One Handing a Top Handle Chain Saw? Yes or No

[theXman]

[ QUOTE ]
The main reason I cut one handed is to cut and throw. When Your doing line clearance your not going to rope a thousand times a day and you can't just let branches fall on the three phase, so you cut and hold the pieces. I'm not saying it's the safest was to cut, but It is buy far the most productive way to cut in alot of situations.

[/ QUOTE ]

then you are who they are referring to as machete weilding wild men.

If it's small, do it with a handsaw and cut away from yourself and your lines.

IF it's bigger, do a snap cut, put your saw away, use both hands for more control and snap it off.

cutting the way you are describing is what gives one hand such a bad name.

Which is why they say things like never one hand, because if they say one handing is okay sometimes, plenty of people will assume how they one hand a saw is just fine.

 

[theXman]

[ QUOTE ]
Plenty of arborists better than Reg bear scars from an accident that was 100% avoidable had a second hand been where it was supposed to be.

(I'm Ryan Senechal, and I approve this message)

[/ QUOTE ]

And? Your point is what?

Any one can have a day where they aren't thinking the best and make a mistake. If they cut themselves by using one hand, then they should have not been using one hand in that situation.

 

[theXman]

There are plenty of times where one hand gives a safer body position, where as two hands could not get the body or legs far enough away.

In potentially dangerous movement situations, or falling debris; a pole chainsaw gets you farther away and should be used. Sometimes a pole chainsaw won't work though.

I could likely give about one example a week if you wish; why I used one hand.

This weeks was this:

A large leader split off of a black cherry, weak V-crotch in a storm.

the leader was held up by two trees.

i attached two crane slings to the main part of the leader.

The whole leader would have likely been too heavy, so I trimmed off everything that was free and not under pressure.

The main end of the leader was still in another tree crotch and a large limb was in a smaller tree's crotch.

I wasn't sure the crane would be okay with the other limb, adding it's weight. So i wanted to get it trimmed off.

This limb was under pressure, how much, not totally known, but crane lifted the whole leader some, but I choose to leave the main leader secure in the crotches and we had the butt secured.

I stood in the safest area, above the stuck limb on the backside of the tree. As the cut limb would likely bounce downward for sure, but also might spear forward a little. Also, slight chance of a recipricating bounce back upward if the down bounce was severe.

to release the pressure, put a notch on top, then barely reached under the limb to make the backcut. NO way could I had done this with two hands, I would have had to have my body down in the danger area. Also, I could not have done with a pole saw, as the bar would have gotten stuck because I would not have been able to cut horizontal, straight upward.

a happy ending....

How was I going to cut myself using one hand in that situation?

How might I have gotten hurt using two hands? Very easily, a struck-by, very likely.

 

[theXman]

ignor this attachement, just using it to imbed another diagram in above post.

 

[theXman]

ignor this attachment too, just using it to add another diagram to above post, haven't thought of any other way to store a photo and "steal" it for imbedding.

 

[theXman]

last one. again, ignor, this diagram is in the long post too.

 

[theXman]

Other things that come to mind for safe one hand use:

(Oh, and Daniel said "never on a crane pick" What the freak? I definitely use on some crane picks)

1. When a crane pick or tip tie on a very brittle tree might jolt and rain down limbs and debri on the climber. The climber can retreat to his safe spot a second faster if using one hand to finish the cut.

2. When something is under pressure, nice to get the main body and legs farther away. (again, use pole saw when it makes sense).

3. On a hollow limb crane pick or rigging pick, final cut or one through cut, can be one hand if used right.

4. A huge crown reduction trimming and thinning on a hot day, on say a bradford pear. All cuts away from the climber and the ropes. No legs below the saw area; just in case saw somehow was not able to be controled from falling downward after the cut.

 

[theXman]

thanks RopeSheild

for starting a thread that I feel strong about and felt like i had to contribute, when i really don't have the time. I should have been asleep hours ago, it's 2am and I'm working at 7am. another hot hot day tomorrow, a big chinese chestnut removal amoung some other hanger removals and stump grinding.

Why do I feel strong about such things? Because, if something like "one handing a chainsaw is forbidden in all circumstances", then OSHA or MOSHA might make it a violation (if they haven't already). Then this would put me in violation if I continued to do things the way I see as safe.

 

[jomoco]

Good job X-Man.

Nice diagrams, I need the I-Pad app for diagrams.

Work Safe Guys!

jomoco

 

[Daniel]

[ QUOTE ]
There are plenty of times where one hand gives a safer body position, where as two hands could not get the body or legs far enough away.

In potentially dangerous movement situations, or falling debris; I could likely give about one example a week if you wish; why I used one hand.

How might I have gotten hurt using two hands? Very easily, a struck-by, very likely.

[/ QUOTE ]

Plenty of situations like that from the bucket too.. Just safer to move the bucket as far away from the cut as possible, then reach out and finish the cut with one hand..

 

[bonner1040]

Nice boots x, are those Jomocos wescos?

I willingly concede that storm work presents those situations where we do what we have to to remain safe. Again it isnt the intermittent one handing thats the problem for me, it is the vehement argument that during normal arb operations that there isnt a faster, better way. The argument that production trumps all and that its a requirement for the day to keep moving.

Additionally I agree completely that line clearance are the worst violators. If you can hold it with one hand to cut and chuck you can almost certainly take it down with a handsaw, which yes I hear it already, will cut you... but it wont dismember you.

