Chainsaws are not toys.  They are serious tools with serious repercussions when mishandled.  Chainsaw injuries come in all shapes and sizes, from lacerations to the arms and legs to kickbacks to the chest or head.  No matter the form of injury, chainsaw injuries may be life threatening.  The best way to ensure you make it through your project unscathed by a chainsaw is to use proper safety gear and take other sensible precautions to reduce the possibility of causing harm to yourself.

Fortunately, chainsaw manufacturers, like U.S. SAWS, have been working to improve chainsaw safety options as well as educating users through owner’s manuals and operating guides to include instruction for proper use and proper safety measures while using your chainsaw.  Chainsaws have included safeguards, such as the automatic chain brake, to reduce the occurrence of kickbacks. Kickbacks are one of the most disastrous chainsaw hazards, and occurs when the chainsaw guidebar suddenly pushes upwards, typically aiming towards the users head or chest.  No matter the safety improvements made to chainsaws, it is always best practice to adhere to the manufacturer’s safety guidelines.

Below are four key recommended safety measures to take to keep yourself in one piece when handling a chainsaw.

Dress for Success

Learning how to use a chainsaw safely starts with the right protective clothing.  Step one is ensuring you have comfortable, breathable clothing that allows you freedom of movement, but is not baggy.  Overly baggy clothing risks getting caught in the chainsaw.

Typically jobs that require chainsaws usually come with flying debris, which can be hazardous to your hands and your eyes.  Proper fitting gloves are essential.  Gloves not only help protect from flying debris, but also help ensure you do not lose a finger in the event of a kickback.  Safety glasses are also imperative to avoid potential debris.  Regular eyeglasses or sunglasses leave open gaps on the side that allow debris to potentially become lodged in your eyes, which in turn, may cause permanent damage to your vision.  It is always best practice to utilize safety glasses in these situations.

Foot protection is necessary too.  Steel-toed boots with protective fabrics are the go to in this industry.  This heavy duty footwear protects the user from falling branches and even from that accidentally dropped chainsaw.  This type of footwear also comes in waterproof rubber for those wet cuts that require immersion in water.

Leg protection is equally as important.  Chainsaw chaps are leg protectors that are made out of Kevlar and work to deflect any accidental interaction with the chainsaw.  These protective coverings come with a variety of options to ensure you have the right gear for the proper conditions, including oil resistance and water resistance.  Many even come with open backs to provide breathability for your legs.  Chain saw jackets also operate in the same way as chainsaw chaps, protecting the chest area from the potentially traumatic effects of a kickback accident.

Helmets provide excellent protection for heads, and many come with visors that may provide an adequate replacement for safety goggles as a two in one piece of safety gear. Helmets are critical to reducing the damage from an errant kickback.

Finally, ear protection is a must.  Chainsaws are loud.  It is recommended that when exposed to noise levels above 85dB for an extended period of time, ear protection is required to prevent hearing loss.  While gas chainsaws are the loudest, many times electric and battery powered chainsaws can reach levels that will also cause damage to the ears.  Two options for ear protection include (1) in ear protectors, like earplugs, and (2) over the ear protectors which cover the entire ear area.

Get a Grip and Stay Grounded

Maintaining perfect form is not just for Olympians.  It is also key to properly and safely using a chainsaw.  Ensuring you have the right stance with the right grip on the chainsaw allows you to reduce your exposure to dangerous situations.  Chainsaws are heavy, and maintaining your balance helps keep your arms and legs from rapidly wearing out.   Keep a steady grip on the front and rear handles with your stance wide and with staggered feet.  Ensure the thumb of your left hand remains under the front handle.  This will reduce kickbacks.  Remain on steady ground.  Standing on ladders or rocks will throw you off balance and increase the potential for injury.

Maintenance Is Key

Properly maintaining your chainsaw is another vital component to chainsaw safety.  Always make sure your chain is sharpened. Sharpened chainsaws are more efficient at cutting, and dull chainsaws have a greater chance of causing kickback.  Make sure you are using a chainsaw that is sized properly for the job.  Guidebars come in different sizes and are made to work within the parameters of their sizing.  Cutting large branches with a small guidebar is never a good idea.  Cleaning debris out of the saw after each use is important in preventing unnecessary wear and tear on the chainsaw.  Unnecessary wear and tear opens the chainsaw up to malfunctions which can cause serious injury.  Keeping the chain and guidebar lubricated are critical to the well-being of your chainsaw.  If the chain and bar are not properly lubricated, friction builds, which can cause the chainsaw to overheat and may cause accidental burns to the user.  Ensuring the chain has proper tension with the right lubrication and sharpness is also key in preventing kickbacks.

