What's your thought on a good leg protector for tree shearing?

you thinking like chain saw chaps?

I assume by shearing you meant the annual shaping of the Christmas trees

shears don't have the same motion but I suppose it couldn't hurt to have saw chaps

I do have chainsaw chaps but I am envisioning something that would work better for machete or christmas tree trimming

Search the Christmas Tree equipment providers they sell leg guards. Find yourself an old set of catchers gear on Craigslist. Pretty much just need protection from the knees down, takes a lot of acrobatics to hit yourself in the the thigh.

...a good aim!

Sugar cane cutters wore something like a catchers skin guard, but made of metal. Not hand cut anymore. Saw them in a motel display near Lake City, FL.

Never trimmed Christmas trees but once. No longer amused by it.

I think any apron style chaps would give you the protection you need, I wear chainsaw chaps, that might be overkill for shearing- these look a little lighter and less expensive.

I use my old hip boots, definitely not water proof anymore, but keeps the nicks down and protects the knees when I have to kneel down........jk

The best protection is to get rid of the machete. We went to power trimmers 10 years ago or more. After being in the Christmas tree business since 1977...........my right shoulder and elbow thank me. I and another fellow I know both have nerve damage in our right arms/shoulders from shearing.

That being said.................... I do have a pair of tree trimmer shin guards. They are a very had plastic. I don't remember where I got them though. I don't think the kevlar chaps for chainsawing would work very well. A tree trimming knife done right is sharper than a razor. Not sure about the various arborist shin guards. They may or may not work.

Eagleye , I looked into a pair of those . They are no more than a flashy pair of brush chaps , they have little or no Kevlar.

do you use the trimmers on a shaft or direct off the power head

I see a lot of the basically heavy duty string trimmer power heads then short extension tube and trimmer head not sure how they would hold up for the Christmas tree farm use , it would get the tool head farther from your body less bending and reaching might be easier on the operator.

That's not good- I run the Husqvarna Technical chaps for cutting shooting lanes and wood- you get what you pay for

We use Beneke trimmers.........both gas and electric :

https://rotarytreeproducts.com/beneke-rotary-pruner-wands-gas-engine/

https://rotarytreeproducts.com/standard-electric-power-unit/

Back in 1974 I was shearing Xmas trees with a 20" blade and whacked myself just below the knee. 13 stitches to close it. A week later the knife opened up those stitches, stuck into the bone and this time required 18 stiches! Yep. either a guard or some other form of shaping trees.

Good point, as far as the benefit of guards.

Thanks for bringing this to the top…I’d forgot about it!

Loggers wear special chaps for chainsaw use, might want to check out their use for your tool.

My father in law is into competition lumberjack , he makes and sells chain mail shin guards, I hear they work well

I have those for chainsawing. I could see them having limited but not great benefit from a christmas tree knife

Did you ever find suitable guards ??