Chainsaw Tips for Rebels

[@EricNielsen187]

I have been working on log homes for over 10 years, often using my saws in a manner most would call unsafe. I always wear my gear at work, but I don't like chaps. I am tall and feel very exposed. I have full chainsaw pants, summer and winter, both make you sweat like crazy. While running my MS361 at home on a very hot day without my gear until my wife chewed me out and I put everything on. I had a serious kickback when my chain found a steel stake the tree grew around. It destroyed my pants and chain. Thanks to my wife and my gear All I had was a bruise. Needed new chain, pants and shorts. Best $300 I ever spent.

[@narlycharley]

New shorts. Lol!!

[@noch21Gramm]

@@narlycharley hey shit stains are no joking matter.

[@jask7908]

Thanks for sharing. Such lessons go a long way for the rest of us.

[@thunderusnight]

A hospital bill and the consequences will always be F A R more expensive than a new chainsaw and chaps even if you buy the best of both.

[@brutongaster8184]

+

[@DeliveryMcGee]

There is a fine line between following OSHA guidelines and being what those in industry call a "cowboy" ... this man knows how to walk that line. Know the safety rules, know why they exist, be prepared to bend them when necessary, and most importantly don't be an idiot.

[@lewiemcneely9143]

BIG 10/4 on the idiot part.

[@stevewilliams2498]

Essential Craftsman got a brain "?" (was that a question) .. use it. House

[@yacrafter]

The general public are a panic riddon clumsy mass of accidents waiting to happen. I wish you well in your endeavors to try and educate the "public", personally.....I think you would have better luck talking to a box of hammers.

[@lewiemcneely9143]

The hammers are a lot more attentive.

[@jstins]

yacrafter That's a fatalistic comment. Have a little faith. True there's a lot of folks that aren't extremely bright. My fellow man here is subscribed to learn from EC and his truly solid experiences.

[@Hppyzmbie]

I have been an EMT for 10 years. I have seen 2 chainsaw injuries in that time. One was a man that was cutting the branches off of a tree limb in his sandals. The chainsaw slipped and he chopped the end of his foot off. All things considered he handled it like a champ. When we got on scene he had wrapped his foot in a towel and his wife was chastising his for being unsafe and for using on of her good towels to wrap his foot. The other was a tree trimmer that was up in a tree when his saw bucked and he lost his footing on the ladder. He fell over 20ft and at some point the chainsaw embedded itself in the left side of his chest. He had a faint pulse when we got on scene but was dead by the time we rolled into the ER. Chainsaw safety is no joke. Thank you for putting these videos out.

[@TheBrokenLife]

Chainsaws scare the absolute shit out of me... That's why when I bought one for myself I also bought it with all of the proper gear. Tough break for the second guy in your story though. I've never heard of chainsaw chest protection before.

[@tropifiori]

I have a chainsaw jacket.It is too hot to wear in the summer,but I use it all the time.

[@mckenziekeith7434]

I am a property owner, not a tree trimmer. But I thought professional trimmers NEVER work on ladders. I guess I could be wrong. It seems unnecessarily dangerous to me. Way more dangerous than drop-starting a saw.

[@Hppyzmbie]

I could be wrong about his profession. I just assumed his profession to be tree trimmer based on the fact that he had a work truck and before the accident was up a ladder in a tree trimming branches. I guess it could have just been a normal guy doing a favor for a neighbor? I feel like that makes it a little worse.

[@TheBrokenLife]

Could have been a guy just trying to get started in the business and working with what he had too. It's a sad story any way you look at it. I'll have to look into one of those jackets...

[@biggest23]

An old skipper I used to deliver boats with, had a saying that he would casually introduce in to situations where his actions were being questioned and it went a little something like this.... "Rules are for the strict obedience of fools and the guidance of wise men" It seems to dovetail perfectly in to so many scenarios.

[@kcb5336]

That’s seems like it could apply to the year 2020, now 2021.

[@adolfhitler3238]

Yoink. Going in my old wisdom book next to "shit in one hand and wish in the other then tell me which hand fills up first."

[@lysergicheadcase]

We have a rule with guys I cut with, always engage chain brake when moving with the saw. Doesn't cost you anything, takes half a second to do, and will save you in so many ways. Running saws can easily get caught on brush, kicking up when you don't expect it. Crawling into a tangleup, chain brake control is life or death.

