Chainsaw proof pants. Chainsaw proof pants

About

Grand Forest, Inc. is a woman and veteran owned and operated company. Founded on the belief that loggers should be safe and well equipped, Grand Forest is a premier manufacturer of chainsaw protective clothing and a distributor of quality outdoor brands.

The company was established in 1985 by a Swedish gentleman who saw a need for chainsaw protective clothing in the United States. The company started producing chainsaw protective pants and later chaps in order to outfit the professional logger. As safety training increased nationwide with programs such as “The Game of Logging”, the professional market started embracing safety clothing. It helped loggers be more efficient and reduced the number of injuries on the job site. It is now clear that safety is not only for the professional, but also important for every homeowner, farmer, and occasional user who picks up a chainsaw. Grand Forest is passionate about manufacturing a product, here in the US, for all chainsaw users.

Our Mission

To utilize unique talents to bring innovative, elite products to the US Market by manufacturing Locally and Sourcing Globally. Our dedicated group effort – built on loyalty, integrity and mutual respect – enables each individual at Grand Forest to Live, Laugh and Grow.

Our Vision

At Grand Forest, our vision is to design, develop and distribute innovative, elite products for the outdoor enthusiast.

Our Team

“Individual commitment to a group effort – that is what makes a team work, a company work, a society work, a civilization work.” ~ Vince Lombardi

All of our chainsaw protective apparel is sewn in Summerville, South Carolina. Everyone at Grand Forest plays an important role in providing customers with life saving chainsaw protective gear. Customer testimonies of close-calls and direct hits inspire us to ensure our product continuously evolves with modern technology and industry standards.

Our team of sewing specialists have the skills and experience to produce quality products that they take pride in and reflect Grand Forest’s values.

Our Manufacturing Process

Grand Forest is a robust, multifaceted cut and sew facility, located in Summerville, South Carolina. While our production primarily revolves around products related to the forest industry, such as chainsaw protective clothing and rugged workwear, we also pride ourselves on the flexibility to design and develop new innovative products. Our employees are diverse in their skills and are cross-trained to work in our dynamic environment. With a custom and individualized training program, new sewing specialists from all experience levels are able to quickly transition into the daily workflow. Our skilled team of employees and technology are highly valuable to our operation as they maximize production and efficiency.

Grand Forest can be contracted to produce private label products according to a customer’s specifications.

Chainsaw Protection Worlds Strongest

Engtex, a Swedish textile company based in Mullsjö, has come a long way since its early days of making clothes. In the 1970s, they realized that the Swedish textile industry needed to adapt to changing market trends. To stay ahead, Engtex diversified into industrial textiles and developed breakthrough products like saw protection pants, which quickly gained popularity. Today, Engtex is a leading manufacturer of chain saw protection textiles, with their products experiencing strong growth in the market. In this text, we’ll explore the market and what makes Engtex’s chain saw protection products stand out.

Halved weight – increased strength

Engtex has been dedicated to improving their products over time, and they have made significant advancements. Instead of using polyester fiber, they have opted for stronger materials, making their saw protection more effective while reducing its weight and thickness by half. over, the newer, thinner protection offers better comfort, enabling improved airflow and moisture transport. The latest generation of their most expensive pants has left users impressed, particularly when compared to pants manufactured in the 80s and 90s. It is worth noting that the fiber material that offers the best saw protection is more expensive. But when it comes to safeguarding your leg or even your life, investing in quality protection is always worth considering.

Fiber is 15 times stronger than steel

Dyneema is currently the best fiber for saw protection on the market. This fiber is manufactured by a Dutch company and is known as “the world’s strongest fiber”. It’s used in products that require super-strong ropes and textile fibers, as well as military protective gear that can withstand bullets and fragments, much like Kevlar. When I asked Engtex CEO Patrik Johansson why they don’t use Kevlar, he explained that, despite being a strong material, Kevlar is only five times stronger than steel and has a similar structure to cellulose fiber, which is what the chainsaw is designed to cut. Therefore, it’s not suitable for saw protection.

The weaving method is the secret

When a chainsaw chain hits the pants, it needs to pull off many fibers that stick to the sprocket to stop the chain. Engtex CEO Patrik Johansson compares this effect to a common weaving technique used for bed sheets. The threads are interwoven to lock each other in place, making it impossible to pull out a single thread from the sheet.

