Chainsaw boot test

nick

There was an article in one of the arb mags recently about an arborist who cut through to his toes while wearing chainsaw-protective boots - the same boots I wear and provide for my employees.

An advert in the next issue responded to this with reassurance.

Then a friend showed me this video:

YouTube - Chainsaw Boot Test

I think this issue deserves clarification from those in the know.
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Tree Surgeon Manchester

Sean Freeman

Nick thats a very good vid, thankyou for posting it.....remember however that the kevlar (or similar) wadding is only in the tongue of the chainsaw protective boot, so it is possible to cut through the edge of your big toe, of your little toe some way before the sprocket gets clogged. CS protective boots should provide adequate protection in the case of a saw cut as demonstrated in the vid dropped in from above hitting the end of the padded tongue.

In the end as I'm sure you're well aware the best form of protection from injury comes from our work practices not the PPE. Also just as an aside some of the saws we run would go through the steel cap with no bother too!!!

nick

Sean, you`re dead right - about the safe working bit.

I was just surprised by the difference.

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Tree Surgeon Manchester

Sean Freeman

Hmmm.......looks like I might be a little behind the times and have to write a small retraction!!!! All the boots I have ever had any dealings with only had protective chainsaw jamming materials in the tongue...it has been pointed out to me that in fact there are a number of CP boots that have cut resistant materials woven into the sides and back of the boot, also there is an American patent on an internal sock (for want of a better word) woven from kevlar that should when worn inside the boot provide some protection.

Apologies to any boot manufacturers out there for my limited experience of more advanced CP boots.

Therrin

I use a composite box-toe boot... which, incidentally, doesn't conduct electricity, and doesn't turn your toes ice-cold in the winter time.


I'd have been happier with the videa if the guy who was *trying* to cut the steel toe actually got a little aggressive and made it look like he was *actually* trying to cut the steel toe, instead of limp wristing it and letting it just slide off. Just my take on it.

I agree that PPE only goes so far, the way you work and being aware of the end of your bar are more important. Can't say I've ever nicked my boots before.

Eric Frei

I nicked my boot on the steel cap a while ago ... tore the leather that's all, but had to buy new boots eventually as the tear grew and the patch wouldn't stay put.

I dont have protection in the boot though.

Are there any for sale here? Ones we can try on? I haven't found them around these parts.

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Quintrex

I've seen them in the stihl and husky catalogues, but don't know how avavailable they are here.

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Heightmaster

TREEMONKEY

Hi i have a pair of royer chainsaw protective boots they are water proof too the top sturdy and the most comfortable boot i have ever war. i do everything but climb with the boots undone they still offer more support then any boot i have ever warn.

http://www.lproyer.com/en/nou_com.asp?annee=2003

i have climbed with the same pair for 3 years and might buy a new pair because my spur strap is starting to get uncomfortable after 2 hrs but was not till the last 3 months and i do a lot of removals.

These boots are expensive about 325$ canadian but worth every cent

newguy18

i usually buy bramha boots.25 to 50 bucks a pair with or without steel caps but they usually last me 9 months and it seems no matter what i do my boots catch hell.You can get them at any walmart.

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old schooler

azrael

"without steel caps"???........................
Youre joking...right?

newguy18

I saidthey are avavliable with or without them.I've worn boots with and without steel caps so I'm kinda about even.

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Therrin

Mmmmm.... I love my boots =)

Matterhorn's, 10" upper, 300gram thinsulate lined, composite toe, hand sewn.

I got them while working bodyguarding in chicago and opted for the composite toe to keep my toes from freezing. They fit like a glove...

So far they're right up there in my favorites with my older pair of Danners.


Newguy, I used to wear those Brahma's, from walmart. Only problem is, they assume that if you wear a men's size 15, that your foot is super wide! Which isn't always the case. Finally had to stop wearing them, was like wearing boxes on my feet. Danner's and Matterhorn's are less likes boxes, mmm, more like skiis =)

Wackamole

Steel-toed boots are a godsend, and are great things to have- until your chainsaw misses the toe cap (which doesn't cover very much area, when you think about it). In less than the blink of an eye, my chainsaw shot forward and basically rolled over my foot- and I mean, it happened in an inth of a second. When the chain caught the edge of the steel cap it bounced away (thankfully), but not before it cut completely through the tough leather boot, completely through tendon, and down to bone. I should have thought to take a photo before surgery, but here's the aftermath.....

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Eric Frei

Yikes!

That's bad. Thanks for sharing though but dang it must have hurt plus taking the boot and sock off. OUCH.

What's that steel pin or something in the end of the toe all about?

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FlashD

WOW! Looks like you just about lost your biggie there.

stirmantrees

yikes. glad its still attached. thanks for sharing

Wackamole

Ouch doesn't even begin to accurately describe it!

As soon as the saw hit, I looked at my boot (figuring that, as quickly as everything happened, it must have just shot across the surface and not done any real damage to the boot). But I saw that it had cut all the way through the thick leather, and into the padding of the boot itself. So I turned the saw off, sat down, and flexed the sole to open up the gap in the leather- and saw nothing but blood and what appeared to be hamburger and skin.

So I immediately removed the boot and sock (before the shock wore off), and saw that it looked worse than it did before- and immediately told my girlfriend that I need: 1)A Ziplock bag with ice in it, 2)A large clean towel, 3)a plastic grocery bag, and 4)be taken to the hospital.