[@Ithzzz]

amen to that

[@nmmxiii9389]

Does ur chain spin when you aren't touching throttle

[@lysergicheadcase]

@@nmmxiii9389 Yes usually chain is loose enough to pull a little at idle. More importantly you don't accidentally throttle while moving or falling

[@nmmxiii9389]

Sure

[@rayban5737]

Good habit to get into.its there for a reason....and only takes half a second

[@j.hemlock8284]

As someone who uses a saw to make a living I recommend the knee start. Put the powerhead between your legs and use your right hand to pull start the saw. Its safe, its fast it works.

[@jorer33]

This method and ground start are the only two methods my company allows. If you're out walking on a wet, slick timber pile or up to your eyeballs in brush, throwing the weight of a powerhead around really isn't a smart choice. Just pinch the handle between your thighs, hold the handle tight with your left hand, and rip it with your right. Nothing more manly than having your dong represented by a 36" bar.

[@rjeefamily926]

Glad you mentioned the knee start. I was wondering why he didn't mention it myself. It is more ergonomic than the ground and 100x safer than drop starting. There is really no good reason to drop start a saw.

[@cleaverp]

I'll endorse that! Safer and easier. I use that start every time.

[@tasalandscapewastemanageme3193]

.

[@_P0tat07_]

If I'm doing a cold start I always start on the ground. After it's warmed up, drop starts become that much easier. So if you know that you have to be working above the ground, start it up and let it warm up, shut it off, then get to where you're going to be working and drop starts will be easy.

[@mihkus]

I do that pretty much with every gasoline powered tool... I know it only takes 3 pulls when cold and one when warm but that 3 pulls on bigger saw can give you chestpain for a week.

[@ct1freak]

And I'm the only one that just puts it between my legs and pinch it with my knees to pull

[@hfc-u7l]

Old comment, but I 100% agree. when i was researching 2 stroke bikes, they said warming up is very important so it doesnt damage the bore and pistons. in my experience, any engine runs better and makes more power when its warmed up. I warm up all of my 2 smokes and use ethanol free marine gas. they always start in 2 or 3 pulls on half choke. The gas is the most important part though.

[@leesanders6490]

The saw kicked back on me one day and the chain-break engaged, saving me from a self-inflicted frontal lobotomy. I have appreciated them very much ever since.

[@lewiemcneely9143]

I was out scrounging firewood in the middle of winter, cutting up an old oak snag when the tip of my old Super 45 bar tapped a limb about the size of your little finger. When the saw stopped moving my arms were straight out above my head and the saw was horizontal, upside down and still running. Chain brakes weren't even thought of then. When you grab a saw you ought to be serious. I just thank the Almighty I was that day.

[@jessejoslin9908]

"start yer' saw like a man" shoulda been the title! love it

[@carolgeiger7242]

I taught a timber harvesting course once. I had a bunch of books in the classroom and so I read them. One book was a textbook on chainsaw use. The authors went out and did the research on how people got hurt using chainsaws in the woods. What they found was that the highest rate of injuries was from people not getting a proper stance before cutting. This happens particularly when limbing or bucking falling timber. The harvester gets in a hurry and does not get a good, solid stance before beginning the cut. While watching my students I observed the same thing. They would have one foot on the ground and the other foot still moving when they began the cut. Then someone would trip. Then we would go back to the classroom and start all over again. A new student thinks that chainsawing is all about upper body strength, control and the saw itself. They tend to neglect things like taking a solid stance, looking around for tripping hazards and things on the ground that might roll.

[@nicklloyd9165]

Great point. And very few KZbinrs bring this up.

[@rkstewart9585]

Concise descriptions with language that's not dumbed down for mass appeal. Glad I found your channel

[@HarryHov]

“From first hand experience, not on google” love it !!

[@thunderusnight]

I read it just as he said it

[@jonathantatler]

ALWAYS use the chainbrake when not cutting. In no time it will be second nature and a locked chain is always safer!

[@stephanieford6336]

I was running this saw for about 2 hours at about a 30-50% duty cycle kzbin.infoUgkxfQm1wmg0ItKDLavxj1nXtQY9HP7EF504 and it did a great job. I used the lever for the built in sharpener to clear chip buildup out more than to actually sharpen the chain. It managed to cut some hardwood stumps much larger than it's size without bothering the neighbors with hours of 2 stroke noise.

