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Mimosa bowl

Nice grain! I wouldn't go anywhere near mimosa, whatever the protection. Dust would linger in the shop. More important -- the experience of a member of the local club. He turned but did not sand a piece of mimosa. He broke out in vivid red crusty blotches which lasted six months. It was almost two years before he was able to turn again. Any wood that I react to -- such as during a demo -- I avoid altogether. That means no walnut or cedar.
 
R Henrickson said:
Nice grain! I wouldn't go anywhere near mimosa, whatever the protection. Dust would linger in the shop. More important -- the experience of a member of the local club. He turned but did not sand a piece of mimosa. He broke out in vivid red crusty blotches which lasted six months. It was almost two years before he was able to turn again. Any wood that I react to -- such as during a demo -- I avoid altogether. That means no walnut or cedar.
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Wow never heard of it being that bad. I wore a respirator while turning and sanding.
 
R Henrickson said:
Any wood that I react to -- such as during a demo -- I avoid altogether. That means no walnut or cedar.
Click to expand...

Me too, with mimosa. Although the piece looks great!!

Some people are violently allergic to cocobolo. And sadly, reactions can get worse with exposure.

Most people know about the skin test. Take a little sawdust and put it on the sensitive skin under your forearm and cover with a piece of tape or strip of bandaid. If you develop a rash in that spot take special precautions with that wood. You can test several species at the same time in different spots - kind of like the skin tests at the allergy doctor's.

I discovered years ago that dust from fine eastern red cedar dust affected me when some got under my watch for several hours. I'm more careful now with good dust collection (5hp cyclone) and respirators. My favorite respirators are the half-face 3M silicone with dual P100 (pink) particulate filters. I think I bought 8 like this - will fit under most face masks, extras for students
and a couple of full face respirators (can use the same dust filters)

girls_masks_SMALL.jpg

We know of two people who had to quit woodturning completely due to increasingly worse wood allergies. One guy, incredible turner and rose engine expert, got so bad he couldn't even walk into his shop, even after it was completely emptied and professionally cleaned several times. He ended up selling that house and building a new one, and taking up metal working with lathe and mill in a new basement shop. I bought his Jet 1642 as a spare.

JKJ
 
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Mimosa is another one I don't work with any more. Congestion, sneeze and itch. Generally, the more it smells, the worse it is for you. Continued exposure will weaken your resistance to the point where you begin to react. When, not if....

robo hippy
 
John K Jordan said:
Me too, with mimosa. Although the piece looks great!!

Some people are violently allergic to cocobolo. And sadly, reactions an get worse with exposure.

Most people know about the skin test. Take a little sawdust and put it on the sensitive skin under your forearm and cover with a piece of tape or strip of bandaid. If you develop a rash in that spot take special precautions with that wood. You can test several species at the same time in different spots - kind of like the skin tests at the allergy doctor's.

I discovered years ago that dust from fine eastern red cedar dust affected me when some got under my watch for several hours. I'm more careful now with good dust collection (5hp cyclone) and respirators. My favorite respirators are the half-face 3M silicone with dual P100 (pink) particulate filters. I think I bought 8 like this - will fit under most face masks, extras for studentsc
and a couple of full face respirators (can use the same dust filters)

View attachment 71194

We know of two people who had to quit woodturning completely due to increasingly worse wood allergies.
Click to expand...
I’m probably wood allergic also, started getting total body itches a couple months after starting turning. After steroids and skin biopsies and blood tests and allergy testing, I started Dupixent with great results. You might pass that info to your friends. It’s expensive but great.
 
robo hippy said:
Mimosa is another one I don't work with any more. Congestion, sneeze and itch. Generally, the more it smells, the worse it is for you. Continued exposure will weaken your resistance to the point where you begin to react. When, not if....

robo hippy
Click to expand...
Eucalyptus... Red gum specifically does that to me. I've been allergic my whole life, but a few years back my son filled the essential oil atomizer full with no water... the entire bottle. I discovered eppy pens when I woke up in the ER. When I turn it I wear full coverage and full respirator and I still end up a little itchy.
 
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