Remember Emissions

While lacerations and amputations are the most widely known hazards of chainsaw use, chainsaw emissions can cause real damage as well.  While gasoline powered chainsaws may be the most powerful on the market, they come with a danger of their own.  Toxic gases, such as carbon monoxide, are emitted during the use of gas powered chainsaws.  It is imperative that these chainsaws are not used in close quarters or indoors.  Carbon monoxide poisoning is dangerous.  Exposure to carbon monoxide may result in nausea, vomiting, increased heart rate, impaired judgment, shortness of breath and even loss of consciousness.  If the project that needs completing is scheduled to be done indoors or in tight quarters, it would be best to locate a chainsaw that requires alternative power sources such as battery operated chainsaws.

Learning how to use a chainsaw and maintaining proper chainsaw safety precautions may seem overwhelming, but it does not have to be.  Contact U.S. SAWS today to determine the best chainsaws and protective gear to use for your project.

U.S.SAWS is an industry leader in the manufacturing and sales of outdoor power equipment.  Their chainsaws offer an exceptional level of safety and accuracy when cutting ductile iron pipe, PVC, or concrete and are frequently used by municipal water departments, underground, utility contractors and professional cutters. U.S. SAWS chainsaws are available as gas, hydraulic, or air powered saws. With an extensive range of powerful chainsaws, from lightweight all-rounders through to powerful workhorses, there’s a U.S Saw’s chainsaw for every potential job. With such a wide variety of options and models in their inventory, there are three key factors to consider before choosing the right chainsaw for your job.

The Size of the Job

Before spending a large sum of money on a fantastic, top of the line chainsaw, the first consideration should be about the size of the job at hand.  Not every job requires a large blade chainsaw with diamond chains.  Instead, it is best practice to get a general idea of how deep your cut will need to be, what type of material you are cutting,  and then gauge the setting in which you will be doing your cut.  For example, a utility worker may find him or herself in need of a chainsaw for cutting a submerged water pipe.  U.S. Saws has a great option for this scenario:   U.S. SAWS Air Chain Saw Model ACH-GB16.  This strong air powered chainsaw has no emissions while running, has very few moving parts, and has no kickback, which is optimal for tight quarters.  It comes with either a 16 inch blade or a 20 inch blade depending on the required depth of your cut.  In situations where minimal excavation occurs and irregular shapes are needed, U.S. SAWS offers the 20 inch Ductile Iron Cutting Air Chain Saw Package.  This outdoor power equipment package comes with a heavy duty chainsaw, bar, chain, storage bag, pipe clamp and chain extension.  The pipe clamp takes the back breaking work out of pipe cutting.

Your Experience Level

The second factor to consider is your experience level.  While some may think that bigger means better, that’s not always the case when it comes to chainsaws.  Not only is it important to choose a model suited to the tasks for which you will be using the chainsaw, it is just as important to choose a chainsaw that is comfortable for you to handle and is suited to your experience level.  As DIY projects become more prevalent with more people working from home, many new homeowners are excited by the prospect of using chainsaws for their new projects.  Chainsaws are powerful and can be very dangerous in the wrong hands.  It is important to realize that chainsaws are can be very heavy, and a heavy chainsaw will wear out your arms faster than a lighter chainsaw, which opens you and those around you to potentially dangerous situations.  However, using a smaller chainsaw for a large job will also cause the same problem.  Much like tale of Goldilocks and the Three Bears, it is important that the person using the chainsaw finds one with the proper weight and fit for the user’s size and strength and balances that with the size of the job at hand.

The Power Source

The third factor to consider when preparing to purchase a chainsaw is the type of power source.  Much like blade size and weight, chainsaws offer a wide variety of power sources which are dependent on the type of job for which the chainsaw is intended.  Depending on the scenario, more power is not always the best option.  U.S. SAWS offers chainsaws that are powered by gas, hydraulics or air, all of which are great in their own ways and suited to different users and tasks.  The choice of power is reliant on the application.  Air powered chainsaws, or pneumatic chainsaws, are typically lightweight and easy to maintain, but they do require the operator to be tethered to an air compressor, which is then also fueled usually with diesel fuel which drives up the cost of using a pneumatic chainsaw.  Hydraulic powered chainsaws are long lasting and are great for use in wet conditions and also have reduced emissions, making it a great option for use in tight spaces.  Gas chainsaws are real powerhouses.  Their motors provide more power than pneumatic or hydraulic chainsaws.  However, one of the best benefits to gas powered chainsaws is their portability.  As they are not attached to a power outlet in anyway, they can be used in the field where electrical outlets are scarce.