[@HolzMichel]

nice job scott!! let me phrase it in real loggers terms: running a saw isn't inherently dangerous, it's just totally unforgiving when you make a mistake. for the trolls out there: i picked up a saw at the age of 14 and have been making a living with it ever since. i'm 53.. and still have all of my fingers and toes and have never cut myself. or even my chaps for that matter.

[@lonemadrone31]

That's a really good way to put it!

[@stevejanka361]

Great advice for a dangerous tool. Anything can hurt you if you don't engage your brain box. Happy Father's day, your kids have a great role model. Thanks .

[@matfry2310]

That hill behind him as he's standing upon the log pile is absolutely breath taking! It's off the topic but man oh man what a sight to see

[@mark-ish]

says a guy easily impressed.

[@bsjcook]

Very good video! I have cut 30 cords of pine in the mountains of Colorado for the last 10 years, and use the drop start on my Stihl 371 for all but the first start when it is cold. When I was teaching my teenaged grandson I bought him a set of chaps - and they saved us a trip to the ER in the first hour! Thanks for sharing your experience with us!

[@user-wp5fe8ec6l]

A gun is a great analogy. Safe positioning and engaging the brake as a safety are great habits. When I'm at home I'm comfortable with shorts and bare feet but I'm pretty pedantic when it comes to positioning safely relative to the potential plane of the bar and engaging the brake before passing the saw or climbing over unstable piles of crap and have awareness and often a plan of how to react in a slip or fall.

[@lachlanbuchan9004]

I cut about 15 cubic metres of Australian hard wood a year, I Always wear chaps, I always wear a helmet with ear muffs and face shield. I quite often but not always drop start, I’ve always felt bad about drop starting because I know it’s not an approved practice but from now on I’m going to do use that method still when i decide it’s suitable. Thanks For the best videos on KZbin!!!

[@mediachopshop5742]

Chaps are a MUST, can confirm. I was in my back half-acre last spring cutting down a stand of swamp maple, wearing my hardhat with Kevlar shield, Redwing boots and threadbare jeans (chaps were hanging in the barn), when that chain grabbed a hold of my jeans right above the knee and shredded the fabric and the skin beneath like tissue paper. Four stitches and a tetanus shot later I'd learned my lesson. ALWAYS WEAR YOUR CHAPS!

[@PatrickWagz]

yikes, good lesson for everyone

[@TheBrokenLife]

Bought my Dad his first set of chaps (also bought my first set and my first saw too) after a guy I worked with did the exact same thing, but about 20 stitches... Ordered them as soon as I got home that night... I think mine are Husqy's and were under $100. Well worth it.

[@HondoTrailside]

I looked down at my leg one time, and noticed I had cut into my chaps. I was hot and tired and probably rest the bar where it joins the saw body, on my leg. no harm done. My chaps are so old they have metal hardware.

[@fattguy21]

I lost a pants leg - no blood. One lucky day.

[@Captain__Obvious]

In any discussion on safety I think it's worth keeping in mind that logging is consistently ranked THE most deadly job in the country - including military service. Thank you for making these videos.

[@AllaroundNbackagain]

Captain Obvious Captain obvious.

[@lektwik]

Actually... helicopter logging is the most dangerous. My friend did it for years and survived. Many didn't. He rigged and hooked the logs (as big as possible) to the helo. The most dangerous part.

[@lektwik]

My friend rode the helo to work everyday. His first question for a pilot new to him was... "Do you want to kill me?"

[@lektwik]

My friend was sorta like a Rambo in Vietnam. He was an efficient and capable killer. Ambush master.

[@fattguy21]

All the time you're killing the trees, the trees are trying to kill you.

[@RelentlessHomesteading]

Beautiful teaching. Engage the brain AND listen for that still small voice when God is trying to reach thru that thick skull to keep you from getting mangled - saved my life many times!

[@MarkrRetacco]

Sir thank you so much for your knowledge. I have a down pine tree and never used a chainsaw before. I am left-handed and a clumsy person. You have convinced me to hire a professional. Thank you

[@Gwoko303]

i am an arborist and run saws every day what you sed in this video is spot on but i would like to mechoim a third way of starting a saw. the leg lock it's an awsom way to hold the saw secure well not having to bend down and set it on the ground. also almost as fast as a drop start.

