what do you do after cutting all day so your hands and back still work tomorrow?

[VanArkride]

Off topic but still chainsaw life. After a long day cutting, what’s your go to recovery routine so you don’t wake up feeling wrecked?

Last weekend I bucked and split for a few hours and the next morning my hands felt like claws. I’m still having fun with it, I just want to learn the habits that make this sustainable. Do you stretch, do hand care, sharpen right away, or is it mostly food and sleep?

 

[Alan]

For hands, it’s usually glove choice plus not death gripping the saw all day. On the recovery side, washing up well, moisturizer, and dealing with hot spots or blisters early keeps it from stacking week to week. Cold weather dries you out fast too.

 

[OuroborosDaybreak]

I’m trying to make it sustainable. What helped me most was gloves that fit right, taking short breaks before I feel tired, and doing sharpening and quick saw cleanup while I’m still warm so I’m not fighting it the next day. Food and sleep still seem like the real MVP though.

 

[rasawing]

Good gloves are a start. I have hand grip exercises I have been doing for years. One issue that has really been plaguing me for years is the facts my hands shake after running saws (and other vibrating equipment). Rest is about the only thing I've discovered that will help that.

 

[What]

Buy a hot tub, I sit in mine every night. Best investment I've ever made. I would give up my left nut, before my hot tub.

 

[cut all.]

you know, if your hands feel like claws, you might be dealing with white knuckle syndrome from gripping the saw too tigh
try relaxing your grip and letting the saw's weight do the work. also, use the vibration dampening gloves, they have gel pads that soak up the buzz before it hits your nerves

 

[Nomoregears]

In my younger years it was balls to the wall, get it done and do some more. You don't quit until it's dark.

I would like to think after 66 years on this earth, I have begun to learn to pace myself. Not always a true but it's more often than not. I do set my limits and clean up at the end of the day. My preparedness is better. My hands and back thank me for that.

 

[horseshoe2]

you could just harden the fuck up (and don,t forget to moisturizer, lol). but seriously, your hands will harden with work, your back will strengthen with work too. about the aches and pains, voltaren 25 works well for me, but follow directions. rose hip vital is what i use these days (i,m old). a hot bath and epsom salts might help. p.s moisturizing your hands will soften them, you better off have hard tough skin, it takes time. good work practices are important to. good luck.