How Do Chainsaw Chaps Work? A Quick Breakdown. Safety chainsaw pants
About
Grand Forest, Inc. is a woman and veteran owned and operated company. Founded on the belief that loggers should be safe and well equipped, Grand Forest is a premier manufacturer of chainsaw protective clothing and a distributor of quality outdoor brands.
The company was established in 1985 by a Swedish gentleman who saw a need for chainsaw protective clothing in the United States. The company started producing chainsaw protective pants and later chaps in order to outfit the professional logger. As safety training increased nationwide with programs such as “The Game of Logging”, the professional market started embracing safety clothing. It helped loggers be more efficient and reduced the number of injuries on the job site. It is now clear that safety is not only for the professional, but also important for every homeowner, farmer, and occasional user who picks up a chainsaw. Grand Forest is passionate about manufacturing a product, here in the US, for all chainsaw users.
Our Mission
To utilize unique talents to bring innovative, elite products to the US Market by manufacturing Locally and Sourcing Globally. Our dedicated group effort – built on loyalty, integrity and mutual respect – enables each individual at Grand Forest to Live, Laugh and Grow.
Our Vision
At Grand Forest, our vision is to design, develop and distribute innovative, elite products for the outdoor enthusiast.
Our Team
“Individual commitment to a group effort – that is what makes a team work, a company work, a society work, a civilization work.” ~ Vince Lombardi
All of our chainsaw protective apparel is sewn in Summerville, South Carolina. Everyone at Grand Forest plays an important role in providing customers with life saving chainsaw protective gear. Customer testimonies of close-calls and direct hits inspire us to ensure our product continuously evolves with modern technology and industry standards.
Our team of sewing specialists have the skills and experience to produce quality products that they take pride in and reflect Grand Forest’s values.
Our Manufacturing Process
Grand Forest is a robust, multifaceted cut and sew facility, located in Summerville, South Carolina. While our production primarily revolves around products related to the forest industry, such as chainsaw protective clothing and rugged workwear, we also pride ourselves on the flexibility to design and develop new innovative products. Our employees are diverse in their skills and are cross-trained to work in our dynamic environment. With a custom and individualized training program, new sewing specialists from all experience levels are able to quickly transition into the daily workflow. Our skilled team of employees and technology are highly valuable to our operation as they maximize production and efficiency.
Grand Forest can be contracted to produce private label products according to a customer’s specifications.
How Do Chainsaw Chaps Work? A Quick Breakdown
The most essential safety equipment you can wear when using a chainsaw is chap pants. This is coming from someone who, early in their career, was ignorant of the importance of chaps and managed to cut themselves. Now I won’t use a saw without them. So let’s find out how chaps actually work.
Chainsaw chaps work by jamming the chainsaw with layers of thick Kevlar threads. On impact, the threads plug the saw, stopping it immediately. The jamming of the saw happens before the saw passes through all layers of the chap pants. This protects the user’s leg from harm.
To help you understand things further, I’ll go into a little more detail about how this process actually works. There’ll even be a video of someone testing some chaps. I’ll then compare some different varieties of chaps and give some information on protecting other parts of your body.
How Do Chainsaw Chaps Actually Work?
The material used to make the protective layer of chaps is like Kevlar. It contains many long fibers, which will help jam the chainsaw.
To help protect the user’s leg, many layers of this material are sewn together. The more layers, the better. These layers will form a nice cushion around the wearer’s leg.
When cut, the Kevlar will jam chainsaws. This is because all those fibers in the material will get tangled in the saw. The saw will get so tangled, the chain won’t be able to spin.
Chainsaws work by spinning a chain around a bar very fast. How fast? On average, almost 90ft per second. Knowing this, we can understand how quick the saw jams, protecting our leg.
Once those threads get caught in the chain, the chain will take the threads right to the sprocket, causing it to jam. This happens in milliseconds.
Want to see someone test some chaps? Check out this video below.You wouldn’t catch me doing this
Can You Use Chaps After They’ve Been Cut?
If cut, the Kevlar will be too damaged to fix. The saw will tear most layers of the Kevlar apart. Luckily there are many layers, so your leg shouldn’t get touched.
Unfortunately, you won’t be able to use chaps that have been cut. Instead, you will need to get rid of them and get a new pair. There’s just no way anyway could stitch all those fibers back together.
Quality chaps can be pretty pricey, so throwing them away can be frustrating. But it’s much cheaper than the hospital bill after cutting your leg.
Can You Use a Chainsaw After It’s Been Jammed by Chaps?