[@suburbanhobbyist2752]

Naw, that's the way Wranglerstar does it so it can't possibly be correct.

[@chadmast7038]

This is awesome, no BS here! "You can read all the manuals you want, but in the end, it's your head that's going to keep up safe"

[@tomcampbell8278]

I am grateful to you for sharing your experiences with us, please keep it up. I totally agree that your brain/ experience will keep you safe and sound, the only problem I see is that most people do not exercise their brains and that common sense eludes them in most situations. Common sense will allow a person to comprehend the reasons why the rules are in place and how to avoid the consequences ( getting hurt yourself or worse yet another person. ) Common sense will also allow you to keep clear of those who it eludes. The best safety advice I could give anyone is: on a job site if you have to look around before you do something to see if anyone is watching it probably means it is not safe and you should figure another/ better/ safer way to do it.

[@jmvmike]

Thank you for posting this sir. It’s straight to the point and informative. I just bought my first chainsaw and I have run exactly one chainsaw since the eighties. I have been getting as much safety and how to advise as I can.

[@TempleThomas]

As a paramedic, nice shout-out to the femoral artery. Love this channel

[@misternormL]

Fine video! Thank you Sir and please keep them coming!

[@printxii]

Leg guards are a must. They've saved me more then once and also a working chain break.

[@lektwik]

My favorite chainsaw? I bought an off-brand 10" bar saw at a garage sale in Mendocino about 20 yrs. ago for a dollar because kids had put water in the tank and it sat for a few years. I disassembled and cleaned it all out and ran that saw in my rural house with one hand for about a year. It started every time :-)

[@icryostorm3727]

Here in the UK we teach starting on the floor - when you first start in a day, and if your saw runs dry and finally if its sat for an hour or 2 not running. We avoid drop starting (mainly as too many people f&^k it up) but instead we stick the handle in between our legs (right up in the groin) and squeeze to stop it shifting - then with left hand on the top handle reach through and grab the starter cord with the right ... works a charm.

[@nou755]

I have never encountered a kickback or for that matter any major, minor injury using a chainsaw thus far in my young life. However that does not give me over confidence in my safety practice. I always like to go over safety videos, tips, and any other safety and good cutting practices that are out there. Great videos.

[@dougbartholomew4952]

You are a storehouse of knowledge and an excellent teacher. Please keep doing what you do!

[@vonRow]

Great video and tips. If I'm tired I set the brake and do a ground start. Otherwise, I set the break, the choke, and drop it like you showed. I grew up with a much much much larger saw than the little 450 Husky I run now. Seeing that Stihl with the longer bar brings back memories as a kid out in the woods with my family & our saws. 28" was the shortest one we had in our collection back then.

[@MacheteBushcraftAustralia]

I'm a farmer not a logger so please excuse me if this is a silly question. What about crotch starting the saw? I was taught to start a saw on the ground or standing with the handle of the saw clamped between your thighs.. I think it was in a Stihl clip. I'm sure that would not suit if you're up a tree but I have always found the crotch start method works. BTW, Thanks for the tip about carrying the saw with the bar behind you. Darn good point and I will take that on.

[@bnadit1949]

I think that even the USFS approved that method for their sawyers realizing that most do it anyways and it is safer than drop starting.

[@hazelburridge2033]

Machete Bushcraft Australia as a professional climbing arborist Ivan tell you yes, that is the preferred and osha approved method. Easier than ground starting and safer than drop starting. I have no problem starting a 661 "like a man" but it can come with a man sized osha fine. Under the knee solves this problem.

[@whitacrebespoke]

Should only crotch start a small saw from warm.

[@dancross4444]

I like it! In going to try it.

[@drekowski]

It's right in the Stihl MS 650/660 manual, page 32 ( m.stihlusa.com/webcontent/cmsfilelibrary/instructionmanuals/stihl-ms-650-660-owners-instruction-manual.pdf ).

[@thatrealba]

Heck I learned to start em via the drop start. I also learned to use the chain brake a lot.