The saw protection fabric is made using a unique weaving technique known as “warp knitting.” Unlike the crosswise weaving technique used for bed sheets, this fabric has a thread structure consisting of two layers of strong Dyneema threads laid perpendicular to each other, held together by a third layer that knits them together. This allows for easy removal of each thread, regardless of its orientation. When the saw chain hits the fabric, it tears apart a large number of super-strong threads, which quickly entangle with the chain and sprocket, resulting in an almost instantaneous stop.

Own brand for chain saw protecting textile

The protective pads in chainsaw pants may seem like a small component, but they play a critical role in ensuring protection. Engtex, the maker of the pads, has branded them as “AVERTIC” to differentiate and showcase the quality of their fabric. Some clothing manufacturers, such as STIHL in Germany, have also started using this brand to highlight the superior quality of their protective clothing.

Three different classes of chain saw protection

Many institutions regularly test the saw protection capacity of protective pants. One of the most well-known testing and research institutions is KwF (Kuratorium für Waldarbeit Forsttechnik) in Germany, which conducts thorough testing of various protective products. Here’s a quick example of a STIHL test from KwF’s testing facility:

Saw protection pants have three different classes of protection, each with specific requirements and testing protocols. All saw protection tests use the same standardized calibration pads to trim their testing facilities. These pads are created by Engtex and consist of complete saw protection with uniform characteristics.

The requirement for the saw protection in each class is that the chain when it has stopped, should not have damaged the innermost fabric layer in the pants. The different protection classes are:

Class 1, should stand a chain speed of 20 meters/second (65,6 ft/sec)

Class 2, should stand a chain speed of 24 meters/second (78,7 ft/sec)

Sick of Hot Heavy Chainsaw Pants. Get TreeCREW from Clogger

Class 3, should stand a chain speed of 28 meters/second (91,9 ft/sec)

All tests are done in Europe at a 45-degree angle on the pants leg. In the United States, they are made at a 90-degree angle, cross over the leg.

Six layers

The most effective saw protection pants on the market today use the Avertic Pro or Avertic Pro Lite fabric. The Avertic Pro Lite fabric weighs a mere 99 grams per square meter and requires six layers for protection class 1, or eight layers for protection class 2.

The growing market for chain saw protection

According to Patrik Johansson from Engtex, the future of saw chain protection looks promising. He states that there are new markets that have not previously used protective clothing, like some countries in Eastern Europe and Russia. Additionally, countries such as Germany are seeing an increase in the use of chainsaws, which creates a higher demand for protective clothing.

In the United States, there is a growing market for saw protection clothing, particularly among younger generations who are more safety conscious. Patrik also notes that protective clothing manufacturers have been successful in designing clothing that is both safe and stylish. To meet the increasing demand, Engtex plans to move to a new and larger production facility soon.

It all begins with the laying of the warp, where the fibers are positioned with the required spacing for the final product. In a massive rack, over 1000 thread spools are available. Thin fibers are directed from the spools towards the collecting reel, where they are wound up at an impressive speed of 60 km/h (37 mph). Each spool has 10 km (10,000 meters/32,800 ft) of fiber. The warp I observed had almost 1200 threads.

After the warp is set up, it’s taken to the machines where the actual weaving or knitting is done. The machines work rapidly with needles, knitting the two layers of Dyneema fibers into a consistent weave. The final product is rolled up and sent to clothing manufacturers, who cut and add the desired number of protective layers to their pants, boots or gloves. Thanks to the hard work of Engtex’s product developers in Mullsjö, the next time you use your chainsaw and avoid injury, you can be grateful for the high-quality protective materials that keep you safe.

Here is a video where you can see the manufacturing and som cutting tests:

Chainsaw proof pants

Chainsaw trousers are an essential item of Personal Protective Equipment (PPE) in the forestry industry. Chainsaw users are at particularly high risk of injury: uneven forest terrain, slippery ground, heavy machinery – often you’re only a split second away from slipping or falling. The running chainsaw then quickly becomes uncontrollable. Consequently, woodland and forestry workers cannot do without reliable chainsaw protection under any circumstances.

