What Causes Chainsaw Kickback?
- The chain hits a hard object in the kickback zone.
- The wood pinches the chain in the middle of a cut.
- Other factors that contribute to chainsaw kickback.
Why does my Chainsaw kickback when cutting wood?
In general, there are three situations that cause chainsaw kickback. The chain hits a hard object in the kickback zone. The wood pinches the chain in the middle of a cut. Other factors that contribute to chainsaw kickback.
How do you stop a chainsaw chain from kickback?
Chain brake that stops the chain from spinning when a kickback happens. Front hand guard to protect your top hand from accidental cuts. This often doubles as the chain brake if you chainsaw has that safety feature. Tip guard that’s installed on the front of the chainsaw bar to prevent you from using that area to cut wood.
How common are Chainsaw kickback accidents?
In fact, about 30,000 chainsaw-related injuries happen each year, with chainsaw kickback accidents being the most common hazard. What Causes Chainsaw Kickback? In general, there are three situations that cause chainsaw kickback. The chain hits a hard object in the kickback zone. The wood pinches the chain in the middle of a cut.
What is an anti-kickback chainsaw chain?
Since chainsaw kickback is such a common occurrence—and a dangerous one—some chains have been designed to minimize this reactive force. These types of chains are called “anti-kickback” or “low-kickback” chains.
How do I stop my chainsaw kick back?
Stand to side of the cutting path of the chain saw. Position yourself so that you are not near the cutting attachment when the chain saw is running. Know where the bar tip is at all times. Install a safety tip that covers the nose of the guide bar on the saw to prevent contact with the kickback zone.
How common is chainsaw kickback?
The term “kickback” is used to describe the sudden, upward motion of a chainsaw's guide bar. Believe it or not, but it's one of the most common causes of accidents that happen with a chainsaw, and it's usually caused by not using proper chainsaw cutting techniques. Kickback can happen in the blink of an eye too.
What causes a kickback?
Essentially when a piece of wood touches the blade on an angle or gets bumped out of alignment it catches the blade in the teeth and gets thrown back. The most effective way to avoid kickback on a table saw is by using a riving knife. Most table saws have these installed right behind the blade.
What is a chainsaw kickback brake?
0:001:27Chainbreak system by STIHL: the safety feature protecting ... - YouTubeYouTubeStart of suggested clipEnd of suggested clipKickback is a dangerous reactive force that can be felt when the top quadrant of the bar tip hereMoreKickback is a dangerous reactive force that can be felt when the top quadrant of the bar tip here comes into contact with a solid object.
What makes a chain low kickback?
The thicker the chip, the more severe the potential kickback. To minimize the possibility of reactive forces, kickback-reducing features on chains limit the amount of fiber that can be hooked by the working corner as it rounds the upper half of the bar tip, which is commonly referred to as the kickback zone.
Do low kickback chains cut slower?
In nose-clear down bucking, it was found that operator effort and cutting efficiency of a low-kickback chain with bumper drive links was of near-equal performance to that of a non-low- kickback chain (having no low-kickback features).
What causes kickback on a 2 stroke engine?
Kickback occurs when a piston is coming up on top dead center (TDC) on the compression stroke at the end of a kickstart attempt but does not make it all the way. Instead, the compression pushes the piston back down the cylinder in the reverse direction.
What is one way you can help prevent a kickback?
Consider a Crosscut Sled Another way to prevent kickback is by using a crosscut sled. These jigs keep your hands away from the blade and move the fence to the front of the blade instead of the side.
Does blade guard prevent kickback?
All SawStop blade guards come with anti-kickback pawls to help prevent kickback of your workpiece. Working with a delicate piece of wood? You can flip them up and out of the way on all blade guards, and also remove them entirely on the Micro Blade Guard. Ketan Khandekar and 13 others like this.
What happens if you run a chainsaw with the brake on?
But you can accidentally activate the brake by knocking the kickback handle as you set the chain saw against a downed tree limb or stump. If you hit the throttle hard while the brake is on, you can burn up the centrifugal clutch in just seconds.
What are bumper spikes on a chainsaw?
