Grover,
Nice picture.
Yes, just like about every one else on here said, I don't think it was one handed saw use that did this either.
Makes me wonder if someone attacked someone with a saw. Appears to be a right arm. Did the person put up the arm to block the saw? Or were they a left handed person, using a big saw and they were wiping the sweat off of their forehead with the right arm and the saw kicked up. (I know a guy that was using a 044, took his left hand off to wipe his face while still cutting full throttle, saw tip touched another log, kicked up and he blocked his face with his hand, cut his hand pretty bad, no permanent hand use injury though).
And Grover, you can't say it doesn't matter how this happened, because you were suggesting if you use one hand, you will end up like this.
You are sick of reading about one handed saw use on this forum. Well, I'm a bit sick of reading about how people like you keep making blanket statements, stating that I have to use two hands at all times and there are no exceptions.
You come off saying right away, Mark and Tom, don't delete this thread.
Well, I guess you planned on getting mouthy from the beginning. Argue your point all you want, but if you want to seriously talk about this, you won't use curse words and directly attack Riggs and MB.
You said you are sick about reading about one handed saw use. But you started this thread and look here. Most of the professionals here are stating that there are times one handed use is okay. But, I guess since they are at times using one hand, they truely are NOT PROFESSIONALS, in your opinion.
I really wonder, are you really a climber? Or, maybe, did you just start? Do you actually work every day in the trees; trimming everything from a thick bradford pear to a long and lanky giant silver maple? Do you do large technical removals?
I like the point someone made about being able to make the right cut only with one handed chainsaw (top-handle) use.
Good point. This is when I use one hand the most. Here's the scenario: Say, properly thinning out a big bradford pear. I try to tie in up high, but the thing is so big and round; the tie in point is so thin, you lash two of the central sprouts together with slings and caribiners for the tie in point. Even still with the tie in as high as possible, when you work out on the horizontal limbs, the angle of the climbing line is becoming so horizontal, that you can't go much further out on the now 1.5" diameter limb, or it will break. You are trying to get out to a "y" junction to trim one of the y's off. Using one hand you can reach the proper cut location and you can make the cut with the correct angle, so that there is no stub. While I am out there, I can also reach three or four other limbs and properly thin them out as well. My chainsaw is far out away from my body, my ropes are far away from the saw and my legs aren't below it either, my legs are way behind me, back on the limb as I am leaning outward with my weight on the climbing line. How else would I make these cuts? I could not go out any further in order to use two hands, because the limb would break. I could maybe use my handsaw, but my 200t has a farther reach. (Plus, from experience, the handsaw causes me more accidents than a chainsaw, cut myself many times with a handsaw, never with a chainsaw, been working in tree care since I was 15 or 16 years old, I'm 33 now, full time climber for 12 years now).
How else could I make those cuts? Pole saw maybe? Put in a redirect and maybe get a foot farther out? Okay... now plan on doing 60 to 100 cuts in this tree, and do all those cuts with two hands only?!.... the trimming time just tripled. Instead of a $500 trim job, it would have to be $1500. Then where are we? out of a job, because we don't get any of our bids.
It's hard enough bidding against someone that bid cheap because they are going to do a real fast topping job, verses our proper thinning.
I not saying do something dangerous, because it will save you time. I do not feel my one handed use is dangerous the way I use it. Not at all dangerous. I am not "evaluating the risk" as others have stated. Using it far out and away from my body, with no rope near it and no legs under it, the saw is being used safely.
I like to see that people are being instructed to use two hands. Because I've seen new climbers trying to use one hand in most of their cutting sitiuations. This is the wrong reason. They are often doing it because they feel it looks like they are experienced and are basically being a "cowboy". Very stupid to use one hand when your other hand is in reach of the saw, or if that hand is not needed for another task.
I don't see how a productive climber with lots of experience can say that one handed saw use can never be used. I just don't see how.
These forums are a good way for people to act like they have experience, when they really aren't. They have SOME climbing experience and have had safty training. With the information they have, they act as though they know everything and try to give advice to everyone.
Reminds me of activist in college. They know a little bit about something, but they can put lots of energy into the "cause" without really knowing everything about it.
I just don't see how you can say one handed use, should NEVER be used.
I think you started this thread, not to honestly discuss this professionally. You did it to start a fight.
And that's fine I guess, maybe you need to get some frustration out.