The good news is you can still use your chainsaw after it’s cut through chaps. You’ll need to remove all the fibers, but this isn’t too hard.
To clean your saw, you will need to take it apart. First, FOCUS on the sprocket, making sure you remove every last thread. Then you can check over the bar and the rest of the saw. Take your time with this; you don’t want to miss any threads.
Once clean, you can put your saw back together. Then, your saw will be good to go!
Comparing Different Types of Chaps
Chaps range in quality and style. Let’s take a look at some of the different types of chaps.
Cheap vs Expensive Chaps
In general, if you can, it is best to spend more on safety equipment, and chaps are no exception.
Higher quality brands use better material, and they use more of it. As a result, more expensive pants are much thicker on average.
As I said earlier, the more layers you have, the better. A saw will cut through multiple layers, so the more layers you have, the less likely you will get cut.
Lower-quality pants won’t have the same amount of protection. They will still stop the saw, though. But you could end up with a scratch or a small cut. So low-quality chaps are still much better than nothing at all.
If you use saws at all, consider investing in a quality pair of chaps. It doesn’t take long for a saw to kick back into your leg, only milliseconds.
I was lucky when I cut myself. I managed to get away with a small cut on the top of my thigh, requiring five stitches. The femoral artery is in your thigh, and if that gets cut, it will be disastrous.
If you’re looking for the best types of chaps, check out this article: What Are the Best Chainsaw Trousers? Hear From an Arborist
Trousers vs Clip On Chaps
For me, chap trousers vs clip-on chaps come down to convenience. But, if you want a more detailed look at the difference between trousers and chaps, check out this article: Are Chainsaw Chaps or Pants Better? The Pros Cons of Each
Being an Arborist, I am cutting all throughout the day, so I find chaps in trousers work best. Trousers are still bulky and heavier than regular pants, but they’re convenient. I don’t need to put them on and take them off every time I use a saw.
Most professionals opt for trousers over chaps. Having to wear them all day is the main reason for this.
Chap trousers are more expensive than clip-on. But, if you are using them for hours a day, you’ll get your money’s worth.
One thing to note with chap trousers is their longevity. Chap trousers last approximately one year before you need to get a new pair. This is because the Kevlar material slides down the trouser leg. After a while, there will be little Kevlar protecting your legs. All the Kevlar will bunch up at the bottom of the trousers.
Your pants will be no good after the Kevlar slips; you’ll need to get a new pair. Make sure you check for bunching if you are buying a second-hand pair.
#401 Do You Have the Right Chainsaw PPE? Are You SURE?? All Chaps Are Not Created Equal. outdoors.
For chainsaw pants to be effective, proper care needs to be undertaken. To learn how to wash your pants properly, check out this article.
Clip-On
The more traditional clip-on chaps are perfect for backyard chainsaw users. As the name suggests, you clip them on as needed.
If you store these chaps in a cool, dry place, away from the sun, these chaps should last a long time.
If you buy quality, you will get excellent protection with either trousers or clip-on chaps.
Are There Chaps For Other Parts of Your Body?
You can cut more than your leg when you use a saw. Luckily, there’s other cut-resistant clothing you can wear.
Gloves
If you are using a small saw, consider wearing gloves to protect your hands from the saw. Big saws need two hands to operate, lowering the risk of you cutting, or the saw kicking back into your hand.
Using a small saw you can hold in one hand increases the temptation to cut and hold.
Cutting and holding is when you have the branch in one hand (for control) and cut with the other hand. This method isn’t recommended, as it’s easy to lose FOCUS and start grabbing at branches.
Chainsaw gloves work like chaps. This is because the glove has Kevlar inside, which jams the saw if cut. These gloves are an excellent layer of protection for anyone working with a saw near their hands.
Forearm Sleeves
Forearm sleeves protect your forearms for a similar reason to gloves. Using a smaller saw, people tend to cut and hold, increasing the risk of forearm and hand injury.
These sleeves are perfect for people climbers or people workout out of a cherry picker.
The forearm sleeve isn’t too common in the professional world. But, my workplace issues sleeves to everyone who uses a cherry picker.
Chainsaw Boots
Chainsaw boots are like regular steel-toed boots. The only difference is Kevlar. The Kevlar covers the boot, working the same way as other chaps.
Chainsaw boots provide excellent protection when cutting anything on the ground. When standing over anything you’re cutting, there’s a small risk of cutting into your foot. Or, the chainsaw could kick back into your foot. The risk is small, but regular boots wouldn’t be enough to protect you if it were to happen.
