iDRY Vacuum Kilns

Sponsors:

Drop start

Started by bandmiller2, April 29, 2009, 05:43:01 AM

Previous topic - Next topic

0 Members and 1 Guest are viewing this topic.

bandmiller2

How many put the saw on the ground ,step in the handle ,to start.??Most of the people I've seen that use saws for a living just drop the saw as they pull the rope up.Is it as dangerous as the manuf. would lead you to believe.??I've always drop started and are none the worse for wear.Frank C.
A man armed with common sense is packing a big piece

Jeff

That's the way I always used to do it (drop start). Could never get my boot in the handle to start it the other way.  Kevin cured me of the drop start method by showing me how to tuck the saw between by knees and pull starting it. Drop starting was killing my decrepit shoulders, and the method Kevin showed me is low impact and works well for me.
Just call me the midget doctor.
Forestry Forum Founder and Chief Cook and Bottle Washer.

Commercial circle sawmill sawyer in a past life for 25yrs.
Ezekiel 22:30

Ed

Depends on the saw.
A warm saw or one that fires up quick will get drop started, otherwise I'll set the saw on the ground. My feet are obviously smaller than Jeffs, I can put one in the handle.  :D

Ed

Kevin

There may have been accidents which caused the manufacturers to advise against drop starting, the bar usually gets tipped towards the left leg and the potential is there to have your leg cut when the saw starts.
Using the brake would reduce the hazard .
The safety groups advise against it.
My larger saws get started on the ground when cold, either with a knee on top of the saw or a boot on the handle.
Once warm the start easily locked between the legs as Jeff mentioned.

John Mc

I use the between the knees method Jeff mentioned. Actually, for me the rear handle area gets tucked under the inside/back of my right thigh with my right leg bent a bit at the knee, and held in place with the front of my left thigh. Left hand on the front handle, right hand pulls the starter cord. This makes a bit of "offset"... so if it's stiff or jams, it just pulls up against my right thigh, rather than other, more painful places.

This works for me for all but the most stubborn cases... for those, the saw gets put on the ground.

John Mc
If the only tool you have is a hammer, you tend to see every problem as a nail.   - Abraham Maslow

sprucebunny

Maybe my smaller saws have smaller handles but my steel toe boots don't fit in them, so it's drop start for me.

The knee thing is awkward and awkward seems dangerous.( This might be because I'm shorter)
If I have a real problem getting a saw going, a piece of board thru the handle and stand on that works sometimes.
MS193, MS192 and an 026  Weeding and Thinning. Gilbert Champion sawmill

Maineloggerkid

When my saw is warm, I drop start it. When it is cold, I sometimes use the leg lock. With the chain brake on, I don't see too much danger in the drop start method.
JD 540D cable skidder, and 2 huskies- just right.   

Loggers- Saving the world from the wrath of trees!

John Mc

Quote from: sprucebunny on April 29, 2009, 08:30:56 AM
Maybe my smaller saws have smaller handles but my steel toe boots don't fit in them, so it's drop start for me.

My boots don't fit either... though some saws have a wide spot on the handle that I can step on if I'm standing on the clutch side of the saw.

QuoteThe knee thing is awkward and awkward seems dangerous.( This might be because I'm shorter)
If I have a real problem getting a saw going, a piece of board thru the handle and stand on that works sometimes.

The knee thing is taught by various chainsaw safety courses, such as the "Game of Logging". Once you get used to it, it's pretty secure.

That board through the handle idea is a good one. One of those things I wonder why I never thought of.
If the only tool you have is a hammer, you tend to see every problem as a nail.   - Abraham Maslow

beenthere

Drop start for me.

Drop start is easiest for me, and uses both arms to separate the saw from the starter rope handle.  i.e. less individual arm movement.
 
I use the toe in the handle when I am at the 'game-of'logging' class
south central Wisconsin
It may be that my sole purpose in life is simply to serve as a warning to others

chevytaHOE5674

When the saw's are cold I start them on the ground and let them warm up. Once warm I put the rear handle between the legs and start that way.

Watched a guy saw into his left leg while walking and doing a drop start. That was the end of drop starting for me.

