Limb Kickback

[Magicman]

Two buddies and I were sawing firewood for a heart patient today.  Really, this was for his next years wood but I had a 20" red oak that really needed to come down.  It had a heavy lean and all of the limbs were on that one side.  Just the kind of tree that will keep you awake.

Down she went but the limbs kept it about 6' off of the ground.  We kept working and got it down to one 6" limb.  I really didn't realize just how much weight was on that limb and how much it it was bent.  I was paying more attention to not binding/pinching the bar and chain than what I should have been paying attention to.  Well, at least I didn't pinch the bar.

When I sawed through, that bent limb caught me squarely on the jaw.  The force propelled me 6-8 feet.  No, I didn't get up too quickly.  I guess that the limb also launched the chainsaw which hit my left shoulder.  Not the chain, but the saw head itself.  I could raise my arm OK then, but it's too sore now.

2" higher and I would have lost teeth.  2" lower and it would have hit in the neck.  As it is, I can hardly eat, and my old mug is sore and swollen.  As bad as it looks and feels, I am thankful that it wasn't worse.



The Magicman's Facelift

[beenthere]

Wow!
Shoulda left those whiskers grow, and hide that mess.
Glad you are so so!  Hope better soon.

[Dan_Shade]

yikes, I'm glad you weren't hurt any worse.

[thecfarm]

That's too bad.Things happen.Glad you are OK.

[doctorb]

If it's OK with you, I wouldn't mind a short break from being the team physician for the FF.  :D   Glad you didn't stick your chin out too far.   Doctorb

[Skiddah]

Scary experience, sorry you had to go through it.  You're right, it could be worse, but it's bad enough as is.  We walk a fine line everytime we work with trees.  It's easy to get a little too comfortable at times with something you do frequently, but if you worry too much, I guess nothing would get done.  I guess the best wisdom from this experience is that at least you're still around to be more careful the next time, right?

[Warbird]

6 - 8'?  That's impressive and scary!  This is proof you are a tough guy, eh?

Sure am glad you are okay.  I still owe you that cup of coffee and you ain't getting out of it. 

[Ron Scott]

Very lucky, that was a hard punch. Glad it was only a "wake up call" and you're ok.

[metalspinner]

That's a close call on a couple of fronts.  Glad you're OK and just a bit sore. 

You should have come up with a good story about defending the honor of Mrs. Magicman in a bar or something like that. "You should see the other guy." :D

[Magicman]

Thanks guys.  Maybe it's time for me to invest in a helmet system?

Chris even let's his Son wear his.

[SwampDonkey]

As Monty would say: "Just a flesh wound". ;D

Won't even notice in 6 months. ;)

[Reddog]

Thanks guys.  Maybe it's time for me to invest in a helmet system?

You still get the marks. Only thing that might help with that hard of blow is a hockey helmet and face shield.
Glad you are no worse for wear.

[metalspinner]

Chris even let's his Son wear his.

He turns into Luke Skywalker when the helmet goes on.

[WDH]

Lynn,

That was too close of a call.  Trees are dangerous creatures.

[Warbird]

Thanks guys.  Maybe it's time for me to invest in a helmet system?

Chris even let's his Son wear his.

This is what I wear:

http://www.stihlusa.com/apparel/protective-head-ear.html

It wouldn't have helped much with where you got hit but I'm very happy with that setup.

[Magicman]

Actually that is the one that I was looking at James.

The more I look back on my accident, the scarier it becomes.  There are so many "what if's".  One foot closer,?  A few inches higher, crushed skull.  A few inches lower, broken neck.  My feet landed 54" from where I was standing.

[Paul_H]

What if your parents never met?
It doesn't help to dwell on things,rather learn from the experience and move onward.What if's can lead to an unhealthy fear.

[Magicman]

Which is why I'm going to invest in a bit more head protection and keep on keeping on.  We've all gotta learn from ours and other's mistakes.

[Paul_H]

Remember that a helmet wouldn't have helped in this case and you could have just as easily have been implaled by a sharp limb when you landed on the ground or had your neck snapped like a twig by the limb.

[Holmes]

That is a scary accident,I hope you feel well soon. I took my first GOL class Saturday what an eye opening experience that was.The instructor told a lot of stories about injuries.We would all be better off with good safety equipment and to use it, and to invest in the GOL classes.  They are in investment in our future health and well worth it. Magicman I wish you a quick recovery.   Holmes

[jdtuttle]

wow close call. I have sawn firewood most of my life. When I bought my sawmill & started cutting more I took a chainsaw safety class. Even old dogs can learn new tricks ;) I wear a safety helmet, chaps & good boots whenever I saw. We don't mend as fast as we used to.
jim

[saltydog]

i am a one eyed logger thanks to a springpole. i was 19 years old  flipped up my screen on my helmet to pile some ceader post .flipping a post over a top dislodged a bent pole only 1 inch caught me in the center of my right eye .that was all it took tore my eye now im a one eyed logger. its dangerous out there. safty equipment only does so much.

