It is standard practice for most to engage the chain brake before
starting a saw. It is not any different than starting a small saw in
the back yard, as starting a saw is still starting a saw. There are
correct procedures for a chain brake and for saws without a chain
brake. Drop starting is just looking for trouble.

On Sat, 20 Mar 2004 21:22:13 -0600, zxcvbob
wrote:

===Stephen M. Henning wrote:
===
===
=== One of the most dangerous times in using a chair saw is when starting a
=== gasoline saw. That is the one time you don't have very good control of
=== it. A good starting technique that can be used in the woods is
=== essential. This is especially true of the more powerful saws.
===
===No it's not. The chain doesn't start moving until the motor is reved high
===enough to engage the clutch. A modern saw will have a chain brake, and if
===it's engaged the blade will not turn even if you rev it up. And they don't
===rev very fast when first starting. It is possible to cut yourself when
===starting a saw without the chain brake set, but there are lots of cutting
===situations that are *much* more dangerous (like felling a big sycamore tree
===or a leaning tree without first wrapping a logging chain around the trunk
===to keep it from splitting, or trimming limbs while standing on a ladder.)
===
===-Bob

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