The Forestry Forum

General Forestry => Chainsaws => Topic started by: mrselfreliance on October 15, 2017, 02:36:56 PM

Title: Women and Chainsaw's
Post by: mrselfreliance on October 15, 2017, 02:36:56 PM
Ok, so here's the situation.  My father and I currently cut and process our firewood together.  Always a great time.  My sister just moved back to our home town and will be heating with wood. 

Obviously women use chainsaws, but my father being protective of his daughter, has a fit every time she mentions she wants to get a saw to cut her own wood with us.  I'm all for it as long as she also buys all the safety gear and takes her time to learn properly.

Anyways, just wanted to hear from other Female chainsaw users or from anyone who know chainsaw wielding women.  Any tips for my sister?  And any ideas on how to get my father to relax? 

Background info, I run a MS261, would probably recommend her an MS241 with 16" bar.  Our trees are not that big here.   Keep it light for her.  She's 30 and in really good physical shape, so she can handle it. 

Thoughts?
Title: Re: Women and Chainsaw's
Post by: sawguy21 on October 15, 2017, 03:03:42 PM
I have known women who are very competent with a saw like our own @Sprucebunny. Is she willing to buy a saw and ppe, get proper training and show up ready to work? He might not be happy but what can he do?
Title: Re: Women and Chainsaw's
Post by: sablatnic on October 15, 2017, 03:21:36 PM
Why not. I have seen women who were horrible with chainsaws and I have seen women who extremely good with them - just like men.
She has to learn, that they are dangerous - all the time. And even more so when they are started!
And tell her to stop before she gets tired - when people get tired, they start fumbling and making errors!

Pants or chaps, a good helmet with ear muffs and visor. And the Stihl 241 would be a good choice for a saw.
Title: Re: Women and Chainsaw's
Post by: DelawhereJoe on October 15, 2017, 04:05:06 PM
If she doesn't want to spend the money on a pro saw to start with a Echo 352 at around 8.8 lbs would be a good starter saw. I think thats what I will be starting my son off with once I feel he can listen well enough. I've already got him mowing with the zero turn mower. I may be getting a Stihl 170 or 180 from my brother once he moves to an apartment so there is a chance that will be his first saw. But either of those would also be a good starter saw that don't weigh a lot and in the event of a accident its not as high of a hp saw as the 241.
Title: Re: Women and Chainsaw's
Post by: Coconut on October 15, 2017, 04:22:11 PM
Hey guys Coconuts daughter here :) I have been running an ms261 for two years now with out incident and can honestly say I LOVE it and my dad and I have recently bought a Clark 665d skidder together. My advice to her firstly is make sure that your hair is completely out of the way as it could become caught in the saw ( I have very long hair and I use a stretchy bandana ) Secondly be sure to start slowly and stop when you get tired you may only do a half day but you will get better over time. Lastly listen to your teacher even if you think you can do something better your way and if you are having an off day do something else instead like splitting blocks or hauling brush, and ALWAYS where cutting pants, boots, safety glasses and hearing protection.
PS.
Driving skidder is waaaaay better than big brothers four-wheeler :)(https://forestryforum.com/gallery/albums/userpics/46450/IMG_20171006_150028~2.jpg?easyrotate_cache=1508098836) 
Title: Re: Women and Chainsaw's
Post by: Jeff on October 15, 2017, 05:21:18 PM
Welcome Coconuts daughter!   :)   
Title: Re: Women and Chainsaw's
Post by: sprucebunny on October 15, 2017, 06:36:56 PM
A person needs to think about pinch situations and size up every cut. Chainsaws are dangerous; don't rush.
Love my small Stihls. Also about 8.8 pounds.
Title: Re: Women and Chainsaw's
Post by: Caloren on October 15, 2017, 07:11:17 PM
My wife learned how to use a chainsaw when she was about 40-45 while helping the kids clean up her Dad's place after the loggers were done with it. That is harder work than felling the trees!
Title: Re: Women and Chainsaw's
Post by: Maine372 on October 15, 2017, 07:24:22 PM
any person is capable of running a chainsaw safely and productively regardless of their gender. in fact, I once read an article about women equipment operators. studies showed that they were less abusive to the equipment than the men. so perhaps they are better than we are?