No matter the size of the job, the experience level of the user, or the power source of the chainsaw, make sure to always wear your safety gear!

U.S. Saws is an innovator in outdoor power equipment.  Contact U.S. Saws today to find the right chainsaw for your job.

 

Concrete is a diverse medium for use in residential and commercial spaces.  Concrete workers and interior designers are able to maximize the flexibility of concrete via its texture, color, and sheen, at a rate that is easy on the budget.  As miraculous as concrete seems, it also needs to be properly installed and maintained to avoid excessive cracks.  However, not all cracks in concrete are bad.  As a matter of fact, the installation of concrete requires certain planned cracks, called control joints, to ensure that the cracking is manageable and works with the functionality of the flooring.  The control joints work to manage the contraction and expansion of the concrete as it cures and dries.  Cracks are inevitable, but by creating control joints and utilizing the proper fillers, any damage from the natural contraction and expansion of the concrete is mitigated.  Ensuring the control joints are spaced out properly is the key to the reduction of unwanted cracks.

When the control joints are created, they need to be filled in order to provide the necessary cushion between the two pieces of concrete.    There exist two industry standard types of joint fillers:  epoxy control joint fillers and polyurea control joint fillers.  Polyurea joint fillers are the easiest to work with of these two fillers.  Fast setting with a flowable pour, the polyurea joint filler is a great choice for people who want to not only filly joints, but also for caulking and crack repairs.  Polyurea filler is also versatile in that it can be made in a variety of colors.

What is the Purpose of a Polyurea Pump?

While the polyurea control joint filler is versatile, it does require the combination of two chemicals at the time of placement in the control joint. Because of the fast setting aspect of the polyurea joint filler, you need a pump that allows you to merge and apply the compounds at a rapid pace.  Once the two compounds merge, they start to cure and dry.  Polyurea pumps apply the fast-acting, merged compounds to their proper place in the control joint quickly.  Typically a job for multiple people due to the dual components, the polyurea pump makes this a one-man job, reducing labor costs and allowing the joint filler to be applied swiftly and with maximum precision.

Top Accessories for Your Pump

Every great tool needs equally as great accessories.  The polyurea pump is no different.  Because the polyurea joint filler is applied to cracks, both planned and unplanned, it is important to ensure the cracks are clean and free of debris.  Many times, joints that have been filled will need a new application of joint filler.  In order to do this, it is important to remove any remaining filler to ensure proper cohesion.  This is where the crack chaser plays a vital role.  The U.S.SAWS 5” hand-held premium crack chaser is a prime example of a high-quality crack chaser.  This handy tool is small and lightweight making it perfect for use horizontal and vertical repairs.  It also comes equipped with dry diamond blades.

A power inverter is another great accessory for the polyurea pump.  In using a battery, the polyurea pump is freed from the constraints of the power cord.  Cord-free operation is handy for those tight situations where a cord can get in the away, or in times when a power source is not conveniently located nearby.  U.S.SAWS 1200W Power Inverter is a great choice.

Because of the quick setting materials in the polyurea filler, it is vital to clean the components to the pump quickly after use.  Having a replacement pump on hand is always a good call.  The U.S.SAWS Polyurea Replacement Pump works to prevent seal leaks and is much easier to clean.

Finally, as the tanks are a vital piece of the polyurea pump puzzle, it is always a good idea to have replacement tanks for the pump as well.  A spare resin tank and a spare hardener tank on hand will ensure that should there be any issue with your current tanks, you have clean, debris-free spares to use.

U.S.SAWS One Man Polyurea Pump

Priding itself on quality tools at the right price, U.S.SAWS has created its One Man Polyurea Pump.  This top-of-the-line pump is operated by a single user and delivers optimal precision while reducing the need for increased labor costs.  This pump comes equipped with a T handle that allows the operator to guide the pump along the control joint or crack easily and precisely.  The tanks are lower, which enables the operator to fill and refill the tanks with ease.  There is even an enclosed box for tool storage!  Cord-free operation is available via the storage space where a power inverter with a battery or a generator can be accommodated.  This polyurea pump is balanced and well-conceived for ease of use and efficiency.

U.S.SAWS is an innovator in the tool industry.  As concrete flooring gains popularity, U.S.SAWS remains on the cutting edge of tool manufacturing for concrete surface prep.  Contact U.S.SAWS today to find the right polyurea pump for your concrete job.

