Cutoff Saw Training

[nicoyaspa]

Our small, combo department just purchased our first cutoff saw and many of our firefighters have never used one. Anyone have a lesson plan for basic cutoff saw use?

[MG3610]

I have one better for you....

http://store.pennwellbooks.com/4powersaws.html

[ADSNWFLD]

Good video, just stress safety till your blue in the face. Many members have been seriously injured by a cutoff saw. Also my .02 if you cant walk the roof leave the saw on the ground.
BTW what did you get? Partner, STIHL, Makita?

[EMP124]

In a recent class I took they a good idea for a prop to practice cutting burglar bars. We used four standard outside faucets attached to 4 x4 wood posts. Two were at about waist height running horiztial while the other two were placed at about 6 feet overhead facing downward. Then through these faucets we ran #4 rebar (½") thus creating a box pattern very similar to a burglar bar on a window. Let me know if you need a better description.

[nicoyaspa]

We got the Sthl TS 400 Quikcut. I am impressed with it so far. The only other saw I've run was the KSaw. This Stihl is much more user friendly.

Thanks for the drill idea. Any chance I could get a digital pic of it?

[GFDLT1]

I would like to see a photo of that as well.

[Halligan84]

Take a look at your owners manual for basic operations. One thing you might find interesting is that Stihl tells you not to use any tipped or carbide blades. I know the 400 is a much smaller engine than the K12, but I'm not sure why else you couldn't use tipped blades.

[37truck]

The reason I was told that Stihl does not want carbide blades run in their rotary saws is because the tips, if dislodged, could come through the guard and injure the operator. I find this to be highly unlikely. My vollie department used Stihl rotarys up until last year when we changed over to Partners. The Stihls worked fine, the only issue was that they were under powered when compared to a Partner of the same weight. Columbus Fire uses all Stihl saws on the ladders and heavy rescues. MS-460 rescue chainsaws and 400 rotarys with no complaints outside the minor ordinary stuff. The most important issue is to know how to use what has been issued to us properly, efficiently and most of all safely.

Here are a couple training props:

[Fireground1]

Our small, combo department just purchased our first cutoff saw and many of our firefighters have never used one. Anyone have a lesson plan for basic cutoff saw use?

www.firegroundtech.com : we can help

[GFDLT1]

Here are a couple training props:

Thanks for the pictures. It really helps in giving me some ideas of training we can do around the firehouse.

[37truck]

Thanks for the pictures. It really helps in giving me some ideas of training we can do around the firehouse.

The roof simulator is 8' wide by 16' long. It can be used as one entire flat roof or set a multiple angles for peaked roof ops. The chop outs are designed for a pallet to set down into. We sheet over and cover with any type of covering we like on the pallets. There are also hinged panels underneath the chop outs that are held closed by small diameter wood dowel rod. They are to simulate punching down the ceiling. We are curently developing a puch down panel that uses counter weights and will reset itself each time. There is an old ladder concreted into the ground over the paraphet. The bar simulator rotates so that it can be placed at different angles.

[GFDLT1]

Thanks. I am interested in the bar prop for saw training.

[EMP124]

Can't seem to find a picture yet, but I'm working on it.

[nyckftbl]

The reason I was told that Stihl does not want carbide blades run in their rotary saws is because the tips, if dislodged, could come through the guard and injure the operator. I find this to be highly unlikely. My vollie department used Stihl rotarys up until last year when we changed over to Partners. The Stihls worked fine, the only issue was that they were under powered when compared to a Partner of the same weight. Columbus Fire uses all Stihl saws on the ladders and heavy rescues. MS-460 rescue chainsaws and 400 rotarys with no complaints outside the minor ordinary stuff. The most important issue is to know how to use what has been issued to us properly, efficiently and most of all safely.

Here are a couple training props:

Do you happen to have any types of plans for that structure that was built, or some other pics you could post? We are in the process of trying to build something similar, and would appreciate other ideas.