The surgery took 45 minutes to repair what I'd done in literally a fraction of a second, and they had completely put me under. I can tell you that cleaning out all of the wood chips, etc. was not fun at all (the first part done while I was conscious, the more thorough cleaning while I was under).

The pin is there to keep my large toe pulled up and back, to reduce the stress on the upper tendon, so that the stitching can heal without being pulled. But it now pulls the tendons under the ball of my foot, and it hurts. The pin will be there for 6 weeks (I am NOT looking forward to the removal of the pin, as much as I hate it being there). I get the stitches out on December 8- not looking forward to that, either.

And I'm not looking forward to the physical therapy after the pin comes out, to stretch out the upper tendon, etc.

I AM hoping that none of the flesh dies off- the damage was pretty severe. It's kind of hard to tell right now, as there is a lot of bruising. But so far nothing smells funny, or feels funny. So, I've got my fingers crossed. Any extra crossed fingers or prayers would be greatly appreciated!

But the main reason I posted this- the pics, and my experience- is so that hopefully I can prevent at least one person from going through what I'm going through. I'm out of work, this hurts, it sucks to not have full mobility (you'd be surprised even how sore the palms of your hands get from using crutches!), the experience and surgery, etc. absolutely sucks, and there is a lot more suckiness coming my way in the next couple of months- all because I didn't invest in proper footware (thought steel-toe boots would be enough).

So, the moral to the story- believe me when I tell you, it's MORE than worth the relatively small investment in PROPER footwear to protect your feet from chainsaws. And don't stop with just tough boots, or steel-toed boots. Get footwear tested and approved for chainsaws. It took a very tiny fraction of a second for my saw to do this to my foot- don't think that your feet are any more indestructible than mine are. Chances are, you'll probably be okay. But what happens if you run out of chances? In hindsight, I would gladly have paid several hundred bucks to prevent this. I'm paying a lot more than that now, and that's not even including the pain factor.

Oh, and just in case you're wondering, I've been cutting trees for, oh, well over 25 years. Though I'm not a "professional" woodcutter, I am experienced, and I've even gone so far as to read up and study on the proper methods & safety precautions on felling & cutting trees.

Good luck out there, folks, and be SAFE!


-Scott

stirmantrees

its amazing how fast it happens. bamm, in the blink of an eye, your cut, and at first its like no i didn't. i cut my hand real good, needed the whole put the nerves back together operation. and i sliced my leg pretty good as well.
what were you cutting?

FlashD

Two summers ago I watched a friend put a chainsaw in his leg. My eyes were on him the entire time and I didn't even see it happen, it happened so fast. Believe me, I got to see enough of what a chainsaw can do to you flesh for the next 30 minutes as I held the chainsaw in his leg and held him up while waiting on the EMTs to show up. Chainsaws are tricky things. They require a lot of attention and a lot of preperation.

Eric Frei

If you look just under your name I added a custom user title.

Toe Cutter was famous in Mad Max, but he died in a spectacular way.

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Apocalypsse

I hope my new boots are steel capped and not composite... I looked at chainsaw boots but they look like goth boots and have a rather large price tag on them which I just cant justify atm.

Wackamole

"Toe Cutter"- LOL!!!

At the time I was cutting a very large cottonwood, using my large Husqvarna saw with a 20-inch bar, and a brand-new Carlton chain I had just put on.

Speaking of which- and this isn't a plug, really, but of all the chains I've used, I now swear by those Carlton chains! I cut through two very large, green locust trees, and that darn chain will just go through it like a hot knife through butter (even more so through the cottonwood). Also found out that it will go through heavy leather boots and feet like a hot knife through butter, too!

I know they make specialized trousers as well, which are designed to defeat the ravaging chainsaw chains- I might have to consider getting a pair of those, too. But I'm definitely up for a pair of boots!

Someone remarked that the boots look like goth boots and are frightfully expensive. A quick search brought up this-



A 10" Matterhorn boot, with advertised features:

Matterhorn Mens 10” Waterproof Leather UL® Chainsaw Boot

Boot Features:
Waterproof/Breathable GORE-TEX® Bootie
Water-Resistant, Breathable Full Grain Leather
7 Layers of Kevlar® Insulating Lining for Cut-Resistant Saw Jamming
Cambrelle® Breathable Moisture Wicking Lining
”Scuffy High Abrasion Tip”
Shock Absorbing Polyurethane Midsole
Para Shank
Vibram® Kletterlift Outsole
Stainless Steel Bottom Plate and Steel Safety Toe: Meets ASTM F2413 Standard for Protective Footwear

Boot Specifications-

Style:12277

Outsole:Vibram® Kletterlift


And for $277.95, that sure looks like cheap insurance to me. Being out of work, paying for deductibles, the pain associated with the accident (plus it could have been a whole lot worse)- hell yeah, I'll go for the $277.95 any day.

-Scott
(AKA, Toe Cutter)

Galbee

ive worn the tremme aquastop boots for three years and love them they are not as bulky as they look.

and you can get studs for them for slippery terrain

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In the land of the blind, the man with one eye is king

Eric Frei

So I cant wear these anymore when chainsawing like I see all those other people doing on TV after a storm? Saw one guy on a roof wearing them and chainsawing!

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stirmantrees

as long as you wear osha approved chainsaw toe chaps your fine.

spartek

Hope you heal up soon, and thanks for sharing that. You definately got me thinking. What kind of cutting were you doing (bucking or bumping)??? I always try to think of where the bar might go on every cut,and always try to cut with the bar in the middle of a spread stance.