When you started to use a chainsaw? I have a 14-year-old who wants to start and I am not letting him at this time. Just want to hear some opinions. Can’t quite remember for me but I know it was probably too young. I know strength and common sense are the main things to consider.
I’m gonna stay out of this one. I think this is one of those things you need to determine for yourself. If you decide to, it needs to be 100% supervised.
Remember, the chainsaw isn’t the most likely cause of injury. It’s the shifting wood that’s gonna get you more times than anything.
we heated with wood from the time I was very young and I watched dad and how he went about cutting down,limbing,and blocking up the tree.
I got my own saw when I was twelve years old and it had a sixteen inch bar.
I was allowed to cut the limbs off after dad dropped the tree and I would help cut up the tree until it got thick enough at the trunk I couldnt cut anymore.
bet I spent an entire summer with that thing clearing fence rows and field edges,got to drop my first big tree with dads saw the next year.
growing up around chainsaws and buzzsaws helped immensely.
I cannot stress supervision enough,there is no part of the human body that has a chance against that chain for even a split second.
the damage from that chain is a gruesome sight when it rips through the flesh and bone and if cut deep enough out in the middle of nowhere,bleeding out is a reality that will end in death.
he is never too young to teach respect of it and what it can do,chaps and gloves are a must as well as good hearing protection.
find some factory videos on how to run a chainsaw properly and make sure no one is near him/you when cutting.
until he is proficient with it,make sure you have a good safety style chain on it and never ever let it get dull as it will hurt you quicker than a sharp one.
good luck teaching him and learning along side of him.
when he is ready is up to you and how comfortable you are with his abilities.
stay safe !!
I’ll say that I learned to operate a chain saw by trial and error. I truly suspect that the average homeowner has done the same. Some of us have simply by sure volume, learned a few things along the way. Others don’t really have enough experience under their belts to understand the risks and the technics to mitigate those risks.
Yet we continue to do what we do,,,,,, mostly clean up a bit of storm damage, maybe drop a smaller tree now or then, cut a load of firewood.
I don’t really recommend this “self taught” route. With out knowing your skill level and training, I wouldn’t begin to offer an opinion as to how wise it would or would not be for you to train and supervise your son. All I know is that there are professional schools (training camps) in chain saw operation, tree cutting, tree felling and associated skills.
If you are a trained professional, I would encourage you start him off with simple basic tasks. If you yourself have not received professional training, I would encourage you both to take some classes together.
I hope I have not offended you or anyone else reading my response. Chainsaw operation is a dangerous activity and needs to be treated as such.
When you started to use a chainsaw? I have a 14-year-old who wants to start and I am not letting him at this time. Just want to hear some opinions. Can’t quite remember for me but I know it was probably too young. I know strength and common sense are the main things to consider.
Proper PPE (personal protective equipment) is also a main thing to not only consider, but actually use.
Chaps, leather steel-toed boots, gloves, glasses, and ear plugs at a minimum.
My neighbor (who knows his way around a saw and how to protect himself), was just going to “do a quick job” IN SANDALS!
His neglect severed a tendon in his foot and put him out of work for a couple months……
…
chainsaw-accident.jpg
I would first make sure he is physically able to handle the rig. Without having it running watch him go thru some motions and if he falters or shows any sign that the weight is an issue I’d tell him wait a year.
Simple trimming or lopping on limbs of a felled tree with a chain saw has a lot happening at once and as was pointed out shifting trunks or larger limbs are what will likely cause more accidents just because a running saw is in the mix. Then keep in mind that a simple slip can remove a finger or a hand or a foot or….
You know your kid better than any of us and you are saying “no”. There has to be a reason for that. Stick to your decision.
Most days not sure I’m old enough.
Good info so far.
One thing I’m a stickler on is that chain brake has to be clicked on when my kids aren’t cutting, I do it too. If the wood chips aren’t flying, click it or ticket.
I think I was twelve when ER sowed my finger back together after getting too close to Dad running the chain saw. 
I don’t recall when I first used the saw. But I do remember when I bought my first saw and read the safety manual that was larger then the owner’s manual.
Had I not operated a saw prior, I might not have ever used one after reading that!
Start with a cordless saw saz, limbing trees. And have him move up from there
Start with a cordless saw saz, limbing trees. And have him move up from there
Now this is a great thought.
at 14, he should be loading and then driving the truck full of wood, the 4 miles to the house and unloading and heading back for more… that’s what I did at 14. I would say I was 16 before I got to “run the saw”… haven’t stopped since
When you started to use a chainsaw? I have a 14-year-old who wants to start and I am not letting him at this time. Just want to hear some opinions. Can’t quite remember for me but I know it was probably too young. I know strength and common sense are the main things to consider.
