinning off and striking your legs. It’s located at the machine’s base, just below the guide bar.
- Chainsaw throttle lock-off and trigger. For the chain to rotate, these two switches must be turned on. This is to prevent the chainsaw from starting accidentally.
- The on/off switch. Petrol variants will also include an extra on/off switch to prevent inadvertent starting. Depending on the chainsaw’s design and specifications, you may additionally discover a primer, choke, and/or starter rope that aid in starting the chainsaw.
- Anti-vibration mounts or vibration dampeners. To reduce the pain and discomfort caused by chainsaw motors and cutting vibrations.
Chainsaw safety Checks
1. The chain of a chainsaw
When it’s time to replace the chainsaw chain, use this checklist:
- Thoroughly read the user manual. Incorrectly installed chains might harm the chainsaw and put you in danger when you restart it.
- Contact the manufacturer. The manufacturer will assist you in purchasing the new item. You may also purchase and attach a generic chainsaw chain.
- Make an informed decision. Check that the chain has the right pitch, gauge, and quantity of driving chains. Fitting the incorrect chain might be dangerous.
If in doubt, have a professional or experienced chainsaw operator provide and install it for you.
2. Chainsaw cutting teeth
If you have to force your chainsaw to cut, or if it cuts a crooked line, your chainsaw teeth may be dull.
A dull chainsaw may be deadly; examine and sharpen teeth on a regular basis, or get an expert to do it for you.
3. Guide bar for chainsaw
This is the long, oblong-shaped solid metal bar around which the chainsaw chain spins at high speed. The length of these varies depending on the size of wood you need to cut. The longer the guide bar, the thicker the diameter of the log that the chainsaw can handle, but the more difficult it is to handle.
4. Chain tensioning mechanism for chainsaws
A chainsaw chain loses tension while in operation and must be retightened (especially most brand-new chains that are not pre-stretched). Every time you use the chainsaw, check the tension of the chain; if the chain is too loose, it may come off during usage. The chain tensioner will be either a thumbwheel lever that you can turn or a screw that you tighten with a screwdriver.
Determine the Best Saw-Holding Position
Find a comfortable stance and practice with both feet firmly planted. In case of kickback, hold the chainsaw with two hands and at an angle or slightly to one side rather than squarely in front of you.
Think and Think Again Before You Cut
Never use a chainsaw while on a ladder, and never cut limbs higher than your shoulder. (If you need to cut anything higher, try a different tool: a manual rope saw, sometimes known as a pocket chainsaw.) To remove lower branches and buttress roots before falling a tree, slice downward and utilize the pulling chain—the section of the chain that wraps around the bottom of the bar. Work upward from the tree if it is on an elevation.
Use the Right Chainsaw
Use the appropriate chainsaw for the job. If you’re renting a chainsaw, talk to the professionals about the extent of the project to find out what size motor they recommend, as blade size is proportional to engine horsepower. The blade should be two inches longer than the wood being cut. A 14-inch blade is suitable for light-duty cutting of firewood and the like, while 16- to 20-inch blades are suitable for medium-duty cutting. Because longer blades are more difficult to manage, beginners should stick with blades that are less than 20 inches long.
10 Chainsaw Tips: Using A Chainsaw
Ready Set Go- How to Use A Chainsaw
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1: Assess Your Workspace
Familiarize oneself with your working environment. Be aware of your “escape routes“—locations where you may safely flee if the tree begins to fall. Because your tree may fall in an unexpected direction, it’s better to be prepared for any circumstance. Chainsaws are known as “widow-makers” for a reason: they may be dangerous to use. Make a plan and comprehend the terrain you’re operating in.
2: Get yourself and your saw ready.
Put on your entire outfit, from head to toe. Examine your saw to check that the chain is properly tensioned. If you can pull the chain up from the guide bar without disengaging the chain links from the guide or the “nose,” it’s too loose. To avoid harm, you’ll need to tighten the tension. Check the maintenance manual for instructions on tightening the chain. Most of the time, you’ll use the chainsaw’s “scrench” (screwdriver/wrench). When pulled, a correctly tightened chain should yield slightly but not detach from the guide.
3: Add two-stroke oil and gas
Check the gas levels and replenish the tank before starting a gas chainsaw. With a two-cycle engine (99.9% of chainsaws), the gas and oil will almost certainly need to be mixed before adding to the tank. Purchase two-stroke oil and mix it according to the manufacturer’s recommendations (usually a ratio of 50:1 (sometimes 40:1), or about 2.6 ounces of oil to a gallon of gas). Chain oil should be poured into the chain lube reservoir.
4: Lock the chain brake.
Place your chainsaw flat on the ground, bottom down. Advance the chain brake until it locks. The chain brake, which is normally a separate lever situated between the chainsaw’s top handle and the blade, keeps the chain from spinning until you release the brake and apply the throttle.
5: Choke the saw and prime it.
Turn on the choke on your gas-powered saw if it has one. If there is a priming button, press it four to six times to draw gas into the carburetor before turning on the power switch. If your chainsaw is electric, just depress the safety switch and turn on the power switch.
6: Secure the saw and pull the starter handle.
People who have electric chainsaws can go to Step 7. To secure a gas chainsaw, insert your right foot through the back handle and push your weight down on the handle. Hold the front handle firmly in place with your left hand. Pull the starting rope out to its full length with your right hand. Starting the engine normally takes four or five pulls. If the engine is “firing” but not engaging, take the choke out halfway.
7: Prepare to make a cut.
The chain should not be turning even after the engine has started. To get the chain moving, you’ll need to squeeze the trigger or throttle. First, get into a good stance with your feet anchored firmly and a solid grasp on the saw. To avoid harm in the case of a kickback, always cut with the saw off to the side or slanted away from you.
8: Cut your wood.
Now release the chain brake and completely engage the throttle when you’re ready to cut. Place the saw where you wish to make the cut. Apply no pressure; the chain and blade’s motion will draw the wood in. Never, ever try to force it. If you’re using a corded electric saw, keep an eye on the cord and don’t allow it to get in your way and be accidentally cut.
9: Complete your cut.
Maintain a firm, steady grip and maintain the throttle completely engaged throughout the cut. Only let go of the throttle once you’ve cut through or withdrawn the blade from the cut (if you’re producing carved-in cuts for tree felling).
10: Switch off the chainsaw.
Simply switch the chainsaw to “off” to turn it off. Allow the saw to appropriately cool before storing it.
Estimated Cost: 0.00 USD
Supply:
- Chainsaw Trousers
- Safety Boots
- Safety Helmet
- Ear Defenders
- Safety Boots
Tools:
- Chainsaw,
Materials: Wood
Chainsaw Training Courses
If you wish to use a chainsaw properly, a short course on chainsaw safety and how to use a chainsaw is the best way to learn about safe operation and maintenance. These short courses will teach you how to handle a chainsaw correctly, how to make basic cuts, and how to maintain it. This article on ‘Chainsaw Tips: How to Use a Chainsaw Safely’ should be treated as a basic introduction.