[RSteiner]

Glad you didn't get hurt worse!

My neighbor cut down a large white pine one day on a bit of a side hill and the top of it hung out over a small drop off.  He had limbed out most of the tree as he cut one of the last branches on the down side of the tree he didn't see a branch that was down in the depression. 

The next thing he knew he was on his back on the ground a good 10 feet from the tree and his head hurt.   He never saw the tree roll and the branch caught him right across the cheek just under his eye.  The hit was hard enough to break the bone under his eye and fracture part of his jaw.

Randy

[nas]

They do fight back sometimes .  Glad your OK MM

Nick

[Magicman]

Thanks guys for the concern and advice.  It actually looks worse now cause it's black, blue, and green.  The rain has given me some down time.   ;)

[Raider Bill]

I couldn't help but notice that is NOT a FF hat in the picture.

[Magicman]

That 25th anniversary WM hat matched my shirt.  I don't wear the FF hat when hurting.   

[Burlkraft]

WOW MM...I just saw this  : : :

You are one lucky Dude!!

That's kinda what my backside looked like after I fell from the tree.

That will be sore for a while.

When guys ask I would say ,"My wife did it!"  ;D ;D ;D

[Magicman]

Chin feels better and now the arm is changing colors to green and it's not quite as sore.

[Jeff]

I'm thinking an apology is in order for Burlkraft saying your face looks like his backside.  ;) :D

[beenthere]

 :D :D

And what guys saw his backside? I didn't see any pictures either.  : :

MM
That arm at least looks sore.

[Burlkraft]

:D :D

And what guys saw his backside? I didn't see any pictures either.  : :

MM
That arm at least looks sore.

All ya hadda do was ask  :D :D :D

[Patty]

Oh thanks for THAT mental picture guys!  ;D ;D

[Jeff]

HUMPH! I particularly. Recall being told NOT to ask for a picture.

[WDH]

I almost posted a snappy retort, then thought better of it and hit the "back" button.  Not the "backside button"  .

[Magicman]

I thought about looking in the mirror, but I really didn't know what to compare my mug with.  My imagination wouldn't go there.

[Jeff]

Well, now I got this image of burlkraft turning, and looking back in the mirror saying "Well hello there magicman!"

[beenthere]

 :D :D :D :D :D

[Dan_Shade]

I sure hope magicman has a good sense of humor!

[doctorb]

He may have Ed Zachary disease!

His face looks Ed Zachary like his A**! :D :D 

Just goofin'

[nas]

Wow that was definitely a doctor joke ;)  I speak from experience as my dad and my wife's dad are both doctors.  (don't ask how I ended up being a dumb wood guy ???)

Nick

[Magicman]

There's gotta be a picture of Burl's butt er face in this book somewhere. 




I've got the pattern right here.  Where oh where  ???

[Jeff]

 :D :D :D :D :D :D

[fishpharmer]

He may have Ed Zachary disease!

His face looks Ed Zachary like his A**! :D :D 

Just goofin'

MM please stop there. :

[Banjo picker]

MM I am sorry to find out about your incident...I know this post is several days old, but I just opened it tonight...hope you are feeling better soon....Tim

[customsawyer]

He will be all right once the paper work is done. ;D

[Banjo picker]

OK  ....I hate to laugh about a post about a bonk on the head , but that was well timed... and the MM did put that in there... ;)  Tim

[beenthere]

This morning while cutting trees I was thinking about Magicman when I dropped the ash tree and it pulled over a 4-5" hickory tree, pinning the top of it underneath the ash.
Carefully worked around the hickory top, and then released it. Ka Pow!!
Sprung up at just enough angle to clip the brim of my hard hat and send it sailing. That was close. Missed the chin, nose, and glasses.  : :

[Jeff]

We're not going to have to see a picture of you almost sitting on a toilet are we?

[Magicman]

 Almost ??    :D :D :D :D :D :D

[WDH]

MM,

Neither case was almost in your case  . 

[sandhills]

Man, I'd love to have a bathroom with a veiw just like yours  ;D.  All jokes aside I hope you're feeling better everyday, that was one serious wack that could have been a whole lot worse!

[Magicman]

Thankfully, this thread hasn't gotten to food.

Seriously, my purpose was to refresh our minds regarding the dangers of our occupations, jobs, and hobbies. Beenthere's close call is a case in point.  If we remember other's mistakes, maybe we can prevent or, at least, minimize injuries.  

[Kevin]

I've only been whacked once in the face by a spring pole and my face shield took all the impact.
Walked away unscathed but the shield was badly dented.
I never cut without it.

[Ron Scott]

Thankfully, a near miss.

[Chuck White]

Hey MM;  Just noticed this thread.

Boy, you've got some kinda kisser there.   I'm really glad it wasn't worse.

Sounds like you're on the mend though.

Us older folks need to take it easy, at least once in a while.

[Magicman]

Us older folks need to take it easy, at least once in a while. 