The ECHO Bumper Spikes are designed to provide more leverage and control while making a cut. The spikes are mounted to the right side of the saw and allow for better pivoting of the saw, both downward and upward, to give the operator better control during the cut.
Do you start a chainsaw with the brake on?
When using a chainsaw, you should always start it with the chain brake engaged so the chain does not move.
Are chainsaws safe?
Chainsaws are also extremely dangerous. Accidents and injuries can result from improper use. Chainsaw accidents are commonly caused by contact with the chainsaw blade, while it is running. As with any equipment, chainsaws can only be used efficiently and effectively if safety and protection rules are closely followed.
What is chainsaw pull in?
Pull-in occurs when the chain on the bottom of the bar is suddenly stopped when it is pinched or caught or encounters a foreign object (Figure 7). The reaction of the chain pulls the saw forward and may cause you to lose control of it.
How does a chain brake work on a chainsaw?
The chain brake is principally operated by the top-hand guard being pushed forward to engage the brake, and pulled back to disengage. The spring-loaded action allows powerful braking under emergency conditions and can halt a chain under full power in a fraction of a second.
How do you use a chainsaw for beginners?
1:513:13Chainsaw Basics: How to Safely Use a Chainsaw - YouTubeYouTubeStart of suggested clipEnd of suggested clipSo before you start your cut. You want to throttle up the chainsaw place it lightly on the wood. AndMoreSo before you start your cut. You want to throttle up the chainsaw place it lightly on the wood. And have solid pressure all the way through the cut.
What Is Chainsaw Kickback?
Chainsaw kickback is the term that is used to describe the sudden jolt by the chainsaw in an upward direction during operation. It can be very hazardous and is typically one of the most common causes of accidents involving chainsaws.
How to Prepare Yourself for Kickback
If and when, the chainsaw decides to bite back there will be almost nothing you will be able to do to stop it. You must always be prepared for this happening, first by wearing the right personal protective equipment (PPE).
How to Avoid Chainsaw Kickback
To be able to reduce the risk of chainsaw kickback and the associated chainsaw kickback injuries, there are a number of different things you can do to minimize the frequency. Here are some tips on how to prevent chainsaw kickback:
What is a kickback chainsaw?
Kickback is the unexpected reaction that causes the chainsaw bar to jump off an object toward you. Kickback can happen very suddenly. It is when the chainsaw either swings back or jumps back at the user. Even a stationary chain will cut flesh.
How does a chainsaw kick back?
When in motion, the chain on top of the bar moves away from you, around the nose, and back to the chainsaw. When cutting with the top edge of the bar, the chainsaw is forced towards you by the teeth biting into the wood, pushing you back. At the bottom edge of the bar, the chain moves towards you. As the teeth bite into the wood, the chainsaw tends to move away from you.
What is a low kickback bar?
This can force the chainsaw from your hand on the top bar, causing you to lose control of the chainsaw. A bar with a smaller diameter nose reduces kickback and is called a low-kickback bar. The smaller diameter allows fewer teeth to make contact, making the kickback more controllable.
What is the least controllable force on a chainsaw?
Rotational kickback force is the least controllable. It happens at the tip of the bar, often referred to as the kickback danger zone of the bar. At the nose, the cutting angles of the teeth as they move around the nose. Here, they are affected by the radius of the nose. The cutting edges angle back, causing them to become inefficient and will tend to run on the wood instead of cutting into it. The force created as the teeth run on the wood sends the tip of the bar rapidly upward, swinging it back towards you. This can force the chainsaw from your hand on the top bar, causing you to lose control of the chainsaw.
What happens when you cut a bar with a chainsaw?
This happens when the wood closes in by sagging at the cut. It abruptly changes the pulling force into a pushing force and drives the chainsaw back at you.
What is linear kickback?
Linear Kickback : A fast backward motion of the chainsaw results when the chain at the opposite end of the bar is pinched by the object being cut.
How does a chainsaw move when cutting?
