chainsaw and left handed!

Muckit

I'm lefthanded and occasionally use a chainsaw. I am conscious of the safety implications. I have all the safety gear but notice gloves padded for rh use. Should I learn to use the saw as a right handed person or can you get left handed saw?

Sir Arthur Daley

They used be left handed saws years ago but all modern chainsaws are designed to be used 'right handed'. That is, the right hand on the rear handle, and the left hand on the top handle.
You will have to start using the saw this way as will be posted in your owner's / user's manual of your saw.
I know you said you are aware of the safety implications but you are putting yourself in a huge risk, in a kick-back situation for example the chainsaw held left handed will kick back right toward your face or into your right forearm.
Also the 'kill switch' for most modern saws is located to be operated with the right thumb. Holding the saw 'lefty' makes this harder to reach while maintaining a secure grip on the rear handle.
Would you consider doing a course or even get tuition from a tree surgeon to give you professional advice and help in learning to use a saw properly.

Nekarsulm

if you have a good size husky or stihl, you could try searching Canadian or US ebay for a "full wrap" handle for your saw. have a search on youtube for them to see what they look like.

Rovi

Even with a full wrap handle, I'd still be shy of working a saw left handed.
Many of the safety features on modern saws are configured for right handed use and are compromised by using them left handed.
Plus, the bar and chain can get that extra bit closer to you before the body of the saw stops it.

As far as I know, no saw maker currently offers a left handed option.

On the saw courses I've done, everyone was instructed in right handed use, including the lefties.

sthilmick

you'll just have to get used to working the saw right handed I'm a lefty too and have had to make the change to working it the righty way but you can get 2 handed protection gloves the stihl gloves are 2 handed protection its a matter of training yourself in and it'll become more natural its the same with grinders consaws most power tools are for right handers

Nekarsulm

Rovi wrote: »

Even with a full wrap handle, I'd still be shy of working a saw left handed.
Many of the safety features on modern saws are configured for right handed use and are compromised by using them left handed.
Plus, the bar and chain can get that extra bit closer to you before the body of the saw stops it.

As far as I know, no saw maker currently offers a left handed option.

On the saw courses I've done, everyone was instructed in right handed use, including the lefties.

Even back in the day when you could get a special McCullogh, only the pull starter was on the right hand side. Chain bar was that side as usual.

Muckit

Thanks everyone for your contributions! I'll start using saw right handed!

Sam Kade

I'm left handed and have used chainsaws for years right handed I never took any notice of the difference.

Banbh

As a ciotog, I've used a chainsaw for many years using the reaching across method. It's safer to have a good grip on the saw than switching to a right-handed hold.

Before advising people to use a saw against their physiology, ask them to write you a letter with their right (wrong) hand and see how much control they have.

sthilmick

Banbh wrote: »

As a ciotog, I've used a chainsaw for many years using the reaching across method. It's safer to have a good grip on the saw than switching to a right-handed hold.

Before advising people to use a saw against their physiology, ask them to write you a letter with their right (wrong) hand and see how much control they have.

**** talk I'm left handed we live in a right handed world if you can't train yourself to use a chainsaw right handed were all the safety's are then you've no business using one put it down before you hurt yourself

Banbh

Most tools are right-handed but with a little dexterity can be managed by us lefties.

Bolt-action rifles were always the biggest problem but even the old .303 could be held with the left hand when operating the bolt. I knew a guy who could use the bolt with his left hand reaching over the weapon. Never worked for me but chainsaws are fairly easy.

I wonder what sort of shot a left-handed person would have firing a rifle the right (that is, the wrong) way. Safer to hold any machine the way you can manage it.

sthilmick

Banbh wrote: »

Most tools are right-handed but with a little dexterity can be managed by us lefties.

Bolt-action rifles were always the biggest problem but even the old .303 could be held with the left hand when operating the bolt. I knew a guy who could use the bolt with his left hand reaching over the weapon. Never worked for me but chainsaws are fairly easy.

I wonder what sort of shot a left-handed person would have firing a rifle the right (that is, the wrong) way. Safer to hold any machine the way you can manage it.

It's more about your master eye there are no left handed styer rifles in the Irish Army (even though there is a pop out port and left handed action available from styer available at no extra cost) I know that the left eyed guys often use and balaclava with a leather patch for the round extraction so it doesn't burn them in the cheek