I was much younger than 14 at the time, HOWEVER…
It’s less about WHEN, and more about WHAT you start him off doing. Certain operations are FAR more dangerous and likely to cause injury than others.
I was started off bucking (crosscutting) trees into firewood length. At this point, the most dangerous operations (felling and limbing) were done.
Dad would line up the trees lying down on the snow and I would buck them into lengths. IMO this gave me a respect and feel for the saw, helped build strength and coordination, etc but dangerous variables were controlled. With bucking you’re using the “flat” of the bar, so kickback danger is minimized. Also, the “down” weight of the saw does more work for the user so it’s less taxing.
Most “chainsaw” accidents are caused by other unsafe conditions first. Getting your feet tangled when limbing, using the bar tip to cut, falling from ladders, improper saw control, and getting hit with trees or limbs when felling.
When he starts is up to you, but IMO how a beginner starts is as important to safety.
Grouse
Start with a cordless saw saz, limbing trees. And have him move up from there
Totally disagree. A cordless saw has 100% of the dangers of a gas saw. There is no difference. A chain with teeth zipping at hundreds of FPS is a chain with teeth zipping at hundreds of FPS. What powers the motor makes no difference.
Limbing is the second most dangerous operation, second only to felling. Limbs bind the saw easily, they can be bowed under and whip back when cut to to shatter a face or arm, and the temptation to tip cut increases kickback danger. It’s also easy for feet to get tangled in limbs or to trip and fall on the saw.
Grouse
Each person is going to be different but I would really be cautious. To me if you have any doubt then hes not old enough. Too many things that could go wrong.
Good lord I think I was around 13 give or take on summer vacation. My dad told me if I could start it I could use lol.
33. Dad would never let me run his. He was happy to have me as a splitting and loading slave. I remember my cousin running one when he was 12. His dad worked in the N MN woods as a skidder operator, too. I think it depends on the size of the saw and the physical ability of the operator.
He said cordless sawzall not chain saw if you looked grouse.
Good lord I think I was around 13 give or take on summer vacation. My dad told me if I could start it I could use lol.
That’s my son’s rule with his dirt bike. He is 7 has been riding a few years but always wants me to start it.
If he wants to, like really wants to, you better show him how to safely operate it now, and what your rules are for operating it. Telling a teenager you can’t do something usually gets interpreted in their brains to, You can’t do that until mom and dad aren’t around…not that I know from experience, but I’ve heard 
My two oldest started running saws at 12 and 13. Both were driving dirt bikes, wheelers, lawn tractors, tractors, weed whips, push mowers, etc and learned how to drive a manual samurai way before they could legally drive. Each kid has a way different level of understanding and physical ability. What grouse is saying is exactly how they started, cutting fire wood lengths after everything else was done. Felling trees or limbing is was to dangerous imo, relatively thinking.
Helmets with a safety face guard and ear muffs, along with ear plugs with safety glasses. Ear plugs and muffs seem like overkill, but I’m deaf in my left ear and don’t want my kids to be deaf as a post.
Chaps.
Boots.
Gloves.
Are all must have’s.
A sharp, properly working saw is a no brainer.
A good first aid kit isn’t a dumb idea if you’re out in the back 40, with good cell service helps.
Like anything else, short stints and positive reinforcement helps, with lots of communication about proper ways to do things.
He said cordless sawzall not chain saw if you looked grouse.
Look again. He didn’t write “Sawzall”. He wrote a “cordless saw saz”. I didn’t know what a “saw saz” was, I assumed he meant one of the new cordless chainsaws.
Grouse
All good stuff thanks!!!
I first start at 12 or so, cutting branches on a saw buck. I learned how to hold the saw, proper stance, saw control and didn’t need to worry about a branch or tree falling on my head or the saw pinchin.
Exposure before age. I don t think age matters as much. A kid that has constant exposure to safety procedures can be more ready than many adults
If he wants to, like really wants to, you better show him how to safely operate it now, and what your rules are for operating it. Telling a teenager you can’t do something usually gets interpreted in their brains to, You can’t do that until mom and dad aren’t around…not that I know from experience, but I’ve heard
X2
I waited until my parents went to work and then I taught myself all of sorts of things I shouldn’t have been doing alone.
I waited until my parents went to work and then I taught myself all of sorts of things I shouldn’t have been doing alone
And some of those things I bet you did alone for a while….. Haha
DT
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