Hi all - particularly those of you that turn handles. I picked up a piece of African Blackwood today, and as I started shaping it to round, I thought about whether or not the shavings/dust might be toxic. And Cocobolo, Rosewood, etc.. I'd appreciate it if anyone smarter than I on the subject would comment, and also suggest what kind of a mask is necessary, if one is needed. I really appreciate the wealth of information available on B&B - I learn something every day!
toxic shavings?
- Thread starter skipnord
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I use a dust collector and have a 4" hose direct behind the work piece on the lathe and also use an ambient air cleaner with a high CF rating.
There are lists out that gives information on the toxicity of a lot of wood species, some are quite dangerous! I have to be very careful with the Dalbergia genus (Cocobolo, Af Blackwood, Tulip- and Kingwood, most rosewoods), I am getting a rash on my arms, in the elbow area from them.
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I'm not an expert, but from what I've heard from flutemakers, Cocobolo (a western hemisphere cousin to African Blackwood) is a very common irritant and allergen - sometimes dangerously so. Others aren't affected. African Blackwood isn't nearly as bad but most makers of wooden flutes have dust collection equipment regardless, plus some use a respirator when turning or boring.
Some flute players have been known to develop rashes from skin contact with cocobolo flutes, even after they've aged a bit. Heard of one or two cases where that was progressive...just kept getting worse rather than better over time. They had to sell their instrument and get something made with a different wood. Apparently the natural oil is the culprit.
I've never turned it, but have filed and sanded A.B. without any effects. My flutes get a lot of lip contact and there's no problem there either. FWIW.
- Bill
Some flute players have been known to develop rashes from skin contact with cocobolo flutes, even after they've aged a bit. Heard of one or two cases where that was progressive...just kept getting worse rather than better over time. They had to sell their instrument and get something made with a different wood. Apparently the natural oil is the culprit.
I've never turned it, but have filed and sanded A.B. without any effects. My flutes get a lot of lip contact and there's no problem there either. FWIW.
- Bill
This is pretty common with sensitivity to a wood. I worked Cocobolo for a long time before I was starting to become sensitized. Most turners turn in short sleeves due to safety concerns ( one wants to avoid that a sleeve is caught by a spinning piece on the lathe). My reactions started in the inside of my elbows. First I had no idea, but whenever I turned Cocobolo it got worse, so eventually I stopped working with Cocobolo some years ago, and have only turned one or two brush handles since then. But now I wear a tight fitting long sleeved shirt. Yesterday I turned some other wood, and guess what, I have the rashes inside my elbows. I have worked with this wood from time to time, but it is pretty rare, so I do not use it often.
I get a rash from turning certain wood and I find it depends on whether the wood was kiln dried or air dried.
The worst for me is air dried Bolivian Rosewood, gives me a rash like poison oak, but if I turn the kiln dried pen blank I don't get a reaction.
Once you've become sensitized to a particular wood it makes it you more likely to get a rash in the future.
They're several sites o the web that list woods by the toxicity.
http://www.wood-database.com/wood-articles/wood-allergies-and-toxicity/
The worst for me is air dried Bolivian Rosewood, gives me a rash like poison oak, but if I turn the kiln dried pen blank I don't get a reaction.
Once you've become sensitized to a particular wood it makes it you more likely to get a rash in the future.
They're several sites o the web that list woods by the toxicity.
http://www.wood-database.com/wood-articles/wood-allergies-and-toxicity/
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