Since before the time of the ancient Romans, concrete has been a vital resource for use in the industrial and construction world.  Over the last several years, however, concrete use has spilled over into the interior design world as well.  Because of its price point, durability and variety, concrete floors are popping up all over commercial and residential locations.  Whether the building owner is looking for that “unfinished” industrial chic look or just sees the practicality of inexpensive flooring, concrete floors have become all the rage.

Concrete surfaces are known for their hardness (no dropped egg is going to survive a tumble in a kitchen with concrete flooring, although, a great rug will help in that regard).  They’re also known for their durability and versatility.  From utilitarian finishes to texted, chic colors and designs, concrete surfaces can bring style to the most humdrum of locations.  Of course, obtaining and maintaining that high sheen requires some work with concrete specific tools.

In order to get the finish you want, whether it is for a repair or a new floor, it is important to ensure the concrete is prepped properly prior to applying any finishing coats.

Remove Debris and Material

While concrete flooring is definitely a low-maintenance flooring option, there is some intense preparation that needs to be done to achieve and maintain that highly finished look.  Surface preparation is the key to ensuring your concrete flooring finish lasts.   The first step in proper surface preparation is to remove any debris or material that will affect the finished product.  Initially, this can be done with a broom and vacuum, but the process doesn’t stop there.  This work is done with concrete grinding tools and requires specific safety gear to protect the workers from hazardous fine dust particles that can get into their lungs.  The purpose of the grinding is to remove any damaged or weak concrete from the slab.  This also helps clean the surface of any oil or residues that may be on the concrete that would inhibit the finishing process.  After the concrete has been ground down, it is important to roughen up the concrete with the right abrasive technique.  Depending on the purpose of the flooring, there are several different techniques, such as acid etching, abrasive blasting, and water-jetting, that are used to roughen up the surface to ensure the sealants and overlays last.  Once the concrete has been roughened up, you can go ahead and add your sealant and overlays.

Cleaning and Repairing Concrete

 

With so many daily stresses in our lives, it’s great to know one thing can be simple, and that is cleaning up concrete flooring.  Tile flooring can get dirt and grime wedged in the grout in between the tiles.  Carpets can stain due to spills and dirt, some of these stains wind up being permanent.  Concrete flooring avoids all of these hassles.  It is easy to clean and maintain and just requires some maintenance every few years.  The properly finished concrete surface is resistant to water, stains, and abrasions.  This makes cleaning up dirty pet paws or spilled drinks a breeze.  Using a pH-neutral cleanser and avoiding harsh products like ammonia and bleach will help preserve the integrity of your finish.  Harsh cleaners will degrade the finish and react with the concrete.

Repairing concrete is easy as pie too, with the right tools.  A properly finished and well maintained concrete floor should last between eight and fifteen years.  Sometimes, no matter how well-loved the floor may be, repairs will need to be made.  The extent of the repairs will depend on whether the concrete surface issues are structural or aesthetic.  Preparing the area for repair is an important step.  All cracked and flaking bits of concrete need to be removed from the surface area. The original sealant will need to be removed.  Dust, debris, and oils all need to be removed prior to starting any repair work.  If you are repairing a crack in the concrete, it is important to remember that concrete shrinks, and your current concrete floor has already completed its shrinking cycle.  You will want to ensure any filler you use to repair the cracks is a low shrinkage filler to ensure bonding does not fail.  Once the crack(s) are repaired, treat the concrete surface again with whatever abrasive technique is proper for your particular flooring to roughen it up, and then reseal the floor and polish until it is as shiny as you want it.

Prevent Further Issues for Long Lasting Finish

 

In order to maximize the durability of your concrete surface, make sure to maintain it regularly.  Removing and resealing the surface every few years will help prevent cracking.  Ensuring you are not using harsh chemicals to clean your floor will help preserve the sealant and the shine.  As the sealant is the top section of your flooring, this is where several eye-catching issues may arise.   If you are doing the prepping and finishing the floor yourself, make sure to follow all manufacturers’ directions regarding sealants.  Many issues, for example, bubbles in the surface, will become non-issues when you read the manufacturers’ instructions and learn the limitations of the product you intend to use.  Preventing problems is much easier and less costly than having to solve problems.

U.S.SAWS is a leader in the concrete tool business, and their inventory of surface prep tools is versatile and extensive.  Contact U.S.SAWS today to determine what tools you need to achieve that high gloss concrete finish.