The occurrence of a kickback on a chainsaw can be bloody injurious or even deadly
At the least, you'll get a good scare, at worst you could end up with a chainsaw through your face.
Do you think we jest?
Google 'kickback injuries to the face' and you'll see what we're talking about.
A kickback injury is something you want to wear and is clearly why any person with an iota of sense about personal safety will use some form of safety gear such as gloves or safety chaps when using a chainsaw.
Even if at a minimum, it's a pair of safety classes.
Google 'kickback injuries to the face' and you'll see what we're talking about.
A kickback injury is something you want to wear and is clearly why any person with an iota of sense about personal safety will use some form of safety gear such as gloves or safety chaps when using a chainsaw.
Even if at a minimum, it's a pair of safety classes.
And personally, we would never use a chainsaw that didn't have a working chain brake which stops the chain from operating in a kickback moment. Those things save lives and limbs!
In New Zealand, it's actually against the law to sell any chainsaw that does not feature a chain brake.
In New Zealand, it's actually against the law to sell any chainsaw that does not feature a chain brake.
There might be a few cheeky hobbits in New Zealand but they sure know a thing or two about product safety.
Causes of kickback action on a chainsaw
The first is if the chain gets pinched between the material it’s cutting and causes the saw to drive back into the operator.
The second way is if the tip of the bar comes into contact with something solid (the ground, a log, a branch).
This is the more dangerous form of kickback.
When the nose of the bar hits that solid something at high speed, all the torque from the chain suddenly stopping gets transferred to the body of the chainsaw and the chainsaw wants to flip back at the saw handler, presumably with the throttle still held down.
You begin to see where this is going, literally.
The second way is if the tip of the bar comes into contact with something solid (the ground, a log, a branch).
This is the more dangerous form of kickback.
When the nose of the bar hits that solid something at high speed, all the torque from the chain suddenly stopping gets transferred to the body of the chainsaw and the chainsaw wants to flip back at the saw handler, presumably with the throttle still held down.
You begin to see where this is going, literally.
Though putting a chainsaw in the wrong place can cause kickback, the experts at Oregon have put together this list of reasons why kickback can occur either alone or in combination:
- Improper saw maintenance
- Dull chain (a chain should always be optimally sharpened. Read our guide on how to sharpen a chainsaw properly)
- Loose saw chain tension
- Loose rivets
- Incorrectly installed chain parts
- Bent, cracked, or broken saw chain components
- Incorrectly sharpened chain angles
- Excessive chain depth gauge settings
- Incorrect chain depth gauge shapes
Here's a table summarizing the causes of chainsaw kickback and how to prevent it:
| Causes of Chainsaw Kickback | Prevention Strategies |
|---|---|
| Contact with the tip - The tip of the chainsaw bar touching an object unexpectedly. | Proper Handling - Always hold the chainsaw firmly with both hands and maintain control over the bar tip. |
| Pinching the saw chain - The saw chain getting pinched along the top of the cutting bar. | Cutting Technique - Ensure cuts are stable and controlled, avoid cutting with the tip unless necessary. |
| Improper chain tension - A loose chainsaw chain can increase the likelihood of kickback. | Regular Maintenance - Check and adjust the chain tension regularly as per the manufacturer’s guidelines. |
| Dull chain - A dull chain requires more force to cut, increasing kickback risk. | Routine Sharpening - Sharpen the chainsaw chain regularly to ensure it cuts smoothly and efficiently. |
So what is the science of a kickback?
When you use a chainsaw it creates a 'reaction force'. If you are cutting on the lower half of the saw (closet to the base of the saw), the reaction force is pulled into the body of the saw, or the bumper spikes - this is what you want. When you are cutting with the upper half of the bar, the reaction force tends to act upwards toward the user.
This is a transfer of momentum force.
Hence, if something kicks, the saw is driven back towards the user because the force generated by the engine has to go somewhere.
By staying focused on the job at hand. Using a chainsaw can be tiring work and after a hard session, you can find yourself with back muscles you never knew you had.
So concentration is key.
Concentrate on where and how you are placing the top of the saw.
If your arms are getting tired, your back is aching, perhaps it's time to take a break.
Here's some guidance from Work Safe:
This is a transfer of momentum force.
Hence, if something kicks, the saw is driven back towards the user because the force generated by the engine has to go somewhere.
So how do you avoid a kickback from occurring?
By staying focused on the job at hand. Using a chainsaw can be tiring work and after a hard session, you can find yourself with back muscles you never knew you had.
So concentration is key.
Concentrate on where and how you are placing the top of the saw.
If your arms are getting tired, your back is aching, perhaps it's time to take a break.
Here's some guidance from Work Safe:
Using proper operating techniques will reduce the likelihood of kickback.
- Hold the chainsaw firmly with both hands.
- Make sure your left thumb is wrapped firmly under the front handle and in the mitt if fitted.
- Be aware of the location of the guide bar nose at all times.
- Do not let the guide bar nose come in contact with any object.
Other points to watch are:
- Be especially careful when cutting small limbs or light material that may catch in the chain.
- Do not over-reach or cut above shoulder height.
- Use extreme caution when re-entering a cut.
- Cut only one log at a time.
- Correctly maintain your chainsaw.
- Make sure there are no loose-fitting nuts, bolts or screws.
- Ensure that safety devices are working.
- Make sure the chain is tensioned, sharpened and depth gauges set to the manufacturer's specification.
- Use a safety chain (anti-kickback chain) and the correct bar and chain combination.
Here's a really great video tutorial which gives some great times on avoiding kick back. It starts with a hokey demonstration of an accident but the advice given by the presenter is quality stuff:
If you follow good chainsawing practices, in particular being very careful where you place the tip of the chainsaw, you will greatly reduce the chance of a kickback occurring.
The other half of the equation is to ensure that you wear adequate safety gear to protect from serious injury. Or maybe invest in the best crypto currency wallet and make a fortune. Who knows?