When cutting with the top edge of the bar, the chainsaw is forced towards you by the teeth biting into the wood, pushing you back. At the bottom edge of the bar, the chain moves towards you. As the teeth bite into the wood, the chainsaw tends to move away from you. At both top and bottom cutting edges, those forces are controllable.
What Causes Chain Saw Kickback?
The first occurs when the moving chain at the tip or the nose of the guide bar strikes an object. The second situation is when the wood closes in, pinching the saw chain in the middle of the cut. Both of these situations cause the chain saw’s guide bar to launch (or “kick”) up and back, which may cause the user to lose control of the saw possibly result in injury to themselves or others.
What is a kickback on a chainsaw?
Kickback is a term used to describe the sudden, upward motion of a chain saw’s guide bar and is one of the most common causes of chain saw accidents. If proper cutting techniques are not followed, the lightning-fast kickback of a chain saw can be very dangerous and may result in serious injury.
What are the safety features of a chainsaw?
These built-in features include chain brakes, the front (left) hand guard, the bar tip guard and low or reduced kickback chain and guide bars. In order to guarantee the effectiveness of these safety features, you need to make sure that your chainsaw is properly assembled and that all the components are securely attached and functional.
What happens when a chainsaw bar touches a log?
When this area of the bar touches an object like a branch or log, there is high likelihood that a sudden kickback reaction will occur. The larger the bar nose size, the higher the potential for chainsaw kickback.
What is the kickback danger zone on a chainsaw?
The term “kickback danger zone” refers to the top of the tip of the chainsaw bar. This area has a high kickback risk. You should never saw using this part of the chain saw bar, since doing so will significantly increase the chances that you will experience kickback.
What causes kickback in limbing?
Kickback can be caused during limbing if the nose of the bar strikes logs, stumps, hidden branches and the end of logs.
What chain should I use for a chainsaw?
Unless you have experience or training for responding to chainsaw kickback, you should use low kickback chain. In North America, low kickback chain is packaged with a green label from the American National Standards Institute (ANSI).
How to Prevent a Chainsaw Kickback?
There are several things that you can do to prevent a chainsaw kickback. Consider doing the following tips:
What is a kickback in wood sawing?
A kickback develops when the rotating chain that is found at the guide bar tip touches the object or when the chain becomes stranded in the wood when sawing.
Can you kickback a chainsaw?
When you are projecting along with your chainsaw and your wood presses tightly near the chain, a kickback can form. Hence, it is advised that you strategize before cutting a tree trunk or log to make sure it will not pinch your chain.
Can you cut branches with a guide bar head?
Be careful not to let the guide head gets in contact with an object. You should never cut branches using the guide bar head.
Can a chainsaw kickback be fatal?
You cannot discount the occurrence of a chainsaw kickback. In fact, a kickback can be very dangerous and could even cause fatal injuries. You should always consider following suitable cutting techniques to lessen the chance of forming a chainsaw kickback. It would also be smart if you wear appropriate protective gear if you are using the tool.
What causes chainsaw kickback?
A kickback happens when the nose of your chainsaw snags on a piece of wood, or the ground. It is very dangerous because it can cause you to lose control of your chainsaw.
What happens when you raise a chainsaw?
Even if you are on solid ground, it is very easy for a chainsaw kickback to smack you in the face.
What is an anti-kickback chain?
It is a kind of chainsaw chine that minimizes the reactive force associated with a violent chainsaw kickback.
How can I safely cut a piece of wood without kickback?
Two of the most common cutting techniques involve (1) a log that is still supported on both ends, and (2) a log that is only supported by one end:
What is a chainsaw chap?
Chainsaw chaps are a sort of clothing that you wear over your regular clothing which serve as an extra barrier between you and the dust and debris that comes flying during a chainsaw’s usage.
What does it mean when wood kicks back?
This type of kickback happens when something inside the wood causes it to be yanked forward, away from your grasp. To prevent it, ensure that the piece of wood you are cutting doesn’t have any nails nailed into it.
Why do you wear safety goggles when cutting wood?
Safety goggles protect your eyes from any debris that may start to fly around as you start cutting into wood. Dirt and debris that comes from a chainsaw can get so small that they will easily irritate your eyes.
