What’s your PPE setup when felling large trees?

[Pascal]

Just got some fresh gear for my chainsaw! Now I'm wondering, what's your go-to setup for the tough stuff, like taking down big trees or cleaning up after storms?

 

[benchguy]

That sounds great! When it comes to dealing with large trees and cleaning up after storms, I typically use a 60cc saw with a 20-inch bar and a full chisel chain. I also make sure to wear Kevlar chaps for safety. It really helps to keep everything running smoothly and efficiently.

 

[nwtrees]

After working with very large saws in the late 60"s & early 70"s and owning my private wood lot for 55 years, I have never felt the need for chaps. I do wear arm coverings and an approved helmet with a face screen & ear muffs. When felling large timber, my #1 fear is for my arms/fingers & head/eyes, there is always Murphy lurking with the sneaky barber chair waiting to end your day. I never allow a moving chain near my legs & always trying to keep the power head at arms length. I guess I acquired this years ago when operating big gear drive saws, when the chain stopped, the saw backed out at 70 mph, you better have your legs out of the way!

 

[Alan]

That’s some impressive old-school experience, hats off to you! I'm sure your habits were really forged in the heat of using those big saws and learning tough lessons along the way.

 

[chainsawD4sh]

what's your go-to setup for the tough stuff, like taking down big trees or cleaning up after storms?

for me, I need some robust PPE (hard hat, chaps, glasses, gloves, boots, ear pro), a powerful saw with a longer bar/chain, wedges, a felling lever (or breaking bar), fuel/oil, and a plan to tackle tensioned wood safely by identifying hazards and making controlled cuts (often starting from the top down on bent trees). there's nothing as too much safety for me

 

[Pascal]

That's a great list, and that mindset is spot on. It's definitely the way to go about it.

 

[rhougey]

Just got some fresh gear for my chainsaw! Now I'm wondering, what's your go-to PPE setup for the tough stuff, like taking down big trees or cleaning up after storms?

Sharp, warmed-up saw, hard hat, muffs, face shield, glasses, gloves, boots, wedges, axe, and most importantly, a clear undistracted mind.

 

[Alan]

That’s a great setup especially the part about having a clear mind. No amount of gear can make a difference if you’re not focused. Thanks for the solid overview.