[@KowboyUSA]

You said it, friend, it's brain of the operator that keeps him alive. Man, I'm* thankful that outside a few years of military, and a couple decades USFS/DSL contract work, all my work years were in the private sector. And, by the way, I still have all my limbs and toes.

[@davidduff9871]

Drop starting. My Dad had me take my bar off and get familiar with the drop start. When I could show him I had control, he let me put the bar and chain back on and work.

[@johnrgmcmenamin]

Another great video Scott! Thanks for your messages earlier this week. I just finished my first day on the jobsite and everything went well. All the best, John

[@TheBrokenLife]

Here's the right way to do it... Now let me show you how to do it like a man... hahaha! My entire lifetime growing up with my entire family hobby cutting firewood I've never seen anyone do anything BUT drop start their saw. I thought that's just how to you did it until I started seeing videos like this.

[@fadetounforgiven]

Same here and I live across the pond.

[@ravenbarsrepairs5594]

I rarely do anything but dropstart and honestly, I feel safer doing that for most saws(more experiece that way). I do start new to me saws on the ground and also any antiques I may fire up(Homelite 5-20, I'll never drop start that thing, 5HP, 20Lbs, Gear driven with no clutch). www.bigdmc.com/5-20-after.JPG

[@commonconservative7551]

i pulled a chest muscle drop starting mine and had to use the ground method for 2 weeks cause otherwise it hurt so damn much i couldn't get it started

[@David-kd5mf]

Maxwelhse Same here. Drop starting is how I started a chainsaw when I was growing up.

[@commonconservative7551]

haven't you ever had a high compression pull, throw your saw bar flailing?....all it takes is one time combined with an unexpected high rpm start, to rip your leg

[@brianmarcum4829]

love your channel.my new favorite on KZbin.Ty for sharing all your knowledge and hard work.

[@cravinbob]

One injury that I did not know or ever heard of until it happened to me from running a chainsaw is carpal tunnel syndrome. Painful and caused me to have to modify all my hand gripping behaviors. The cure is to cut the tendon and I want to avoid that for sure. My guitar playing was out of the question for months and still have pain when playing. A real hazard I had no clue about.

[@richardpalusaar3364]

It might be worth mentioning the issue of stuck throttles. I have had at least one chain saw that more than once started with the throttle engaged and thus the chain got spinning as soon as the saw started up, a nasty experience. Makes for a good reason to never start a saw without first engaging the break. Just some advice from someone who does not use a chain saw often but does on occasion. Great instructional video, enjoyed it.

[@littlestworkshop]

Stihl have a video about starting saws and it shows a way to start the saw standing while not drop starting, it works for me. It basically comes down to putting the rear handle between the legs then pulling the saw to one side to lock it.

[@jeffburtonnottheracecardriver]

Decided to contact via latest video: Just listened to the podcast with TechnologyGuru... you two have hit on a magic core formula to keep and not let get hijacked by others - keep your current goals. add: My father and grandfather were career Ironworkers in a time when craftsmanship meant something. I fear that pride in one's work has slipped into just a job with a paycheck over the decades. So we appreciate your diverse skills and the ability to convey them in a concise entertaining way. Nate's production skills are noticeably valuable as well. A video series E-book would be very much anticipated and well-received!

[@timothywhieldon1971]

one thing i would like to point you to is a (K Pack) they are $10 on amazon and will stop bleeding on everything you put it on. One of the reviews was of a man who cut his femoral artery and had to hike 4 miles back to a road, it saved his life. I always carry one in my back pocket when i fell trees. 10/10 advice on the safety chaps too.

[@Calebthelowber]

As usual some of the very best videos on KZbin

[@hotdognonesky3766]

You can safely and easily start a saw without drop starting and you engage the chain brake any time you take more than two steps with a saw and any time you are moving through trip hazards. I've been running saws for work for 30 years. come on guys, stop fighting knowledge. I have a ton of guys who work for me and who I am responsible for. It takes a fraction of a second to engage a chain brake and the same to disengage. It's the same with putting the handle under the thigh and pulling a cord.

[@bschilt3]

Exactly. Just like deer hunting, you don't take the rifle safety off until the deer is in your cross hair. Don't take the chain brake off until you're ready to cut. With a little practice it becomes second nature.

[@ILikeWafflz]

That idea kind of makes me think of not retracting the blade on a U-knife because you're going to use it in thirty seconds.