One downside to chainsaw boots is how big and clunky they are. These boots tend to be uncomfortable to wear, so they can become a pain when working in them all day.
Another negative is how hot your feet can get wearing them. This isn’t too much of a problem in Winter, but the Summer months will cause quite a lot of discomfort.
Conclusion
Now you know how chainsaw chaps work. I hope you will consider them when pruning next. But, if you still need convincing, check out this article.
Chainsaw Chaps May Have Fatal Flaw.BEWARE!
If you’re new to pruning, you might need to fix some previous mistakes. If that’s the case, check out this article: How to Fix a Badly Pruned Tree: Learn From an Arborist
Hi, My name is Matt. As a profession, I have specialised in Arboriculture for more than seven years. I created this site to share my views on various aspects of trees to help beginners and semi-experts with pruning, planting, and cultivation of trees, shrubs, and woody plants and also their health assessments. I hope you find it useful.
Designed for maximum protection and comfort in all conditions.
High visibility with reflective elements ensures you’re always seen, even in the most extreme weather conditions. Made from 100% Cordura lightweight fibre (around 33% lighter than Performance Series), for ultimate strength, flexibility and comfort. Robust weather resistance with integrated ventilation by mesh. 6 layers of Dyneema blocking material offer the absolute best in protection and are much lighter than Performance Series. Featuring side and back s with zippers, left thigh and spark plug s alongside a hook for fixation on laces.
Maximum safety.
Class 1 type A ENISO 1193 means you have the best protection available.
Features for safety and comfort.
Water and dirt repellent and weather resistant.
Low weight– 6 layer Dynema saw protection.
2 side s and1 rear with zippers, left thigh and 1 ruler and tool on the right leg.
The Tool Yard
How to fix, maintain be safe with chainsaws, lawn mowers, engines DIY tools and kits. Maybe some beer talk.
Why you should consider using safety chaps when using a chainsaw
In many countries, the forestry or logging industry has an extremely high death and injury rates when compared to other workforces.
This makes sense given trees are being felled and a lot can go wrong because of accidents and user failure associated with dangerous machinery.
Now think back to the good old days when chainsaws began to gain widespread use in the logging industry.
They sure didn’t and many users were horrifically maimed or killed as a result.
If that was bad enough, think of their safety gear.
No chain safe safety chaps were issued by employers 80 years ago. Instead, hungry honed blades cut through denim work jeans into bone and arteries without a care in the world.
In the present, more safety-conscious age, the modern chainsaw user has a much safer gig when chopping down a tree however they must take precautions and using properly designed safety chaps is a great way to prevent harm to your legs.
It doesn’t matter if you are a forestry worker or an experienced weekend warrior, using safety gear should be a standard part of your chainsaw practice.
If you just want to know which is a great pair of chaps then the Husqvarna protective wrap chaps are quite suitable for most users.
- 1000 denier polyester with PVC coating with Tek warp protective layers
- Can adjust the waist up to size to 42 inches
- Felling wedge/gear and acetyl Delran buckles
- Complies with ASTM f1897, American National Standards Institute z133.1, and OSHA regulation 1910-266
- Underwriter Laboratories certified
Here’s a picture an Amazon buyer left in his review. He described the situation as that he: “Put a running saw to my left leg while limbing some cedars. Strands stopped the saw and didn’t even have a bruise.”
If that proof is enough pudding for you, check out the price on Amazon
How do safety chaps protect legs from a chainsaw blade?
Let’s be upfront and make it clear that safety chaps are not a ‘suit of armour’ that will save you from every accident.
If you want absolute protection from a chainsaw, then you may as well suit up like a Knight of the Realm.
However, that’s not too practical when chopping wood, so chaps offer the versatility of movement with the knowledge they are designed to reduce the severity of the cut should an accident occur.
What we are saying here is there is a trade-off between practicality and safety here.
If the idea is safety, then placing a user in cut-retardant chaps that are too restrictive or that become too hot in itself is unsafe so many internationals safety standards for chaps and personal protective safety wear recognize this.
When a chainsaw comes into contact with the safety trousers, the outer layer is immediately cut through by the blade but the inner layer of fibres (such as kevlar) are drawn out by the chain and into the machine. It wraps around the saw’s drive sprocket. The tough fibres lock the sprocket in place thus halting the chain and hopefully limiting damage to the chainsaw operator’s leg.
That said the stronger the chainsaw, the more chance of damage can occur to the user. It also depends on how fast the saw is going, the strength and angle of the saw.