I feel the students approach has already been discussed; safety gear, lighter saw, knowing your limits, etc. I would like to address the teachers perspective. it can be very easy to dismiss a female training in a male dominated industry. the attitude with which you approach training her may make or break the situation. avoid jargon and over complicated terms that will make you sound cool but go right over her head. that wont help, it will just confuse her. remember men and women think differently, so she might not get it the first time you explain something. don't say the same thing over again, try to say it a different way.

I have learned that I cannot teach my wife. this doesn't mean that my wife cannot learn, but that she learns differently than I teach. if my wife wanted to learn to run a saw, I would honestly send her to someone else I trust to teach her safely, because I know we don't work well together in that capacity. so if it doesn't seem to be working, you might need to put her under another's tutelage.


Title: Re: Women and Chainsaw's
Post by: Texas-Jim on October 15, 2017, 07:43:00 PM
There are two people in my shop, the other one besides me is Genny. Shes a great mechanic and not a bit afraid of a saw. Only time she ever backed up was a MS880, shes smart enough to know its a tad much for a 130  pound girl. A saw is just as dangerous if your a guy or a girl. I have been running and working on them over 40 years and I still pull on my old chaps. Its dangerous but we can make it as safe as we want to. Let her run one and encourage her to do it right.
Title: Re: Women and Chainsaw's
Post by: barbender on October 15, 2017, 09:14:44 PM
I never have gotten around to training my wife to run a saw. I even bought her a little Tanaka saw one year, but it runs poorly so it put a damper on my plans. I think she's completely capable, though. Start them off on a small saw and wearing all the PPE, I don't think there's anything to worry about.
Title: Re: Women and Chainsaw's
Post by: Ron Scott on October 15, 2017, 11:15:50 PM
Have had several woman felling and bucking on logging jobs over the years and on forest firefighting crews. They performed very well. Also note the Forum's Axe Women thread here and do a Search for "Lumber Jills" for comments on past threads for Women and Chainsaws.
Title: Re: Women and Chainsaw's
Post by: DDW_OR on October 16, 2017, 02:56:45 AM
Quote from: mrselfreliance on October 15, 2017, 02:36:56 PM
.....My sister just moved back to our home town and will be heating with wood.......

Obviously women use chainsaws, .... she wants to get a saw to cut her own wood with us.  I'm all for it as long as she also buys all the safety gear and takes her time to learn properly.......Keep it light for her.  She's 30 and in really good physical shape, so she can handle it......

Echo 310 is also a good saw
https://www.echo-usa.com/Products/Chain-Saws/CS-310

if you have 120v then i like the Homelite.
http://www.homelite.com/catalog/chainsaws/UT43122
i keep it next to the sawmill and firewood processor. lite and powerful

Note: the chain and bar are interchangeable, so i put a 16 inch bar on the 310 and use the same chain.
Title: Re: Women and Chainsaw's
Post by: HolmenTree on October 16, 2017, 10:36:39 AM
Quote from: mrselfreliance on October 15, 2017, 02:36:56 PM
Ok, so here's the situation.  My father and I currently cut and process our firewood together.  Always a great time.  My sister just moved back to our home town and will be heating with wood. 

Obviously women use chainsaws, but my father being protective of his daughter, has a fit every time she mentions she wants to get a saw to cut her own wood with us.  I'm all for it as long as she also buys all the safety gear and takes her time to learn properly.

Anyways, just wanted to hear from other Female chainsaw users or from anyone who know chainsaw wielding women.  Any tips for my sister?  And any ideas on how to get my father to relax? 

Background info, I run a MS261, would probably recommend her an MS241 with 16" bar.  Our trees are not that big here.   Keep it light for her.  She's 30 and in really good physical shape, so she can handle it. 