[@bobcougar77]

I'm with you on the chain brake. But frankly I don't even see drop starting a saw as dangerous. If I have cold saw acting stubborn I'm sure not going to pull 30 times while on a knee

[@2ndammendmentmatters465]

20+ years of logging and drop starting is the only way I've ever started a saw. Now and then we'll hire on a new guy who's been trained by the FS. They'll either do the ground start or a weird thing with the power head between their legs. Always good for a chuckle.

[@ryanpalmer441]

2ndAmmendmentMatters I've been logging 15 years and I only start with the handle between my legs; weird.

[@2ndammendmentmatters465]

Ha. Probably just a difference in region or who taught you the ropes. I suppose there's no right or wrong way to start a chainsaw (within reason). Do whatever makes you happy.

[@AllaroundNbackagain]

I do a few different ways. Just depends on the situation. When my boys are around I start on the ground, if they’re away I relax more on starting method. Mostly drop start.

[@ronaldthomas3528]

2ndAmmendmentMatters funny I was just thinking that I have never seen anyone start a chainsaw on the ground. Even though it makes good sense. LoL.

[@alexmatthews2332]

2ndAmmendmentMatters When I first started cutting I used to try to do it proper and it worked for a while til I got a 372xp and I about tried to castrate myself with the handle. Drop start to this day lol

[@kengamble8595]

Yelp, said it before and will say it again, you're my kind of people! Common sense, it goes a long way ! Thanks for sharing and take care.

[@Rprecision]

I love your approach to things, very refreshing.

[@unexpectedTrajectory]

good stuff. thanks for addressing safety intelligently and realistically.

[@dwinsemius]

In the early 80's, before routine brakes in chainsaws, our banker was cutting small stuff for his wood stove, the tip caught a piece and kicked backed into his neck, severing the vena cava and the superior parts of his brachial plexus (the nerves going down to the arm). Pressure on the wound staunched the bleeding until he arrived at the hospital. The local neurosurgeon was busy in the OR at another hospital. The brachial plexus details are among of those neuroanatomy facts that most medical students promptly forget the day after the test. The local general surgeon and my wife put the pieces of his brachial plexus back together by referring to an anatomy book over the course of several hours. He had a great recovery ... against all reasonable expectations. Was playing golf again a couple of years later. A brake would probably have prevented that.

[@allanlavallee7171]

Damm I love your common sense approach to everything.

[@rayeddy528]

Thank you Sir !!!! Be safe and God bless you and your family!!!!!

[@leifjenkinson4039]

Step in the handle? Just try that inside size 13 or 14 boots. Started with a 50s-era Homelite in 1974 (that didn't start unless two weeks or less just out of the shop). The vibration alone was a safety hazard. Now using Stihls, FarmBoss the biggest. At 71, that's as big as i want/need to go. Have worn out 2 Stihls on firewood and FireWise. So bless Stihls's ability to start easy. It isn't just "technique". The harder the saw is to start, the more unsafe the starting procedure becomes.

[@AllaroundNbackagain]

leif Jenkinson Good to hear you’re still getting out and not rusting away. Cheers.

[@JoeZasada]

A safer standing alternative to the drop start (especially for saws you don't have a solid feel for) is to put the handle high in between your legs, hold the saw with your left hand by the top handle, and pull the cord with your right hand. It takes away the up/down swing.

[@jdsgotninelives]

The Husqvarna chainsaw is just a thing of great beauty. It is a very impressive performer and if allowed to cool down before switching off, will last a lifetime of heavy day to day use. Thanks for the tips :-)

[@SHNUCAU]

Discovery Channel called. They said they're ready to shoot the pilot for The Essential Craftsman show.

[@MJCx777]

please no they would ruin this so badly

[@johnarmstrong5953]

yeah. I can see it now, he comes on wearing the total clown garb, talks about safety for 3 minutes, cuts one perfectly supported log and then it goes to commercial.

[@YSLRD]

I can't imagine him having any interest.

