Certainly, there is no second opinion about the fact that you should know about How Chainsaw Brake Works. Because everyone knows that working with a chainsaw is not without its chance of injuries.
Undoubtedly, chain brake is the most important safety feature because it applies a steel brake band around the saw’s clutch and prevents further movement of the cutting chain.
Mostly, people face issues with inspection of the brake, how to manage to switch it on and off without taking their hands off the brake, how to handle problems of kickback etc.
Read on to get the solution to all your problems over here!
Here you will get to know how the brake works to avoid accidents and how you can engage and disengage it safely.
How Chainsaw Brake Works – Avoid The Worst
Have you ever wondered what is the brake made of?
It is comprised of the following three parts.
- Chainsaw brake handle.
- Spring.
- Band.
All of these work in harmony to make that saw of yours stop.
What does the chainsaw brake do for you?
Well, it acts in two ways:
Firstly, it can be engaged deliberately when you need to:
- Change to saw’s position.
- Start a cold saw.
- When you move between cuts.
If we do not do this, the saw can move about uncontrollably and result in an accident.
Secondly, it comes in use when a kickback occurs to save the operator from serious damage. Hence, this occurs automatically and is known as inertia brake.
Do you have any clue how dangerous a running saw can be?
Without a doubt, being hit by a static saw can be dangerous because of the sharpness of it. Imagine if you were to be hit by a running saw?
It will be a nightmare!
1. Chainsaw Brake – Where to Find It?
Situated on the top handle of the saw, the chain brake prevents the chain from rotating further around the bar and stops it there and then.
2. Different Ways to Work That Brake:
The first way is very simple. Namely, all you have to do is to push the handle forward and the chain brake will engage.
Now, there are 2 different ways to do this.
- First, the wrist roll: With this, all you do is roll your wrist forward and the brake is engaged. To disengage, you need to be careful as you do not want to remove both hands from the chainsaw.
What to do now?
Now, you will put 4 fingers forward while keeping your thumb on the chainsaw and pull the chain brake backwards to disengage it without removing either hand from the saw.
- Second is the leg roll: Keep your wrist on the saw and push the saw upward by the help of your leg. In this way, you will disengage the chain brake.
3. How Does the Inertia Chain Brake Work?
Let’s talk about how it increases the safety of the chainsaw first. In this case, there are 3 ways in which it does so:
- It doubles as the hand-guard which protects your left hand while working.
- When you engage it between cuts, it will protect you from getting cut accidentally.
- In the event of a kickback, it engages automatically through the sheer force of inertia.
4. How Does the Brake Do What It Does Best?
Principally, it is operated by simply engaging or disengaging the top-hand guard. When we want to engage it, we push forward.
On the other hand, to disengage it, we pull it backwards.
The best thing is:
That under emergency conditions, the spring-loaded action of the brake allows for making the chain halt even if it is under full power.
Moreover, this happens in just a fraction of a second.
5. Tips and Tricks for Getting the Most Out of Your Chain Brake:
We cannot stress how important it is to check the brake function of the saw EVERY time you are about to use it.
Importantly, follow the given steps to ensure it works smoothly.
- You need a sturdy surface to place the saw on.
- Now, hold it firmly and start the saw.
- Accelerate.
- Next, release the full throttle and activate the brake without letting go of the handle.
- Here, the chain must stop.
Conclusion:
We have covered everything you need to know about How Chainsaw Brake Works from the components to the different types of brakes to how to effectively ensure the safety of the chainsaw brake.
For the most part, we can easily say that working that chain brake can be the thing that saves you from serious injury.
With this in mind, go ahead and start chopping with that saw of yours!
