One Handing a Top Handle Chain Saw? Yes or No

Private Tree Ordinances, good, bad, or ugly?

  • It's good for the trees and for me

    Votes: 2 15.4%

  • Good for the trees but a pain for me

    Votes: 0 0.0%

  • could be of value but useless in it's present form

    Votes: 1 7.7%

  • a necessary evil

    Votes: 8 61.5%

  • Bad, bad, bad....

    Votes: 2 15.4%
  • Total voters
    13
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I was trained this way always use my felling dogs.

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Good training for all saws.

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Dig them in pray for the best.

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Who do you pray to?

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Even if you use two hands you can never say the saw is not going to bite you!

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You're right...but...two handing is so much safer. After reading many threads and talking with cutters who have gotten cut almost all were one handing. That's enough 'proof' for me :)

You were trained or taught by many people over the years I'm sure. Over time I know that you've changed what you were first taught. Have you learned how to use a new phone, camera, computer? Do you still have points and a carb on your car/truck? I'll bet they're computer controlled. How about setting the blinking clocks? All examples of ways that you're learned to do things the modern way. Why not learn how to use a chainsaw in the modern way too?
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No. Striving for good work positioning where I can get two hands on any saw, continues to make me a better climber. But..... there can be exceptions to any rule.

In the long run, moves that you make, and positions that you grimace through in order to make a cut add up to a lot of subtle trauma to your body. It's important to recognize the short term risks (e.g. saw kickback) as well as the long term (e.g. tendonitis, arthritis, etc.).
 
Removing a large tree I find it safer to place a hand on the tree to help push it over.I never spur in behide the back cut always use top of the bar place back of saw on top of my saddle right hand pulls it in the cut.Doing this it goes from pulling to pushing.If it makes room to push out of the tree then no matter what I'm in for a ride cause my lanyard broke.if it kicks out the back cut its going to be away from I.I even do this when felling trees making the face cut I use both hands but on the back cut do the same if it pushes me back I guess I am going for a ride cause I'll fall back the bar will end up in my chaps.So far never had a kick back plus I don't play around with the no-zone of the bar
 
Anyone else hear crickets?

I feel like it is a skill that is or should be limited to those with the confidence and handling ability to safely use in situations where it is a viable option. Clearly it is the case that most of us have experience situations in which it is the method that is the safest. Having a clear set of defined situations that illuminate the times during which it would be acceptable to make one handed cuts might go a long way to setting the record straight vs. popping a head in the sand.

I almost feel like I'm walking on eggshells even placing an opinion of the technique online...like there is some great arbo-arbiter that sits in a tower and judges the good from the bad, or even that some of my peers might think less of me to know that I think the way I do. But in reality, it is a skill which can be performed properly...and in some situations is the safest way in which to accomplish a job. I feel like citing the 'z' or ISA BMP's and manufaturer's rec's is done mostly with the aim of towing a litigious societies party line.

My .02.
 
In the end, as I've learned through experience, are you willing to take the hit financially? Are you willing to impose that hit on your company, clients, family, fellow employees? Sure you may never get hurt but the cost is high and like the ripples on a pond extent well beyond yourself.
 
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In the long run, moves that you make, and positions that you grimace through in order to make a cut add up to a lot of subtle trauma to your body. It's important to recognize the short term risks (e.g. saw kickback) as well as the long term (e.g. tendonitis, arthritis, etc.).

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Oh, man, you hit the nail on the head there.

-Tom
 
Ya man.
Saturday morning I was one hand crazy plus I worked off a ladder tied off with parachute cord and wire gate biners and no ppe, high as kite with a smoke in mouth
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It was a cheap job so I fit right in
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Truth is I have been much more aware of my positioning and one and two handing. In the end the only thing that matters is if we have shared enought to prevent a serious accident.
Try not to make your guardian angel work to hard!
Knock on wood, with one hand! Or two if you feel like it.
Thanks all!
 
I cant tell you how many times I will do a job and say to myself the guys at the desk should see this Tree,and then show me how with two hands all the time? nonsense, guys you all have experience in trees and know your saws. We are Surgeons Tree Surgeons and when we make a cut we need to be positioned correctly to make the cut and be precise while doing so just like a doctor surgeon when he cuts near your heart! Yes your life depends on it. I know many are not ready to do this yet! You have to be at another level with control and slow down. Sometimes it is the safer way to do a tree then to rope everything or cut with a hand saw all day shaking the pieces when they break unexpectedly. Especially with dead trees over a target. You not roping tiny little pieces all day long and this debate is not about being productive over safety either. It's a matter of control. saw sharpness and rakers properly maintained. positioning and you can use slings to help with not so sure pieces that might slip, turn or just be a bit heavy. I know the standards are there to protect us and to keep us from getting hurt. With the proper training you can become MORE than the standards allow. and doing it safely too! Cut Safe Everybody.
 