Chainsaw trousers are both trousers and bib braces which have been inspected according to EN 381-5. This European safety standard defines the requirements for leg protection when working with hand-operated chainsaws. Therefore, EN standard chainsaw trousers provide comprehensive protection from injuries to the legs from power saws or hand-operated chainsaws.

How do chainsaw trousers provide protection?

Chainsaw trousers inspected according to EN381-5, chainsaw protection class 1, protect the legs from injuries from hand-operated chainsaws with a chain speed of up to 20 metres per second where it is required: From the hip to the ankle, on the front of the chainsaw trousers between the outer fabric and the filler, several layers of loosely woven, very long, very fine, tearproof threads have been incorporated – what is called a cut-resistant insert. As soon as the chain of the chainsaw cuts the outer fabric, it comes into contact with the threads of the cut-resistant insert. These wind around the chainsaw’s drive wheel, jamming it and preventing severe injuries to the legs.

What are the chainsaw protection classes?

The European standard 381 regulating chainsaw protection distinguishes five chainsaw protection classes which are measured according to chain speed:

• Class 0 = 16m/s chain speed
• Class 1 = 20m/s chain speed (standard)
• Class 2 = 24m/s chain speed
• Class 3 = 28m/s chain speed
• Class 4 = 32m/s chain speed

Chainsaw trousers by engelbert strauss meet chainsaw protection class 1 – which is the chainsaw protection class most worn in the forestry industry. In accordance with this protection class, the chainsaw protection protects from a chain speed of 20 m/s. When buying premium chainsaw trousers, the priority should be checking the speed of the power saw used. Chainsaw trousers of higher classes are heavier and stiffer. This means a lower level of flexibility.

In addition to the chain speed, chain sharpness, chain tension, impact angle and impact energy are also crucial parameters for the degree of protection of chainsaw trousers. What’s clear is that as every contact with a chainsaw is different, chainsaw trousers cannot provide one hundred percent protection from injuries. Nevertheless, they are vital to avoid severe leg injuries with dangerous consequences when working with chainsaws.

What does “KWF-tested” and “FPA-approved” mean?

The German Board of Trustees for Forestry Work and Technology (KWF) tests safety clothing and forest equipment in an extensive utility value examination. If the product meets all safety-related aspects in full, it is awarded the KWF Standard symbol. Trousers, jackets and shoes for use in the forest must undergo a one-year endurance test before they can be awarded the KWF-Profi symbol. They are tested by forestry professionals at work. The requirements correspond to the state-of-the-art with respect to efficiency, health safety, ergonomics and environmental compatibility. The test includes technical measurements, practical forestry tasks and surveys. The examination focusses primarily on the wearing properties, durability, care and features.

Our trousers with KWF Profi symbol / FPA approved:

e.s. Forestry cut protection trousers, KWF

KWF professionally tested e.s. chainsaw trousers KWF are super light and comfortable, with six layers of protective material in elastic stretch fabric and guarantee a high level of freedom of movement. They are equipped with practical details and a number of s which are functionally arranged according to the KWF classification committee.

e.s. Forestry cut protection bib brace, KWF

The e.s. KWF forestry chainsaw dungarees are equipped with six layers of chainsaw protection material and especially pleasant and comfortable to wear. The extra-wide braces provide a secure fit without wrinkling. On the back there is an elasticated insert which guarantees optimum comfort. A practical bib also has a number of s and features.

Forestry cut protection trousers e.s.cotton touch

Soft, low-noise and weather-proof wax clothing of cut protection class 1. Forestry cut protection trousers e.s.cotton touch is a practical all-weather trousers for use in the forest. Zips on the side are dirt-proof, the Velcro fasteners are very stable for the tough forest environment. Durable, functional and comfortable cut protection trousers.

e.s. Forestry cut-protection jeans

Forestry cut-protection jeans by engelbert strauss These class 1 trousers in a casual 5- jeans style and lots of useful details for use in the forest represent very cool safety clothing.

Cut protection trousers e.s.vision

The hard-wearing CORDURA stretch fabric of the e.s.vision chainsaw trousers guarantees optimum freedom of movement. Hydrophobic, strengthened thorn protection on the lower trouser leg protects from obstacles in the undergrowth. A number of s and features, such as zip ventilation on the thighs, sewn-in dirt and tick protection, as well as comfortable EAZYFIT technology make the chaps the perfect companion for forestry work.

What are the cut protection forms A, C and B?