Be safe.

beenthere

Walking while drop starting will add a new dimension to the game.  ::) ::)
:) :)
south central Wisconsin
It may be that my sole purpose in life is simply to serve as a warning to others

chevytaHOE5674

I say walking, but it was more like just one step forward...start.... 10 steps to the truck and the hospital.

ErikC

  I drop start a lot, but with bigger saws would rather rest the bar on a log or stump. I think outright drop starting is kinda hard on the recoil. Especially when warm, one pull and off you go. I also use the brake most of the time.  As far as "approved methods" I prefer the between the knees hold to putting the saw on the ground with my foot in the handle.
Peterson 8" with 33' tracks, JCB 1550 4x4 loader backhoe, several stihl chainsaws

bandmiller2

Anyone got a picture of that leg lock thing,all i can think of is the handle sliding up my leg with evil intentions.Frank C.
A man armed with common sense is packing a big piece

Maineloggerkid

^^^^^^^ Been known to happen, hehe. :D

One downfall to that start method.
JD 540D cable skidder, and 2 huskies- just right.   

Loggers- Saving the world from the wrath of trees!

GASoline71

Dropstart every saw I have ever run... with one exception... my Homelite 770G.

When I ran an 076 with a 41 inch bar way back when... I would just rest the bar on a stump or a log, and drop start it.

Gary
\"...if ya mess with the bull... ya gets the horn.\"

beenthere

Bandmiller
How often that happens depends on how fast a learner one is.   ;D ;D
south central Wisconsin
It may be that my sole purpose in life is simply to serve as a warning to others

Al_Smith

Behind the knee is a good way for a midsize saw .Bumblebees start easy on a drop .A large saw with a long bar is next to impossible to drop safely .

OneWithWood

For the first start of the day I place the saw on the ground and hold it with my foot.  Every start after that I hold it with my knees.  Holding it between your legs is actually quite confortable and stable.  The only drawback is when I am starting one of the saws without a compression release (038 and 440) and the pull handle gets ripped out of my hands when it coughs and doesn't start (rare but it happens).  That hard rubber handle can really hurt when it bounces off your jewelry  :o
One With Wood
LT40HDG25, Woodmizer DH4000 Kiln

GASoline71

Quote from: OneWithWood on April 29, 2009, 04:59:32 PM
The only drawback is when I am starting one of the saws without a compression release (038 and 440) and the pull handle gets ripped out of my hands when it coughs and doesn't start (rare but it happens).  That hard rubber handle can really hurt when it bounces off your jewelry  :o

Bring the saw up on the compression stroke, and then pull... you will find that it makes non-compression release saws a lot easier to start without the "kick" when it misses.

Gary
\"...if ya mess with the bull... ya gets the horn.\"

Jeff

Quote from: bandmiller2 on April 29, 2009, 02:24:25 PM
Anyone got a picture of that leg lock thing,all i can think of is the handle sliding up my leg with evil intentions.Frank C.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=yrilvSPlhv0
Just call me the midget doctor.
Forestry Forum Founder and Chief Cook and Bottle Washer.

Commercial circle sawmill sawyer in a past life for 25yrs.
Ezekiel 22:30

John Mc

It may be hard to see from the angle of the video from Jeff's post, but I believe the saw handle is actually on the inside of his right thigh, rather than "right up the middle". Note also that the saw is tilted slightly to the right (as seen by the person holding the saw). This gives a better angle for the pull, and also seems to help keep the handle from sliding up (the bit of tilt makes the handle take up more space so it can't slide up as easily). Obviously, you want to keep your legs fairly close together...

If the only tool you have is a hammer, you tend to see every problem as a nail.   - Abraham Maslow

Kevin


Al_Smith

Quote from: OneWithWood on April 29, 2009, 04:59:32 PMThe only drawback is when I am starting one of the saws without a compression release (038 and 440) and the pull handle gets ripped out of my hands when it coughs and doesn't start (rare but it happens).  That hard rubber handle can really hurt when it bounces off your jewelry  :o
I have a ported 038 mag that can come back on you hard .The worst I've ever had in my life though is a 2100 Huskey that would nearly rip the fingers off your hand and it's bone stock  .That one now has a d handle on it . Cold start on that one is on the ground .

madhatte

I always use the knee lock method.  Works every time and doesn't risk either kickback or back strain. 

Thank You Sponsors!