[@TheTarrMan]

Sweet video! Loved it! I was at a Walmart one time as a truck driver and they were complaining about "that's not OSHA compliant". I said, "That sounds like union talk" and shut them up real quick. (I'm neither for or against unions but I am strongly against whining and complaining. Since Walmart has been known to fire people over talks about unions, I knew there kryptonite)

[@mark-ish]

*their

[@matthewszostek1819]

chainsaw maintenance video please

HillbillyMatt ExtremeDIY He is not very good at maintaining things. :D

[@SkillCult]

Loving this series. Keep it up. I'll watch every one!

[@HondoTrailside]

The answer to how you start the saw without drop starting it, when there isn't any ground to start it on is in the stihl video. Basically you do as one normally does, but hold the handle between you legs.

[@RickMcQuay]

The internet needs more guys like this.

[@johnsweeney1712]

Great video, always good to get a few tips. Thank you.

[@glenmel78]

I used to work for LSU AG in a pecan orchard. After a long, tiring, 100+ degree day of thinning the orchard I became careless. My saw bucked and hand slipped off the saw. If it wasn't for my chaps I probably would be missing my left leg. I've never use a chainsaw without them since. Thanks for the great videos and tips!!

[@jakysz145]

I remember my first try to start a chain saw and I failed, compression was stopping me from starting it, but I just quickly released that I have to drop it and now I'm drop starting it since that day.

[@flunder203]

your commonsense approach is as always perfect. having been a carpenter for 20+ years i feel the knowledge we exchange gets battered and impeded by the safety police. i agree theres a time and place for safety but so much time gets lost having to cater to the safety muffs and ear goggle crowd.

[@northupguy]

Chaps and safety sandals work great, too.

[@davep1445]

I love your honesty! Great video's, keep them coming.

[@mversantvoort]

Thank you for making tool safety cool, this will definitely save multiple people from having very bad injuries. Great job! :)

[@summerlakephotog8239]

I knew this would get lots of response❗️😃 I started out with McCulloch and Homelite chainsaws. They could be hard to start. When I graduated to a Stihl with a bar the same length as yours, I always drop started it. They were/are great machines. I learned by watching timber fallers. There were no tutorials or KZbin. The rule was “be careful” , be aware. In eastern Oregon “chaps” is pronounced sh-aps with an “sh” sound. I bet that’s the way Cy says it.

[@rico1319]

Good info for all. And another well-done video. Have a great day my friend.

[@willwyatt7023]

Great information as usual. LOVE your channel.

[@SouthernBelleReviews]

Thank you so much for your help! I just need to know where to put the gas into the chainsaw. I bought a PoulanPro PR3816 today. Please help. Do I just pour it in to the hole? There are silicone "pipes" all throughout the inside and I am confused.

[@Tsiri09]

Thank you. I have made too many calls for these types of injuries. I'm a Fmr Paramedic. I still see too many guys who think they're never gonna get hurt by misusing a chain saw.

[@bobpiff9081]

+Essential Craftsman Nice follow up, thank you

[@63256325N]

All good tips for sure. Thanks.

[@dustoff499]

From Stihl in regards to chaps... "WARNING FOR ELECTRIC CHAIN SAW USERS! The fibers will not stop the sprocket on most electric chain saws because of their constant high torque"

[@lonemadrone31]

Good point. I've heard that several times myself, and it totally makes sense. I've got an old pair of chaps that I don't trust any more. I need to find someone with an electric Stihl. Slap the chaps on a ham and do some testing on.

[@daveh4106]

Someone has probably already mentioned it, but you can put the handle between your legs to start it. It is off the ground but much more controlled than a dropstart.

[@JedidiahShultzIrishCraftsman]

Love your arborist and blacksmithing videos EC!! 💪🏻💪🏻😊

[@hhoward14]

Very good video; like I always say:" silly things cease to be silly, when they're done by sensible people...

[@AugustHunicke]

AMEN! Great vid. Also, loved seeing Sponge Bob ;)

[@Erik_Watkins]

I was taught the "left hand drop" method; hold the front handle in your right hand and drop while you pull up with the left. Then just switch hand. much lower chance of putting the chain in your leg that way!

[@JerkRice]

Great advice. Thank you for sharing.

[@christopherfitch7705]

Solid advice thanks. You western guys with your long bars! Drop starting easy with say a 20" bar I'm a firewood guy in New England that's about as long a bar as I need. On an old jonsered 2165 love that saw. Have a Stihl 460 with a 28" bar have to be careful when drop starting. No helmet or face screen?