The forms indicate where the cur protection layers are. Select the cut protection form depending on whether or not you frequently use professional chainsaws at work, or only use a chainsaw occasionally:

Cut protection form A

Forestry workers are mandated by law to wear at least cut protection trousers Form A at work. These trousers protect the front of the legs from the hip down to the ankle and, to a certain degree, the inside and outside of the legs. Despite the protective layers, they still allow good freedom of movement.

Cut protection form C

Form C also protects the back of the legs that are less at risk, and therefore offer all-round protection. They do, however, restrict movement more. For this reason, this protection form is not recommended for regular professional use, but only for persons who use chainsaws in exceptional cases, e.g. fire service and technical relief workers.

Cut protection form B

Form B lies somewhere between Form A and C, and has proven to be less expedient in practice.

Which chainsaw trousers are the best ones?

Chainsaw trousers by engelbert strauss are available in different designs and with a variety of features. What’s important is: For all e.s. chainsaw trousers, the FOCUS is on safety – they therefore provide reliable protection from injuries when working with chainsaws. The e.s.vision cross chaps and dungarees have a special feature: Thanks to new positioning of the cut-resistant insert, the e.s.vision cross provides a larger protection radius and therefore protects from rip saws. In combination with bXeric a special elastic and robust material, the insert stretches and ensures unrestricted freedom of movement. for even more safety and comfort when working!

Protective clothing by engelbert strauss for the forestry industry is made from high-quality materials to ensure the highest level of safety. The differences are in the equipment, details and design. Therefore, choosing the right forestry trousers is a matter of taste. From experience, the first question to ask yourself when looking for the right chainsaw trousers is:

This is also a matter of taste and personal comfort. As the protection is incorporated exclusively into the leg area, both types of trousers are suitable for forestry work.

The advantage of trousers with chainsaw protection lies in their flexibility. With the help of braces, chaps can be more comfortable to wear in warm temperatures. These provide an improved level of comfort in the upper body area. A higher waistband protects you from the cold in the winter.

Bib and Braces on the other hand provide additional storage space in the chest area. What’s more, small items can be handily stowed. Thanks to the bib over the chest and back, dungarees are also warmer than chaps. A significant advantage for forestry work in the winter.

How do I find chainsaw trousers in the right size?

In general, protective clothing should be chosen so that it is possible to work unrestricted. At the same time, the clothing should not be too large so that snagging is not possible. Chainsaw trousers by engelbert strauss are available both in regular sizes and in smaller sizes. With the help of the size table. you can find the right size quickly and easily in the online shop.

Safety instructions

Trousers with chainsaw protection should not come into contact with pointed or sharp objects (for example, power saw chains, thorns, metal tools, etc.) or with aggressive substances, such as acids, oils, solvents, fuels or animal faeces to avoid damaging the material. Likewise, contact with hot objects (exhausts, etc.) and other heat sources (open fire, hot ovens, etc.) should be avoided – this can impair the chainsaw protection.

Repair instructions

Only the upper layer may be repaired in the event of damage. However, never sew through the cut-resistant insert! When changing or repairing safety clothing, (for example, shortening the legs) do not repair, change, shorten or sew through the cut-resistant insert. Any change to the cut-resistant insert may reduce or destroy its protective properties! For repairs and for further instructions on looking after your chainsaw trousers, please refer to the attached instructions for use.

How do I wash and look after my chainsaw trousers?

Only robust, easy-care materials are used in chainsaw trousers by engelbert strauss. For protective clothing for woodland and forestry work, particular FOCUS is on maximum freedom of movement through flexible fabric, comfortable waistband solutions and elastic inserts. So that the durability of these products is also guaranteed in addition to wear comfort and design, protective clothing should be cleaned regularly.