Thoughts?
Don't bother with thecMS241 give her a a MS261 to use.
I see your in Canada. So I suggest the best training  for your sister is have her take a qualified training course.
I was a instructor for this company a few years back, we trained many green horn women how to cut and with a MS441...
One of their intructors is from New Brunswick and they also have a woman instructor.
Sign her up.
https://www.arborcanada.com/courses/Chainsaw-Safety-Cutting-Techniques/
Title: Re: Women and Chainsaw's
Post by: gspren on October 16, 2017, 02:19:15 PM
  20 some years ago when I bought my trusty 044 it was "set-up" and demonstrated by Cindy, the chainsaw mechanic at our local Stihl dealer, I wish they were still there.
Title: Re: Women and Chainsaw's
Post by: John Mc on October 16, 2017, 07:12:22 PM
The non-profit I'm involved with here in VT has sponsored several "women only" Game Of Logging chainsaw safety courses. They've been well attended. I know a couple of the participants and have cut firewood with them since they have taken the course. They were obviously still new to using a chainsaw, but I'd have no hesitation cutting firewood with them. (In fact, a couple of them I'd rather work with than some of the guys I've been around in the past - you know the type: think they know everything, but are an accident waiting to happen.)
Title: Re: Women and Chainsaw's
Post by: HolmenTree on October 16, 2017, 10:45:36 PM
In 1975 when I worked in our Conlin Lake logging camp there was 2 Manitoba women who were a piecework crew (1 faller, 1 skidder operator) They were a good crew. Averaging 25 to 30 cords a day in 40-45 ft  tree length spruce topped at 3.5" .
They ended up heading out to the coast of B.C. Never heard from them since.
Title: Re: Women and Chainsaw's
Post by: d1hamby on October 17, 2017, 08:44:47 PM
Take her to the saw dealership to try out some saws in her hands and see what she likes before deciding for her. Let her help you to make a decision with her input on what she likes first.
Title: Re: Women and Chainsaw's
Post by: ladylake on October 20, 2017, 04:29:39 PM
 

   Don't discount those 40 cc chainsaws, I use them around the mill a lot and I have 50 to 90cc saws to chose from.. There's vids on youtube  where a 241 cuts almost as fast as a 261. Ready to cut a 40cc is a lot lighter. Steve

Title: Re: Women and Chainsaw's
Post by: HolmenTree on October 20, 2017, 10:37:06 PM
Yeah lot's of souped up saws on YouTube that don't run the next day after blowing up.
Anyone (women included) who think a MS261 is too heavy, should not be running a chainsaw for their own safety and peace of mind  :D
Title: Re: Women and Chainsaw's
Post by: ladylake on October 21, 2017, 05:00:41 AM
 

Have you tried a good 40cc saw yet.   That 3/8 nk chain makes them cut good. Steve
Title: Re: Women and Chainsaw's
Post by: HolmenTree on October 21, 2017, 05:40:25 AM
Quote from: ladylake on October 21, 2017, 05:00:41 AM
 

Have you tried a good 40cc saw yet.   That 3/8 nk chain makes them cut good. Steve
Steve, I have a good 39cc saw a Husqvarna 338XPT and a older 35cc Stihl MS200. Both I run the Stihl 3/8" 63PS chain and they cut excellent. Even on my MS261CM ll

But they're top handles and top handles are perfect doing aerial work.
But small 40cc saws are slowly getting squeezed out by the latest battery powered saws, which make alot more sense in owing when someone wants a saw that small for better efficiency.
Title: Re: Women and Chainsaw's
Post by: ladylake on October 21, 2017, 06:07:30 AM

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Vz_GvM5IdTU

  Not a lot of difference, the smaller 2 were muff modded.  Steve


Title: Re: Women and Chainsaw's
Post by: Savannahdan on October 21, 2017, 06:34:52 AM
Excellent topic and welcome to Coconut daughter.  Glad she jumped in.  I wouldn't have thought to comment about long hair, especially since mine is thinning and thinning....  After Hurricane Matthew last Fall I got a red oak from a neighbor around the corner.  His wife got tired of the tree, grabbed the guys brand new Stihl and cut the tree down.  When I asked about that she commented that she had to work a chainsaw during another hurricane years ago.  What I didn't like was the chain had not been adjusted properly and was hanging about 3 inches off the bottom of the bar.  Also, she didn't have any PPE.  The guy couldn't find the scrench and didn't even know what I was talking about.  I showed him the proper way for tightening the chain and told him to let me know when he was going to use it again so that I could give him some instructions/training on using it.  I also told him to get some PPE gear like I had on at that time.  BTW, the tree has made some nice boards for woodworking projects.
Title: Re: Women and Chainsaw's
Post by: thecfarm on October 21, 2017, 06:41:46 AM
Scary when someone don't know what you talking about when it comes to chainsaws.  :o
I run what I call my small saw,a 50cc efco. And I like that saw. That saw sees more wood than my bigsaw,372 husky,due to me just thinning my land for firewood. The big one may cut them down,but the small ones limbs them out.
Title: Re: Women and Chainsaw's
Post by: HolmenTree on October 21, 2017, 03:01:51 PM
Quote from: ladylake on October 21, 2017, 06:07:30 AM