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I cant tell you how many times I will do a job and say to myself the guys at the desk should see this Tree,and then show me how with two hands all the time? nonsense, guys you all have experience in trees and know your saws. We are Surgeons Tree Surgeons and when we make a cut we need to be positioned correctly to make the cut and be precise while doing so just like a doctor surgeon when he cuts near your heart! Yes your life depends on it. I know many are not ready to do this yet! You have to be at another level with control and slow down. Sometimes it is the safer way to do a tree then to rope everything or cut with a hand saw all day shaking the pieces when they break unexpectedly. Especially with dead trees over a target. You not roping tiny little pieces all day long and this debate is not about being productive over safety either. It's a matter of control. saw sharpness and rakers properly maintained. positioning and you can use slings to help with not so sure pieces that might slip, turn or just be a bit heavy. I know the standards are there to protect us and to keep us from getting hurt. With the proper training you can become MORE than the standards allow. and doing it safely too! Cut Safe Everybody.

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Well Said!
 
I learned that the fuzzy junk in palm trees is a killer if you are one handing. It catches the chain wrong, and the bar kicks back very sharply. Someone unknowing could have their safety line above their bar while cutting, and cut their line. Two hands on the saw in the palms.

.02
 
I haven't purchased the new ANSI standards manual yet for arboriculture operations, but it says you shall not one hand a chainsaw, unless your EMPLOYER can demonstrate that it is necessary and safer to do so. In my 15 years of tree climbing, I have made maybe 20 cuts single-handed... very rare, but very necessary- especially in certain rigging operations. Always use two hands if you are able to.

SAFETY trumps production- ALL DAY LONG!
 
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I'm one of those bad Arborists that one-hands a lot. There's situations that come up often where I truly believe that one handing is totally acceptable, there are plenty more where it is not. If I were to train someone, it would be 2 handed through and through, but if you become proficient with your top handle saw then you should know what you can do and what you can't.
 
If I think I need to one hand it, I one hand it with a Silky Sugoi. I will often make most of the cut with a chainsaw, then finish it with a handsaw.

I got a "cheap" reminder last year. Was one handing my chainsaw. The thought came to mind: "this is a bad idea" - before I could react and change, it kicked and got my left hand. Clean through leather glove and into the palm of my hand. Fortunately not "stitches deep" (or at least not deep enough that I thought I ought to get them).

2 hands.
 
With a MS200T in the tree I often cut with one hand and catch the cut piece with the other.

Both left and right handed.

I'm trying to imagine the scenario where one handed cutting results in a kickback cut to the palm of the other hand.

Two handed operation is no substitute for knowing where your chain saw bar is in relation to surrounding objects with kickback causing potential.
 
How the kickback got my palm: I removed a larger vertical branch. I was cutting off the stub and was getting ready to push it the direction I wanted it to go with my left hand. Still not sure what caused the kick back. The nose was clear. I think it may have just caught on a hard knot.

But there are plenty of other scenarios where either kickback, something cutting quicker than anticipated, gust of wind catching a branch, etc... can cause it to go wrong.

The first post by @James Howen nailed it: "SAFETY trumps production- ALL DAY LONG!". When I need to catch a piece with the other hand, the cut is done (or finished) with a handsaw. No excuse for 1 handing in my opinion.
 
Just a thought I had while reading this thread: Has anyone tried using a battery-powered reciprocating saw ("Sawzall") with an aggressive blade as a tool in between a chainsaw and a handsaw in both safety and speed? There are some "pruning" blades available (for example https://www.homedepot.com/p/Diablo-...rocating-Saw-Blade-5-Pack-DS0905FG5/203464786), cheaper than a handsaw blade. I've used them for cutting up fallen branches, not as fast as a chainsaw but lower risk profile and faster overall if you're only dealing with smaller quantities of smaller wood. On the whole one-hand debate, I'd imagine a reciprocating saw could be used one-handed more safely than a chainsaw -- it's not going to kick back, and the saw teeth are only on one side of the blade.
 
I've used my cordless recip on special occasions. In more 'surgical' cutting where I couldn't get a handsAw in...included...grafts...crossing

It works but I wouldn't use it as an in-between Saw very often

A good idea! Especially if there were many cuts needed
 
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