New Chaps vs Old Chaps.

Jamin_Mayer

Jamin_Mayer

Location
Longmont, CO
Here is a concise video from an employee of the Washington State Department of Labor and Industries.

It covers how a chain saw tears through flesh, not cuts.

It shows how little protection jeans provide.

It shows 10 year old chaps being cut.

Then it shows how effective new chaps work.

Mark it in your favorites on Youtube. It's a good video to show your co-workers, boss, employees, and wife.
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Chainsaw Leg Protection.
 
I've never used the "old style" But I do have first hand experience with how effective chaps are. The first week or two I was logging we were doing tornado timber and when the root ball flipped up I lost balance and put a stihl 660 into my thigh. I didn't get a single cut, the point of the cutters did poke through the material a little but not enough to break skin. It was scary feeling that power hitting your leg but not being torn to shreds. I still have that pair and I show them to prove the DO WORK! The video is very accurate.
 
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... I lost balance and put a stihl 660 into my thigh. I didn't get a single cut...

[/ QUOTE ]

Impressive.

About 4 years ago I had an employee cut his chaps (on the upper thigh) with a MS290. As well, it saved his leg from being torn (as the video showed).
 
Here is a pic of those chaps. You can't see the material that was pulled because I actually cut with these for another 5 months or so 8-9 hrs a day until I got a new pair (NOT RECOMMENDED!) But 3 of the 7 layers were cut and the 4th just barely.
 

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Awesome video and perfect timing. I just had a talk with my boss about replacing our old chaps. He feels that they are perfectly fine even though they are over 6 years old....

I hope this video shines a bit more light on the subject for him.
 
Weird. Over the past two days I have been watching a lot of fire behavior videos posted by the same guy. Small world.

He's got some pretty interesting videos. Good find Jamin.
 
[ QUOTE ]
The first week or two I was logging we were doing tornado timber and when the root ball flipped up I lost balance and put a stihl 660 into my thigh. I didn't get a single cut, the point of the cutters did poke through the material a little but not enough to break skin.

[/ QUOTE ]

That's a good example to hear about the unexpected. Too many folks work, drive and do other activities, relying on the expected.
 
mdvaden: I was expecting the root ball to flip but since the only way to get to it was to stand on the side of it and it was a delayed flip that caught me right as I was starting to move from the cut. Plus like I said I was green as can be. I was given a 660 and told "Go cut" they watched me the first day but after that I was more or less on my own. But I know exactly what you are saying there are WAY too many people just float through not paying attention. They are the ones that should never be cutting or they will get killed.

One note. I think the "old" chaps that they are referring to are the old style, heavy and more like body armor. Way different than the new style. Not just old chaps. I think they'll pretty much wear the outside cover way before the protective material would deteriorate if ever. And as far as washing it really depends on what you're doing with them. Wet conditions with powder would possibly pack the fibres together. But dry good size chips really don't get them dirty past the outside layer. I've cut in chaps all day everyday for upwards of a year and a half even on rainy days + sweat and never washed them and the outer layer got a little nick or something and the interior was clean and loose as can be. not saying you shouldn't just it's not too necessary to go bezerk with it!
 
Jamin, Paul, and Jeremy:

Thanks so much for these links and info. I will be replacing what I had for training as this is much better.

This is another example of Treebuzz at its finest!
 
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