• Remove coarse dirt directly once taken off
• Wash at 40 °C with a colour detergent
• Do not spin or tumble dry, otherwise the cut protection fibres will become knotted and the cut protection is no longer guaranteed
• After washing, pull the wet cut protection clothing into shape and allow to dry in the air
• Do not iron
• Cut protection trousers may be washed approx. 25 times in the washing machine. This corresponds to:

• Approx. 1. 1.5 years in professional forestry operations
• Approx. 5 years if used by non-professionals

Additional equipment for protection in forestry work

Please remember that complete protection when working with chainsaws is more than a pair of chainsaw trousers: Therefore, your outfit should also include the right footwear and appropriate gloves. Forestry safety shoes, such as S2 Triton forestry safety shoes protect against cuts from hand-operated chainsaws with steel toe caps. The leather forestry cut protection gloves have been tested according to EN 381-7:1999 (cut protection, class 0:16 m/s) and EN 388:2016 (mechanical risks, 2132X). The soft leather guarantees an excellent grip on the chainsaw, the left glove has a special cut protection insert on the back of the hand. Also remember head and face protection when working – the latter protects the eyes from severe injuries from flying sawdust and other bits of wood. engelbert strauss provides KWF-tested forestry protective helmet combinations for this purpose. This is also equipped with ‘2C’ e.s.-certified ear defenders You will also find many more products to protect your ears from the loud noise of the chainsaw in the hearing protection category.

Perfect chainsaw trousers are a few clicks away

Why spend a long time looking when it is so simple? The product filters on the chainsaw trousers overview page in the engelbert strauss online shop will help you quickly find the perfect pair: Here you can not only browse products by size, colour and collection, but also by equipment features, such as s and ventilation, and material and care features.

The Tool Yard

How to fix, maintain be safe with chainsaws, lawn mowers, engines DIY tools and kits. Maybe some beer talk.

Why you should consider using safety chaps when using a chainsaw

In many countries, the forestry or logging industry has an extremely high death and injury rates when compared to other workforces.

This makes sense given trees are being felled and a lot can go wrong because of accidents and user failure associated with dangerous machinery.

Now think back to the good old days when chainsaws began to gain widespread use in the logging industry.

They sure didn’t and many users were horrifically maimed or killed as a result.

If that was bad enough, think of their safety gear.

No chain safe safety chaps were issued by employers 80 years ago. Instead, hungry honed blades cut through denim work jeans into bone and arteries without a care in the world.

In the present, more safety-conscious age, the modern chainsaw user has a much safer gig when chopping down a tree however they must take precautions and using properly designed safety chaps is a great way to prevent harm to your legs.

It doesn’t matter if you are a forestry worker or an experienced weekend warrior, using safety gear should be a standard part of your chainsaw practice.

If you just want to know which is a great pair of chaps then the Husqvarna protective wrap chaps are quite suitable for most users.

• 1000 denier polyester with PVC coating with Tek warp protective layers
• Can adjust the waist up to size to 42 inches
• Felling wedge/gear and acetyl Delran buckles
• Complies with ASTM f1897, American National Standards Institute z133.1, and OSHA regulation 1910-266
• Underwriter Laboratories certified

Here’s a picture an Amazon buyer left in his review. He described the situation as that he: “Put a running saw to my left leg while limbing some cedars. Strands stopped the saw and didn’t even have a bruise.”

If that proof is enough pudding for you, check out the price on Amazon

How do safety chaps protect legs from a chainsaw blade?

Let’s be upfront and make it clear that safety chaps are not a ‘suit of armour’ that will save you from every accident.

If you want absolute protection from a chainsaw, then you may as well suit up like a Knight of the Realm.

However, that’s not too practical when chopping wood, so chaps offer the versatility of movement with the knowledge they are designed to reduce the severity of the cut should an accident occur.

What we are saying here is there is a trade-off between practicality and safety here.

If the idea is safety, then placing a user in cut-retardant chaps that are too restrictive or that become too hot in itself is unsafe so many internationals safety standards for chaps and personal protective safety wear recognize this.

When a chainsaw comes into contact with the safety trousers, the outer layer is immediately cut through by the blade but the inner layer of fibres (such as kevlar) are drawn out by the chain and into the machine. It wraps around the saw’s drive sprocket. The tough fibres lock the sprocket in place thus halting the chain and hopefully limiting damage to the chainsaw operator’s leg.

That said the stronger the chainsaw, the more chance of damage can occur to the user. It also depends on how fast the saw is going, the strength and angle of the saw.

Does it matter what kind of chaps I need if I am a casual or a professional user?

If you are simply doing a bit of yard work or lopping the occasional branch off a tree, it might not make economic sense in buying the best professional pants there are.

You may simply decide to use something that will help keep you safe but is perfectly functional for your needs. At a minimum though, the pants should still be designed to meet a suitable product safety standard.