Does it matter what kind of chaps I need if I am a casual or a professional user?
If you are simply doing a bit of yard work or lopping the occasional branch off a tree, it might not make economic sense in buying the best professional pants there are.
You may simply decide to use something that will help keep you safe but is perfectly functional for your needs. At a minimum though, the pants should still be designed to meet a suitable product safety standard.
To that end Husqvarna’s chainsaw chaps are ideal. An economical buy, they fit quite comfortably over your work jeans:
“First day of sawing, running a bigger saw than I had used in the past, tired and neglectful that it idled down slowly. saw pivoted in my L hand as I reached for a branch with my R hand, and I felt a “bang” on my left thigh and the saw was suddenly quiet. I looked down and had crossed the blade onto my leg. the blade was now stuffed with white strands from the chaps, and I was unscathed. Saved me from my very own trip to the ER and allowed me to cut another day”
If you don’t feel like getting your quads cut, then check out the price on Amazon.
Just be wary of buying pants that are designed only to protect from flying debris / keeping your work pants clean. These are not designed in any way to protect your long limbs from a chainsaw bar cutting into your leg. They are only good for keeping the grass off.
What if I really only want budget pants?
Remember, you should only wear pants that are designed specifically for use with a chainsaw and thus should have been fully tested to comply with the relevant safety standards.
For the cost-conscious, the Forester range of apron chaps might be the ideal choice. We hate to use the word ‘casual’ but for those that only use a chainsaw every so often, then these chaps could be ideal.
They provide good coverage for the front of your legs. The only drawback is they are not designed to protect against the really high powered saws and they certainly won’t halt an electric engine from rotating. They are do however meet the STM F1897, OSHA 1910.266 standards and are UL Certified. We suggest if your day job requires chaps, then you go upmarket, such as the Husqvarna 587160704 Technical Apron Wrap Chap.
Buying safety gear gives the user the confidence that it will do what is asked of it t. i.e. reduce the chance of severe leg injury. In terms of aesthetics, Forester describes them as “sleek, durable, lightweight, and comfortable chaps are chainsaw oil- and water-resistant”.
The chaps also feature a large side and a flip adjustment belt for a perfectly secure fit.
This chap on Amazon shared his review and experience:
“I needed to drop about 8-10 small trees and just out of habit put these on. That day it was the smartest thing I did because not only did they save my legs from injury once but twice the same day. The first time I just cradled the chainsaw on my leg and had not set the brake, the chaps stopped the chain from cutting into my thigh right where I bend. I surely would have bled out before EMS got to me.”
Check out this picture of a save by this personal protective equipment:
The wearer is uninjured which is a great result because that cutting area is pretty damn close to the femoral artery.
Which, you may know is a pretty major one and a severe cut can result in a bleed out.
If you think protecting your femoral artery might be a good idea, then check out the price on Amazon.
Is it true electric chainsaws will cut through even the best chaps?
Yes, this is true as they are not configured the same as gas powered saws. As they have higher torque than gas engines, electric saws will continue to cut the chap fabric and chaps are generally not designed to withstand contact with an electric saw.
Sure, you should still wear chaps when using an electric saw but do not rely on them to reduce the chance of personal injury.
What length should chainsaw PPE chaps be?
Chaps (which go over trousers and legs) should be long enough to meet the tops of your boots.
To figure out how long your chaps need to be, measure from your waist (just below your belt where the chaps will sit) to the beginning of your foot. This length will provide suitable coverage and protection.
It’s important you order and use the right size. a shorter than necessary chap will probably result in a piece of your leg exposed which if Murphy’s law kicks into force, your chainsaw will find it. If your chaps are too long, they could be too loose, which may be annoying at best and at worst, could cause you to trip or stumble.
When ordering chaps it’s important to understand that the advertised length is the overall length and not the length of a traditional measurement of the inseam.
When you’re thinking about buying safety gear, whether it be chaps, gloves or protective eyewear, it’s always really good to remember that no one ever died just because they bought quality gear. Actually, we think the adage is no one ever regretted buying quality but you get the point.
I know we keep talking about it, whatever buying decision you make, you really should consider if your safety gear has met the requirements of the most relevant safety standard.
Your femoral artery might just thank you for it.
Did you know you can wear chaps when lawnmowing? Particularly handy if stones and any wood chips are likely to flick up at your legs. The same goes for an activity like hedge trimming. For both work environs, consider using a helmet with ear muffs and face visor.
If you’ve got this far, well done. Now, head to Amazon and have a look at the best safety chaps they have.