Worst Handsaw Cut

[Jamin_Mayer]

This happened earlier this summer. I finally uploaded a ton of photos I had on my phone.

Anyhow, my objective was to climb a 65' Ash to cut out one large/dead widow maker. I was about 55' up into the tree. I ascended via foot lock. When I got to my perch, to lanyard in and change over to the DRT, I noticed a 3" diameter stub/jag from wind damage. I decided to cut it (even though it was not my objective).

Well, the cut was above my head, I had a dull saw, I was cutting into dead Ash, and I was in a hurry. My follow through cut was actually so forceful that I cut my upper chin!

I couldn't believe it. Thank fully I had new gloves on, so I had to dab my chin every now and then to finish why I went up there. While I was up there, getting the widow maker out, I had my groundie put the First Aid kit at the base of the tree. So, I cleaned up myself when I got down.

Here is a photo of the gloves.

 

[Jamin_Mayer]

Here is my chin.

 

[Jamin_Mayer]

It could have been really bad in many ways. I could have cut my lips off!

 

[dylanclimbs]

Awwwww, did you hurt your pretty face!?

 

[TreeCo]

That's what you get for using your handsaw with your teeth!




Were you hanging upside down?

 

[Jamin_Mayer]

In order to finish getting the hanger out, I had to invert myself quit a bit, but not fully upside down.

 

[Jamin_Mayer]

So, my point is: be careful of your follow through cuts! Believe, me Dylan. This isn't a whining session.

 

[arborgreen]

im glad it wasnt worse,my handsaw gave me a couple of nicks and when its a hot day an adreline is flowing bloody,bloody

 

[Jesse]

I did something similar this past winter. I was in a hurry pruning a Southern Magnolia on a cold rainy day also with a dull saw. The saw hit me in the chin with a lot of force but it did not rip, only a row of puncture wounds and a little bruise. It scared me, I was sure I was going to get stiches, but got lucky.

 

[Rocks_and_Trees]

Merely a flesh wound. Worst handsaw cut I've seen was a friend who cut his hand, through the glove, skin, and tendons scarring the bone. $10,000 of surgery to reconstruct the tendons in his hand. He's good now and still climbing.

 

[dylanclimbs]

hee, just buggin jamin, ive had my fair share of nicks and close calls with my handsaw. my left shin is very familiar with the teeth of a silky zubat. im right handed

. you'd think i would learn, but it can happen to anyone. has anyone else noticed that they seem to cut themselves more within a week of putting a new blade on? happened to me A LOT. i think it has something to do with getting used to having to use more effort as the saw gets dull. i've gotten better at avoiding those nicks though...i hope

 

[Gerald_Beranek]

During my training in the early 70's a cohort tethered his handsaw on a bungy cord and left it dangling while swinging through a tree. The saw became caught in a crotch, bungy stretched to the hilt, he turned to see what was happening, and the handsaw came loose and hit him in the face from the chin, across the nose and the forehead.

Jamin, you got off easy compared to that guy.

 

[Paul Biester]

that sounds painful!! and like as you turn to look ,in that milli second you see it comin at you and think......oh crap,this is gonna hurt.!!

 

[Jamin_Mayer]

[ QUOTE ]
During my training in the early 70's a cohort tethered his handsaw on a bungy cord and left it dangling while swinging through a tree. The saw became caught in a crotch, bungy stretched to the hilt, he turned to see what was happening, and the handsaw came loose and hit him in the face from the chin, across the nose and the forehead.

Jamin, you got off easy compared to that guy.

[/ QUOTE ]

I'll say. What I had was just a mere flesh wound.

 

[Gerald_Beranek]

After that incident he figured the bungy cord was a bad idea.

 

[tomthetreeman]

[ QUOTE ]
you'd think i would learn, but it can happen to anyone. has anyone else noticed that they seem to cut themselves more within a week of putting a new blade on? happened to me A LOT. i think it has something to do with getting used to having to use more effort as the saw gets dull.

[/ QUOTE ]

I have lots of scars on my kneecaps, always from new saw blades... I believe your theory is correct!

-Tom

 

[Ron]

[ QUOTE ]
...has anyone else noticed that they seem to cut themselves more within a week of putting a new blade on? happened to me A LOT. i think it has something to do with getting used to having to use more effort as the saw gets dull...

[/ QUOTE ]
I think there's something to that. One Thanksgiving I was asked to sharpen our host's knives which I did. An aunt was cutting up some food and cut herself. She got mad at me, claiming the knife was too sharp.

I guess she was accustomed to using dull knifes, just like we may get accustom to dull saws.