Looks    like we need to take our own advice.   ;)   

[Chuck White]

Exactly what I was thinking too!  ;) ;) ;)

[SwampDonkey]

Ok, but don't start comparing and displaying battle scars.  :D 

[Banjo picker]

 



Sorry about that SD...Guess I don't take direction too well. :D  ...and that was after the initial cleanup...Tim

[Magicman]

Off hand, I would agree that your description was correct:  "bonk on the head".

[Banjo picker]

After I took that lick on the head I promised Debbie that I wouldn't cut any thing down without a hard hat ...the other day I forgot it ..I was in the back on the rtv with 2 saws and when I realizied I didn't have the hat, I just came back to the house...A hard had would have saved most of that I think...Tim

[Magicman]

I guess even us hard heads need hard hats.   ;D

[Bill Gaiche]

MM that makes me hurt. Glad you are ok and able to make the post and a photo.  Its a good reminder to all of us that working with wood in any way can be dangerous. So the next time we pick up a saw or what ever, we can now have a mental picture of what can happen or worse. Could have been caused by a downed elk that had one last kick from that hind leg. bg

[Burlkraft]

Ouch Tim....That hurt I'll bet  :  :

I hope I don't have a pic like that to post anytime soon  :D  :D  :D

[Banjo picker]

I don't guess I should of put that on here, but I just learned how to post pics after 2 years of trying and I guess I got carried away...that pic was after Debbie had already done the initial clean up...Hard hats are us from now on...Tim

[Magicman]

Tim, if your story and picture will make one person stop and get his safety gear, then all is well.  Thanks for posting it.

[Norm]

Tim it was a good reminder to us all what can happen when safety gear is not used.

[submarinesailor]

This thread reminds me of a semi-funny story/incident that happened to me onetime while we were handling some special weapons many years ago.

I was supervising the handling of some special weapons on-board my last submarine in the early 80's, when I turned around and bumping my head on a piece of aluminum stair case.  This piece of stair case was part of the building that is placed onboard the submarine for security and space conditioning while handling these weapons.  It had corroded and broken loose leaving a sharp corner.  I thought that I had just "bumped my head" and didn't think anything about it.  Just after I went back inside the building, one of the workers looked up at me and his eyes got real big and he asked my about the blood down my neck and uniform.  I looked down and there it was, blood all down my left side - you guys know just how bad head cuts can bleed.  Well........Just after I got a paper towel and was wiping it off my neck and head, the captain of the boat walks into the security area.   Now just picture it; blood all over his Nuclear Weapons Handling Supervisor, inside a special weapons security area, a special weapon hanging on a chain-fall while being moved and the old man steps in to the security area.  Took a few minutes to calm him down and tell him it was just a deep scratch and that I would be OK until the weapon was in place and properly mounted.  He wanted to call away a nuclear weapons security violation and that would have brought EVERYTHING to a stop for HOURS.

About 10 years later when he came to Richmond to officiate over my retirement, we had a long good laugh about it about the look on his face when he saw the blood on me.

You just never know when a little bump/cut can be a big thing.  

Bruce

[Burlkraft]

That's a good story Bruce  ;D

[Raider Bill]

I like that "special weapon" :D :D

[JIM GORMLEY]

Glad you are ok. I still have the jagged scar on my left pinky from 20 yrs. ago. Reminds me everytime I pick up a chainsaw that kick back is not my friend!

[Magicman]

And, Welcome to the Forestry Forum JIM GORMLEY.   

[lumberjack48]

Wood cutting,  3 thd generation logger,  I was a owner operator for 36 yrs, when you leave home in the morning you have no idea what that day might bring you. I left home on Feb, 8 1989, 20 below 0, about 57- wind chill, working against all my rules. I had a block that had to be done in so many days. Will i didn't go home that night, at about 4 pm a tree hit me, broke my neck. They took me to Duluth ER, 120 mile trip in a ambulance, i was home 3 months later, a quad, the wife had to feed me the first year. I didn't have any insurance so its really been tough, it really gets tough this time of year, theirs no money to buy Christmas presents for grand children, at least I'm with them.
The wife kept the job going on till 96, but we couldn't find good help anymore.

[beenthere]

Ouch!
Makes a hit on the noggin a whole different story.
Thanks for telling how it could be.
You sound like a real fighter as well as your wife.

Am glad you can spend time on the forum.
Merry Christmas and do enjoy the grand children.  8)

[SwampDonkey]

Thanks for telling your story lumberjack48. Others may benefit if they just look out for number one before anyone else in these operations. I know some of the brow beaters are always pushing production. But, a person's safety has to take a front row seat when risk of injury is higher than in many jobs.

Glad you are among us as I'm sure your family is. Them Christmas gifts aren't all the important. I don't bother much with gifting myself.

[Patty]

Your family is much more important than a silly gift one picks up at WalMart.  Share your love with them, that is a gift they will keep with them forever.  ;)

[clww]

*DanG! I'm glad you're OK, but I'll bet that did hurt!
I always say it doesn't matter how small the tree is, they're out to get you!