Laundering Saw Chaps

[Philbert]

This comes up periodically, and in a recent class.

‘YES’: saw chaps (and other PPE) should be cleaned regularly, for sanitary reasons, as well as to inspect for wear and damage.

BUT, not all saw chaps are machine washable or dryable. Different brands use different protective fibers and construction methods to meet the ASTM standards.

The STIHL (USA models) are labeled as ‘machine washable’ (warm or cold water, NO bleach!) and ‘machine dryable’ (cool, or hang to dry).

Many other brands are labeled ‘hand wash only’, and ‘hang to dry’.

Check the care labels on your chaps before washing them.

Philbert

 

[Philbert]

(One more)


Philbert

 

[Philbert]

A few reasons to wash chaps.

One, is they simply get gross from sweat, sap, mud, the occasional cow pasture, etc.

Some sawyers don’t care about that, because they are worn over / outside a pair of pants. Dirty chaps are a sign of work.

Some guidelines state that dirt, and especially spilled fuel and oil, cause the protective fibers to matt down.

This means that it might take a few, extra, micro-seconds for the fibers to be grabbed and pulled around the bar, by the cutters, compared to ‘fluffier’ fibers.

With each cutter spinning around the bar about 20 times per second, those micro-seconds can make a difference.

Philbert

 

[Poleman]

Great info here!!

 

[Philbert]

A related thread, from a few years ago:

P

Thread 'Chaps Repair'

Sep 7, 2018

The protective fibers of chainsaw chaps are inside: cuts or burns to the outer shell only are mostly cosmetic, but should be repaired to keep out dirt, sawdust, oil, etc., and to prevent further damage. If the fibers have been pulled by a chain strike, the chaps have done their job and should be retired.

The USFS has published some information on this, but it is pretty old, and pertains to their, specific chaps. E.g. STIHL brand chaps are machine washable - check the labels on yours to be sure.

Inspecting and Repairing Your Chain Saw Chaps - USFS...

• Philbert
• Replies: 15
• Forum: Chainsaws

• 

Philbert

 

[IffykidMn]

This comes up periodically, and in a recent class.

‘YES’: saw chaps (and other PPE) should be cleaned regularly, for sanitary reasons, as well as to inspect for wear and damage.

BUT, not all saw chaps are machine washable or dryable. Different brands use different protective fibers and construction methods to meet the ASTM standards.

The STIHL (USA models) are labeled as ‘machine washable’ (warm or cold water, NO bleach!) and ‘machine dryable’ (cool, or hang to dry).

Many other brands are labeled ‘hand wash only’, and ‘hang to dry’.

Check the care labels on your chaps before washing them.

Philbert
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Do any of the manufacturers actually state what the definition of regularly is?

I seldom wear my chaps more than 8-10hrs over the course of a years' time so they might get washed once a year.

Pants get worn 8hrs daily 4-5 days a week and get washed at the end of the week. .

One thing I noticed last summer was with the heat and humidity my pants barely dried out overnight from the previous days sweating.

This year I am switching to two pairs of pants rotating on a daily basis to allow sweat drying, can I then get by washing both pair of pants on a two week basis?

 

[Philbert]

Do any of the manufacturers actually state what the definition of regularly is?

Have not seen a definition.

As needed, per judgement?

Would vary between regular and occasional users. And, if you’ve had ‘one of those days’.

Especially, if you’ve spilled fuel on them, or you notice that they appear ‘flatter’ than you recall.

I work with volunteer, storm cleanup groups, that share chaps, so we tend to clean them more often, than, perhaps, individual users.

I’m not saying tha STIHL chaps are the best, but the convenience of machine washing and drying is an attractive feature. Some others allow machine washing and hang dry, which is not too bad.

Take them to a coin laundry and wash several pairs in an oversized, front loader machine (agitators can tangle straps), that has an extractor cycle at the end.

Hand washing takes a bit more effort. I have used the bathtub; a large, Rubbermaid tote, etc.

Lightly brush the outer layer, squeeze the detergent through, and rinse a few times

Chaps are HEAVY when wet.

* I would love to hear tips and ideas from other people, about ways to hand wash saw chaps efficiently.

Philbert

 

[sawmikaze]

Isn’t this kinda common sense ?

I wear pants now so I don't wear chaps anymore...but when I did I washed them accordingly and after they dried I sprayed them with Atskos extreme water guard on both sides not just for water repellency but for stains.