[@jontheroofer1968]

3:49 "you need to know how to start your saw like a man" I pert near lost it on that one buds! Nice one! :)

[@MegaRiffraff]

We have an old Stihl 30" bar , yellow code square grind skip tooth chain , that was made before the chain brake , I don't let anyone use it but me , when we need something that big .

[@orcoastgreenman]

There is an important factor in handling safety, which is the weight of the saw... With a saw that feels heavy for you to handle, you are much more likely to lose control of it. I always use a smaller saw I can handle easily, if it is up to the task at hand, and only bring out the "big guns" when I need that blade length and power for larger trunk and limbing work. If shopping for the only chainsaw you will own, get the smallest one that is likely to handle the majority of your needs, and rent a bigger one when needed. If you use them enough or just have the budget consider getting a "big boy" and a smaller, easy to handle saw if you are going to be cutting smaller branches a lot.

[@markbuilt]

I like a man that talks with common sense

[@IronMan-ml5yi]

well explained. good video. thanks for making this video.

[@ethan6362]

Will you please do a video on work boots

[@DeliveryMcGee]

Seconded. I only wear safety-toe electrical-hazard-rated footwear (I have a pair of Carolina Lineman boots, and a pair of Shoes for Crews sneakers), and I rearrange grocery stores for a living. One of my coworkers once needed surgery on her foot after a can of soup fell on her toes from the top shelf. Sam Vimes theory of boots. Buy the good ones, they're worth it.

[@PatrickWagz]

what kind of soup?

[@lewiemcneely9143]

Chunky something I wager.

[@wshawnmelton]

Growing up cutting wood for winter....I can't recall ever being able to start the chainsaw on the first pull!

[@ryanpalmer441]

Shawn Melton not even a warm saw?

[@impossible7163]

It's funny, when I was a kid, all my grandfather (who worked long time as a logger and being a horseman driving logs out of the wilderness) ever tought me, was drop start. It was only years later I saw anyone start saw on the ground. Well, he was very no nonsense, "deal with it" kinda man. May he rest in peace. Although, now that I think of it, he had his first chainsaw stored away, which was absolute monster of a saw. Chunk of metal that weighed a ton. I am sure he never drop started that. :D

[@liptoncheetos]

I’ve only used a chainsaw once and watching this makes me feel like I’m not taking it seriously enough. I made sure to be very aware of everywhere I was was stepping and always aware of where the chain was. However I drop started it, don’t have any chaps (don’t really want to buy any to use them once or twice a year), wore tennis shoes and never had the chain break engaged at any point. Also my saw isn’t in great contrition, chain is dull and the carb needs to be tuned cuz it cuts off every now and then.

[@naveslaikss]

good vibes from this guy

[@MadMetalShop]

Best remark of the entire video. What happens when you can't start your saw on the ground....."well I don't have an answer and this is why you need to learn how to start a saw like a man" 😂 classic! My only suggestion would be to flip the sae around with the pull cord on the outside. That way if anything the bar swings away from you when pulling. Ps most forest services have gotten the between the legs and pulling with the right hand approved now but I couldn't agree more with that original remark 😉👍

[@Rockhound1943]

Love this video and the other like it on youtube where a veteran tradesman like yourself explains reality. I work in an industry where recent college graduates are working side by side with trades in the field with exposures to some very dangerous situations. Our corporate safety culture is second to none. Health and Safety is paramount to our clients bottom lines so it is to ours as well. Understanding the HASP is written to provide you with all the knowledge you need to safety navigate the work environment, but it is not a how to do the job plan for that you need experience and a scope or work... The reality is with experience comes a sense of situational awareness. The understanding that even though I have done this 1000 times and it looks as though I can do it with my eyes closed... my eyes are open and I am well aware of the risks involved. Certain corners are never cut for example confined space entry preparations, etc. I my experience I find accidents "pop up" from two main starting paths hubris and lack of respect. I can lead a tailgate in the morning and within 5 mins identify the "cowboys" or "too cool for school kids" or the lazy each one is a safety hazard. What I always caution against is the idea the safety gear will always save you, they protect your but you save you... you walk under a load and the line lets go, your hard hat and vest will be a great marker to find your wallet and glasses. Anyways love the comment use your brain. Great videos thanks for sharing.