Wood allergies?

Re: Wood allergies?

Dave Anderson Chester, NH

>Hi Ernie-

There are at least a dozen or more varieties of rosewood, it's a large family. In addition to the ones Like East Indian Rosewood which is traditional for Brit made tool handles, Central and South America have a bunch of varieties like Tulipwood from Brazil and Cocobolo from a number of countries. All are in the family Dahlbergia (sp) and are noted for producing allergic reactions. Please be careful Ernie, the allergic reactions usually get worse with each exposure. One of the guys of the turning forum claims that there are only two kinds of people: those who are allergic, and those who will be.

Re: Wood allergies?

Ernie Miller Topeka

>Thanks I will take the respirator down to the hand tool shop to finish this project. I usualy leave it up at the lathe.

Re: Wood allergies?

R.J.Whelan

>Ernie .... I'm very allergic to just about anything in this family of woods. Sanding, sawing and filing (as in making plane parts) seems to produce the reaction more quickly than making curleys.

Each attack seems to get worse.

The real heartbreak here is I bought a documented chunk of 60 year old (since milling) real rosewood measuring 16" wide by 5" thick by 5' long. I had great plans for that material; I ended up selling it to Guitar Center (they sliced it into some beautiful backs) - I actually made a couple of buck on the deal, but I'd much rather have built something pretty with it.

RJ

Re: Wood allergies?

Ben Knebel

>Be very careful. All of the orsewood family can be highly toxic. They are synthesisers which means that the reactions get worse with each exposure. With headaches at this early stage I might venture a guess that you will end up highly allergic to the stuff. A respirator is important as is covering the skin. Where you can't cover the skin with cloth or gloves get yourself a good barrier cream.

Regards

Ben

Re: Wood allergies?

Steve C

>You mentioned that you have problems with walnut. Walnut is also a sensitizer, that is it gets worse with each exposure. Many of the South American woods will probably hit you the same way. Cocobolo, ipe, rosewood, peruvian walnut. Also iroko and domestically, red and yellow cedar. There are many more but these are some of the big ones. I know, I have the same problems. You should see the money I've spent on dust collection!

Re: Wood allergies? *LINK*

Steve Kubien

>Ben mentioned barrier cream. Lee Valley sells one such cream called Gloves In A Bottle. I do not know how it compares in quality or price to others. Sorry. Check with a medical or dental supply house. They will carry several such items. In the states, Patterson Dental and Henry Schein are the two biggest dental houses. Look them up on the net and they should be able to help you out. If they will not sell to a non-dentist, ask your own to order it for you.

Be careful Ernie. You are messing with powerful stuff.

Steve Kubien

Ajax, Ontario

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Gloves in a Bottle

Offending wood?

Ernie Miller Topeka

>Here is the offending wood Like I say it washed up on the beach I think it will make a nice plane. This is the front Knob

Re: Offending wood?

Ernie Miller Topeka

>THis is what the block looks like when not worked

Re: Offending wood?

Dave Anderson Chester, NH

>It's hard to tell from the coloring of the picture Ernie, but one guess (just a guess) is that it is Brazilian Tulipwood, a variety of rosewood. Usually though there are more of the dark maroon stripes and they are closer together.

Re: Wood allergies?

Doug LIttlejohn

>Absolutely!!,, Take Goncano Alves, I believe it is a close cousing to Poision Oak/Sumac. Cocobolo gives me a MAJOR rash if I'm not real careful.

Many of the exotics contain resins that many humans have alergic reactions to.

Sherwood