What protection do chainsaw gloves offer?

[Woodworks]

I only use the saw for cutting the farm hedges and firewood production and have dutifully worn chainsaw gloves since I did a CS 30/31 some 15 years back. Now I have never really understood what protection the gloves offer. I have just done a quick google and realised that what I thought was padding in the back of the left glove is anti cut protection. How on earth does a saw come into contact with the back of the left hand? and do the gloves protect me any other way?

Sorry if there is a very obvious answer but I would like to understand why I spend so much on gloves that only last such a short time.

[Bob Rolfe]

The obvious answer is non due to the fact you can't use them using chainsaws safely ... There to big you can't use the buttons quickly

 

 

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[normandylumberjack]

I have always thought that its there if the chain snapped or derailed. I think that the padding effect would buy you a split second in activating the chain brake in the event of a kickback too.

[AA Teccie (Paul)]

Gloves have additional benefits of keeping hands warm, thereby reducing the effects of vibration, and protecting the hands from cuts / scatches etc.

 

The updated AFAG 301 requires gloves to be worn but they don;t have to be chainsaw gloves and, as mentioned above, some of them are quite cumbersome and reduce the ability to hold the saw firmly, particularly the old leather hyde ones when wet, and operate the 'on-off' switch effectively.

 

It's the good old Risk Assessment approach that dictates, which gloves, and yes "if any" in some situations, should be worn.

 

Remember the gloves with chain 'clogging' material on the back of the left hand pre-date front hand gaurds and chainbreaks and hence did have a place. (That said I've never met anyone yet who has cut themsleves here by contacting the chain, even in kick-back or if it breaks.)

 

Please do wear 'suitable' work-gloves as the long-term effects of HAVS can be quite debilitating.

 

Cheers..

Paul

[Stubby]

I have always thought that its there if the chain snapped or derailed. I think that the padding effect would buy you a split second in activating the chain brake in the event of a kickback too.

 

Its not actually padding . Its ballistic material same as in your trousers . Should you get a kick back and the saw spin back and catch your left hand the material should jam around the sprocket and stop the chain . Having said that I have never seen it happen .

[Craig Johnson]

short answer, very little if any chain saw protection. i think most gloves are class 0 (16m/s) so ok on a small electric saw!

Edited February 20, 2013 by Craig Johnson

[normandylumberjack]

Its not actually padding . Its ballistic material same as in your trousers . Should you get a kick back and the saw spin back and catch your left hand the material should jam around the sprocket and stop the chain . Having said that I have never seen it happen .

 

Sorry should have been more clear in the effect that the blastic material has, being that it's thicker than a normal glove so contacts the chain brake sooner than a non balistic padded glove or bare hand in the event of a kickback, as a bonus feature, not as its primary role ie; cut protection.

[AA Teccie (Paul)]

Hi all,

 

Sorry...PLEASE don't get 'hung up' on the chain/cut protection value of gloves. They keep your hands warm and when you're old an frail, and working for the Arb Assoc, you'll wish you wore them.

 

IF you're really flush, 'heated handles' are well worth it too

 

Take care out there..

Paul

[Sussex Groundie]

I have got a pair of "chainsaw gloves" from Lidl £9.00! but prefer to use the Lidl red or blue work gloves £6, all rated for scuffs, cuts, padding over the knuckles on both hands, much better feel when using saws or strimmers.

[Stubby]

Sorry should have been more clear in the effect that the blastic material has, being that it's thicker than a normal glove so contacts the chain brake sooner than a non balistic padded glove or bare hand in the event of a kickback, as a bonus feature, not as its primary role ie; cut protection.

 

Ah , Got yer !