Re: What kind of protective chaps do you wear?

Frickman · April 11, 2004, 07:25:37 PM

I wear the Stihl ballistic 9 layer nylon with the wrap-around back. When they are new that wrap-around stays in its place, but when they get broke in it wants to drag under your feet. I have a local seamstress sew 3 velcro strips on to hold the wrap-around part up. I showed this to an area Stihl rep one time and he didn't think much of it. On account I was altering it I guess. That area then has two layer of chaps which I think is better than none if that flap is dragging the ground. I'm on my fourth pair right now.

The ballistic nylon works by fraying and jamming the chain and sprocket. I wash them often in a regular washing machine and dry in the dryer. You want to put them in the dryer so it fluffs up the nylon, don't hang them on a line.

Duane_Moore · April 11, 2004, 10:52:51 PM

I wear the 400 Denier pants from Baileys, Duh---Duane

Stan · April 12, 2004, 03:40:51 AM

Plain ol' Forest Service surplus. Just front coverage, not wrap around.

David_c · April 12, 2004, 08:37:29 AM

i have a pair of labonville wrap around chaps that i wear if i'm just out to cut up a few logs but if i am going to be out all day i wear a pair of husky summer pants. definatly cooler than wearing pants and chaps.

woodsjunkie · April 12, 2004, 09:46:19 AM

We really like the ones that Jeff Sikkema @ S&S Saw Shop sells. http://www.snssawshop.com/ Their the same as the Stihl brand p/n 0000-886-3204 without the Stihl logo,, 1000 Denier cordura nylon outer shell, pocket on left thigh, machine washable 44"max waist and 36" long- real nice chaps, perhaps the best...
We highly recommend Jeff he is top notch and carry's every thing he sells in house no second hand waiting time.

tony_marks · April 13, 2004, 03:10:05 AM

workpants with enough patches on top side o the thiegh on each other to make a new pair o pants out of... for me the left leg is the only thing i need protection on.from the chain that is.. i cant remember ever even gettin close to my right leg with the chain..
the left only when im wore out.jmo

beenthere · April 13, 2004, 08:05:36 AM

I remember those days when the patches were covering the worn out left leg of my jeans. Then I tried the chaps (Forestry Suppliers) and thought the same -"never came close to my leg with the chain running, only when it was stopped". But the chaps were great when working in prickly ash, berry bushes and gooseberry.

Out of the clear blue one day (cutting 2" saplings for a clearing), the saw handle caught on a stub and the running chain hit just above the left knee. The day before my big elk hunting trip. It would have been real ugly, had not the chaps kevlar been winding up in the clutch instantly! I broke out in a cold sweat and thanked God that I was wearing the chaps.

Then, with a new pair, a couple years later, I was being chided while on a Lions work day by another Lion about my "chaps" and how I looked like a clown. Then while reaching out to cut into some buckthorn, the bar kicked back and just tapped my left knee cap. I didn't think it came close but did feel the slight bump. Looked down and saw torn kevlar hanging out of the left chap leg. I lucked out again. The Lion giving me a hard time was the emergency truck driver, and he got pretty white, knowing we were a long way from getting any emergency help if I hadn't had chaps on. He said "I am going to buy a pair of those this afternoon!

I wear the chaps all the time when chain sawing. Getting a bit tired of buying new pairs, but what the hey - its better than the alternative, I think. :

Larry · April 13, 2004, 04:03:15 PM

Good story BT.

When I took GOL some years ago our first day was classroom stuff. The teacher told us when we came back for the second session the next day we had to have hard hats, ear protection, and chaps. Out of the ten of us one guy had chaps and two others had hard hats. Mad rush on any of the shops within a 100 miles to get our chaps and hard hats. It was a great group of guys that took the training serious and you could tell in the later sessions that most was using the chaps from the dirt on them. One guy ordered a pair of the Husky summer pants and I got a set little later. Think they provide better protection and a lot cooler in summer as David said.

A couple of guys made improvements? to their hard hats by drilling holes in them for air circulation. They got scolded in training but my hat has been improved also. ;D

tony_marks · April 14, 2004, 05:47:28 AM

yep,, been there.. im not advising folks to do what i do...
best be safe.. now me i likes to go at it ,,without no pants on at all.. gotta watch what gets wraped around the bar tho :D :D.
this my subtle way o bragging ,i mean lieing.

OneWithWood · April 14, 2004, 07:25:42 AM

My sweet wife bought me a pair of Swede sonething-or-other chaps. I wear them all the time I am cutting. The chaps get laundered at least weekly, more if I am cutting daily.
Frickman, I understand why you would not hang the chaps on the line to dry. When you throw them in the dryer do you use heat or just air dry? I just air dry because of the plastic quick connect doogies.

Frickman · April 14, 2004, 09:09:54 AM

OWW, I put them on whatever is low heat. A little heat shouldn't doesn't affect the plastic, just don't put it on full blast.

J_T · April 14, 2004, 09:26:18 AM

I got Sthil saw, chaps and hat don't wash chaps they be more water proof in no time ;D

rebocardo · April 15, 2004, 10:40:13 AM

I got mine from Baileys .. whatever the green ones are ;-D

I got mine long so they wrap around the legs all the way and cover my boots except for the bottom of the laces. I have found these pants to be very nice for the padding effect when doing stump grinding. Really dulls the impact of thrown back rocks.

inspectorwoody · April 15, 2004, 07:22:51 PM

I wore a pair of the 6 ply sthil and cut um so I went and got the 9 ply with the wrap around.

They work! Went out one day to cut down a small ash tree in my backyard and never thought to put them on. I had a pair of jeans and my insulated bibs on...well prob using to big of saw for the size tree but anyway I started cutting and when I pulled the saw out of the notch I come back right across the top of the knee...there went my bibs and my jeans...I was scared to look fearing I had done life altering damage but I got very lucky. I am not left with a scare that reminds me everyday to wear them. People told me not to pick the scab becuse it would scare and I told them "GOOD!" ;) because it is nice having a reminder you are able to live with and know you can still walk.

Went out another day and put on my chaps and this time I caught right up on the thigh...the chaps did their job.

Happy and Safe Cutting!

Gadget

David_c · April 15, 2004, 07:32:18 PM

guy up at the saw shop has a pair of chaps that saved some cutters thigh hanging over his chaps rack. definitly makes a guy take notice. i know i got lucky once with my old 2.3 ci poulan had a kick back got thee holes in my jeans but lucky i was able to pull back in time to save my leg scared the crap out of me. problm is i still cut for several years without chaps or any ppe. the reason for that is i did'nt even know it existed till i was looking to get a real saw at a pro shop. i think that anyone who sells chainsaws should also sell all the ppe.

Frickman · April 17, 2004, 07:32:58 PM

I was at a timber show back in the early 90's where some company, I can't remember who, did a demo on a log with the chaps wrapped over the log. Quick as I got home I got me a pair. They've saved me a few nicks from broken and thrown chains over the years.