I can hit my billage of $70-80 per man hour for every hour from the time we get to the shop at 6:30 to the time we leave, including all travel, fuel, maintenance, training and anything else you throw into the day... All with two hands on the saw.

 

[theXman]

Yup, okay.

and those are my Wescos,

 

[Reg]

[ QUOTE ]
Plenty of arborists better than Reg bear scars from an accident that was 100% avoidable had a second hand been where it was supposed to be.

(I'm Ryan Senechal, and I approve this message)

[/ QUOTE ]

Better how Ryan.... if they're the ones with the scars?

Half tempted to post some 'machete wielding' for reference/analysis in the discussion, but clearly you never know who has it in for you, or where the link might end up.

 

[TreeCo]

[ QUOTE ]


Better how Ryan.... if they're the ones with the scars?



[/ QUOTE ]

Great comeback Reg!

 

[BOTS]

[ QUOTE ]
Plenty of arborists better than Reg bear scars from an accident that was 100% avoidable had a second hand been where it was supposed to be.

(I'm Ryan Senechal, and I approve this message)

[/ QUOTE ]

Wow, really, please explain??

why did you bring Reg into this??

 

[Blinky]

Yeah I don't get that either.

But then again, I don't see why we keep arguing this when there is NO possible resolution other than to leave it up to either the individual or the employer.

 

[Treespotter]

[ QUOTE ]
[ QUOTE ]
You all know there is an "ignore this user" button, right?

[/ QUOTE ]

Well thats a bit extreme woulter....why on earth yould you post that? Having alternative or opposing views doesn't make for bad discussion, or bad people for that matter. Would you prefer a 'rigged' game or something?

[/ QUOTE ]

Oops. When I wrote that comment Reg, I was not commenting on your (unread by me) post. The ignore button helped me twice and that was a big relief for me (and probably for the others too). Some people here could do with a little cool down and the ignore button could help here.

 

[Zach]

[ QUOTE ]

I can hit my billage of $70-80 per man hour for every hour from the time we get to the shop at 6:30 to the time we leave, including all travel, fuel, maintenance, training and anything else you throw into the day... All with two hands on the saw.

[/ QUOTE ]

You are my hero. You should set up some seminars and show all other "inexperienced" one handers how to run their businesses/lives/careers. Actually my heros are they guys in this industry who do it and tell it like it is. Not sugar coat and BS their way thru everything trying to come off as superman. Hell they even have the balls to post vids of them proving they know how its done(tree work in general not just one handing). Instead of just yaking online like the armchair arbos that many on this forum are. Good on you guys who knowing how to run a saw safely and properly with one or two hands, and productively to boot. Sure hope I never get to the point where I am terrified of my saw and don't know its limitations or when and where to use it with one hand. It's a skill that is learned thru experience, just like driving your car with one hand at 12 instead of BOTH at 10 and 2 like your driving instructor told you. Anyone who has ever been cut while one handing a chainsaw should not have been using it one handed in that situation or was operating it outside his/her skill level. It's as simple and cut and dry as that.

 

[Climber020]

What gets me is when compared to other situations that are considered OK and safe, one handing a saw on occasion seems far less dangerous. State depending if you have a motorcycle you can rid that thing 60+ MPH with just a pair of shorts and shoes. Sorry but that seems far more dangerous and seen it done one handed. Not only dangerous to yourself but everyone else on the roadway but yet perfectly legal.

Sure there's ways to always cut with 2 hands every time and with 2 tie in points but the practically of it isn't something that seems reasonable at times. You can go rent a crane, lift, bucket or a helicopter or set up multiple climbing lines in other trees but that can be a pretty big added expense on a job that a lot won't pay just so you can make a few cuts that you would have maybe done one handed to keep yourself safe.

 

[Bixler]

020, State depending? What state won't allow you to ride your motorcycle in your bikini or Barefoot?


In Florida, a helmet isn't mandatory, along with Wyoming, and probably other states... but in Oregon they all honk at you when your lane splitting, because of course it's illegal!!! I hope to one day have the choice weather or not to wear a helmet while riding a motorcycle, but for now at least in California that ain't happening.


Climber020, not sure how it's dangerous to everyone else on the roadway for me to ride with only shorts and shoes... one handed even... hell occasionally I'll let go of both hands just to show off. After all, I am the one on the motor bike.


See, I don't ride the same when I'm topless in sandals, as I do when fully geared up head to toe. Similar to using a chainsaw when doing tree-work... which leads me to believe that regulations are in place for people who have a difficult time making their own judgements, something there to keep them safe... and of course to 'make everyone feel better'...

I can see what your saying Climber020... most of the time it's far more dangerous getting to work than the actual job... thanks for the post.

Reg I appreciate the honesty. I'm not sure where this notion of needing to be led, or guided along, has taken such popularity among people in general. There will always be minds that can think for themselves, and minds that can't.

Frax, I appreciate your honesty as well... just one thing you said seems to be a bit over my head... "Two hands 99% of the time just feels better for me and gives me the degree of control I'm comfortable with. I'm not motivated by it being a rule except to the extent an employer would require it."
...it's the second sentence that i'm finding a hard time understanding. Should the employer have the freedom of saying yes or no (to one-handling)... after all it's his comp insurance or image, that may be affected?

Two hands on the saw, unless you choose otherwise!