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Vz_GvM5IdTU

  Not a lot of difference, the smaller 2 were muff modded.  Steve
Lot's of effort put into making those videos, but in all fairness all 3 saws should share the same chain.
Title: Re: Women and Chainsaw's
Post by: PNWRusty on October 21, 2017, 03:32:58 PM
Good point. Not only should the chains be the same but comparing a 14" bar to 20" bars? Ya think an extra foot of bar friction might slow you down a bit? I also noticed the 261 started 4-stroking at a very low rpm when he revved it up. Sounded way too rich. And it dropped rpm's way too easily when loaded. Very on/off again performance. Something not right.

Everyone likes a good test but if the tester is trying to prove a point, not so meaningful.
Title: Re: Women and Chainsaw's
Post by: ladylake on October 21, 2017, 04:40:37 PM
 
I run 40cc saws here a lot as they cut faster the lower level 50cc saws and close to the pro ones, same as the vid above and the ones I run weigh 13# ready to cut vs over 15# for a 50 cc saw. I'd think these saws should run the chain the come with as that's the way most will end up running.  Steve
Title: Re: Women and Chainsaw's
Post by: PNWRusty on October 21, 2017, 06:30:02 PM
Quote from: ladylake on October 21, 2017, 04:40:37 PM
 
I run 40cc saws here a lot as they cut faster the lower level 50cc saws and close to the pro ones, same as the vid above and the ones I run weigh 13# ready to cut vs over 15# for a 50 cc saw. I'd think these saws should run the chain the come with as that's the way most will end up running.  Steve

You can buy them with different bars and I switch bars/chains depending upon the task. Just weighed my 50cc MS 026 with gas, oil, 20" Rollomatic bar and chain and it was 14.7 lbs. (not over 15 lbs). That's covered with tree sap, bar oil, wood chips in all the crevices. If I put my 16" bar on it would be quite a bit lighter. And, yes, you could buy them with 16" bars, mine came with an 18". I like using the smallest tool for the job. I also like not having lots of saws to maintain.

If you stick with the same class of saw (pro or consumer) you will notice there is a pretty predictable increase in power and weight as you go from 40cc to 50cc to 60cc, etc. And you will see cutting speed and weight increase with additional power. But yes, a 40cc pro saw is going to have more power and less weight than a 40cc consumer saw. And sure, I would choose a 40cc pro saw over a 50cc homeowner saw. But, for the slight weight savings, I would find the 40cc less versatile than a 50cc pro saw. For others it might be the perfect compromise.

I don't like the idea of talking about a chainsaw for "women". Just like men, women come in all sizes and strengths. The stronger ones are A LOT stronger than your average guy who's mostly a couch potato.
Title: Re: Women and Chainsaw's
Post by: DelawhereJoe on October 21, 2017, 07:22:29 PM
Don't forget about the Makita/Dolmar ea4300 43cc it runs 3hp, .1hp more then my old 024. It should be a good cutting saw and for $329.00 from homedepot it would be a great deal too.
Title: Re: Women and Chainsaw's
Post by: ladylake on October 21, 2017, 07:46:15 PM

A lot of the 40cc saws come with a 3/8 nk chain which really cut good as in the vid above.  A 026 is no powerhouse for 50 cc but they are one of the lightest 50cc saws, most new 50cc saws have gained weight plus even 13# vs 14.7 is a lot of weight difference when one is getting older.  I'd bet my 40cc saw would cut really close to a 026.  Steve
Title: Re: Women and Chainsaw's
Post by: PNWRusty on October 22, 2017, 03:41:27 AM
Quote from: ladylake on October 21, 2017, 07:46:15 PM
I'd bet my 40cc saw would cut really close to a 026.  Steve

It depends on what "really close" means to you. I'd put $1000 that it couldn't match it. Close, yeah, perhaps, it's only down less than 10 cc's. That's like me saying "I bet if we weighed them with the same sized bar they would weigh really close".  :)
Title: Re: Women and Chainsaw's
Post by: ladylake on October 22, 2017, 04:44:13 AM
 Really close is like the vid above.    Steve