To that end Husqvarna’s chainsaw chaps are ideal. An economical buy, they fit quite comfortably over your work jeans:

“First day of sawing, running a bigger saw than I had used in the past, tired and neglectful that it idled down slowly. saw pivoted in my L hand as I reached for a branch with my R hand, and I felt a “bang” on my left thigh and the saw was suddenly quiet. I looked down and had crossed the blade onto my leg. the blade was now stuffed with white strands from the chaps, and I was unscathed. Saved me from my very own trip to the ER and allowed me to cut another day”

If you don’t feel like getting your quads cut, then check out the price on Amazon.

Just be wary of buying pants that are designed only to protect from flying debris / keeping your work pants clean. These are not designed in any way to protect your long limbs from a chainsaw bar cutting into your leg. They are only good for keeping the grass off.

What if I really only want budget pants?

Remember, you should only wear pants that are designed specifically for use with a chainsaw and thus should have been fully tested to comply with the relevant safety standards.

For the cost-conscious, the Forester range of apron chaps might be the ideal choice. We hate to use the word ‘casual’ but for those that only use a chainsaw every so often, then these chaps could be ideal.

They provide good coverage for the front of your legs. The only drawback is they are not designed to protect against the really high powered saws and they certainly won’t halt an electric engine from rotating. They are do however meet the STM F1897, OSHA 1910.266 standards and are UL Certified. We suggest if your day job requires chaps, then you go upmarket, such as the Husqvarna 587160704 Technical Apron Wrap Chap.

Buying safety gear gives the user the confidence that it will do what is asked of it t. i.e. reduce the chance of severe leg injury. In terms of aesthetics, Forester describes them as “sleek, durable, lightweight, and comfortable chaps are chainsaw oil- and water-resistant”.

The chaps also feature a large side and a flip adjustment belt for a perfectly secure fit.

Again, we always ask. do they work?

This chap on Amazon shared his review and experience:

“I needed to drop about 8-10 small trees and just out of habit put these on. That day it was the smartest thing I did because not only did they save my legs from injury once but twice the same day. The first time I just cradled the chainsaw on my leg and had not set the brake, the chaps stopped the chain from cutting into my thigh right where I bend. I surely would have bled out before EMS got to me.”

Check out this picture of a save by this personal protective equipment:

The wearer is uninjured which is a great result because that cutting area is pretty damn close to the femoral artery.

Which, you may know is a pretty major one and a severe cut can result in a bleed out.

If you think protecting your femoral artery might be a good idea, then check out the price on Amazon.

Is it true electric chainsaws will cut through even the best chaps?

Yes, this is true as they are not configured the same as gas powered saws. As they have higher torque than gas engines, electric saws will continue to cut the chap fabric and chaps are generally not designed to withstand contact with an electric saw.

Sure, you should still wear chaps when using an electric saw but do not rely on them to reduce the chance of personal injury.

What length should chainsaw PPE chaps be?

Chaps (which go over trousers and legs) should be long enough to meet the tops of your boots.

To figure out how long your chaps need to be, measure from your waist (just below your belt where the chaps will sit) to the beginning of your foot. This length will provide suitable coverage and protection.

It’s important you order and use the right size. a shorter than necessary chap will probably result in a piece of your leg exposed which if Murphy’s law kicks into force, your chainsaw will find it. If your chaps are too long, they could be too loose, which may be annoying at best and at worst, could cause you to trip or stumble.

When ordering chaps it’s important to understand that the advertised length is the overall length and not the length of a traditional measurement of the inseam.

When you’re thinking about buying safety gear, whether it be chaps, gloves or protective eyewear, it’s always really good to remember that no one ever died just because they bought quality gear. Actually, we think the adage is no one ever regretted buying quality but you get the point.

I know we keep talking about it, whatever buying decision you make, you really should consider if your safety gear has met the requirements of the most relevant safety standard.

CHAINSAW PROOF PANTS! Crazy

Your femoral artery might just thank you for it.

Did you know you can wear chaps when lawnmowing? Particularly handy if stones and any wood chips are likely to flick up at your legs. The same goes for an activity like hedge trimming. For both work environs, consider using a helmet with ear muffs and face visor.

If you’ve got this far, well done. Now, head to Amazon and have a look at the best safety chaps they have.