Weedeater warning

[Junior1942]

If any of you guys use a weedeater with a saw blade for cutting brush, check the blade attachment! A guy here was using one and the blade came off. It hit the guard and didn't go backwards, but it then went sideways and hit a tree. Then it bounced off the tree, and hit the guy in his left thigh. It sliced a big gash and severed the femoral artery. He bled to death in a couple of minutes. . . .

[Ricky P]

ouch man that is bad I use a weed eater clearing out shooting lanes and trails in heavy bush the factory style blades wont do the job so I have been using carbie saw blades. Now I got to find something else to use.

[schutzen]

Becareful with the walk-behind cable weed wackers too. I had a neighbor using one to clear brush behind his house. It threw a piece of fence wire that hit him in the cartaroid artery. He to bled to death. It was a really sad. He was 63, just retired, and cleaning up a hillside for a pistol range.

[Bigjohn]

You also need to watch out for 'kickback' with these as well.

I have one which uses either the blade or wire. I had the blade on and was clearing the fence line between my place and the neighbours.
The blade struck something hard and 'kicked' of to the side and became stuck in the stump of a long dead Cypress tree. It buried itself into the stump by about an inch and a half.

I often wonder if the kickback could be strong enough to break the boom and allow it to swing around at the operator.

I won't allow my dog outside when I an slashing for this reason.

In the early days, the local pine fallers used a boom saw to cut down the trees, a number of them died from kickback accidents.

John.

[Bret4207]

Amazing! What are the chances of these freak accidents happening? I use a Husky 165R which is the biggest clearing saw Husky ever made, sorta Agent Orange with an engine. I use 7.5" carbide skillsaw blades too. IME you'llknow the blade is loose long before it has a chance to come off and do any damage. I've been using this for almost 20 years so it's not like this is new to me.

As with any tool accidents do happen. Condolences to those who've been victims of these freak accidents.

[uncle joe]

I hate to say it but it sounds like a chain saw would be safer than a weed eater
:confused:
or a kaiser blade
who would have thought they would be safe, although a cousin of my wife lost his step father to a chain saw. It kicked back (using it over his head) and cut his corrated artery.

[Four Fingers of Death]

I wear a Stihl helmet with face screen and ear muffs when weedwhacking and add safety glasses and chainsaw chaps when operating my chainsaw. I'm reallllllllllllllllll careful. I've heard of many nasty accidents.

I also don't use any cheapo grinder blades, only yankee, british, german or aussie. My bro in law saw a guy using a grinder and the wheel exploded and ripped his chest completely open.

I have a mad Kiwi mate who used my garage to fit a second hand auxillary fuel tank to his landcruiser. He operated the grinder underneath the car, without safety glasses or ear muffs, refused them when I bought out a set of each for him. He had sparks showering all over his head, I was wetting my pants watching him. Then I realised that he didn't have a safety guard on the grinder and the wheel was tiny. I mentioned this to him, trying to keep a straight face and he said he removed it so he could use all of the blade. Boy, was I glad when he finished the job and packed up his gear.
Mick.

[Junior1942]

Mick, I'm betting your old mate now has only one eye and is missing a finger or two.

[MtGun44]

You gotta follow the safety rules. I'd be pretty scared of a saw blade on
the end of a weed eater.

When I was a young pup engineer, I worked with an older (and technically
smarter- but not wiser) engineer named Walt. Walt had a VW bug that needed the
CV joints greased, and I had done it before, so offered to show him how. It was
winter in WVa, so we pulled the halfshafts and took them to his basement.

First it was WEIRD, there was NOTHING in his basement except a water heater
and furnace !!!!!!! Mine are always full of junk. In any case he went upstairs
and got a 1/2" deep cookie pan and a gallon can of gas. I warned him that this
was crazy in a closed basement next to a running furnace and gas water heater.
He said "Oh, I clean parts like this all the time." I said "I'm not going to stay if
you are going to really do that." He opened the can and I left, in a hurry, looking
for the BOOM as I left. He was fine at work the next day, chuckling at my silliness
over the cleaning of parts in the basement.

I worked there about 3 years, and left. About 10 yrs later I visited my old boss
and asked about Walt. My boss started out, "Well, things haven't worked out
well for Walt since you left. He was seriously hurt in an explosion and fire that
destroyed his house. Spent months in the hospital and his wife divorced him.
He was cleaning some parts in the basement with gasoline. "

I was shocked, but not surprised, if you know what I mean. :(

Ya'll be careful out there.

Bill

[10-x]

Think this all goes to the use of common sense.
I know there was a thread about Common Sense's death , but I know many of us here still abide by his rules.
Yesterday I changed my stihl weedeater over to the 3 bladed head and cut the weeds, dead leaves, roots and vines from under my privace fence, about 350 '. I do this every summer in a effort to keep from feeding the termites.
I alway wear safety glasses, a hat, and shin guards AND stay on the safe side of rotation of the weedeater.
Works for me.:drinks:

[MtGun44]

I always say -

"The Laws of Physics will be STRICTLY enforced."

A lot of folks think they can sneak by. . . . . . .

Bill

[Shotgun Luckey]

wow, that is not cool

[10-x]

Dont get me wrong......I do not believe in evolution........but the theory of "Natural Selection" seems to work in keeping the gene pool cleaner.

I have "worked around" some really careless, scary, ignorant individuals in the past 30 years, gastly injuries, many $1,000's-10,000.00's of equipment damaged all the result of CARE-LESS-NESS!
I firmly believe, due to my experience, there is no such thing as an accident.
One can never be too careful.
Look at our hobby..............nuf sed:drinks:

[twotoescharlie]

definition of accident---premeditated carelessness

TTC

[10-x]

How bout "rectal optosis"[smilie=1: