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My wife has allergy problems

D

dick.shryock

Joined
Nov 11, 2009
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dickswoodwort.com.blogspoking
My wife constantly complains about odors eminating from my workshop when I'm finishing projects. I have had to go to waterborne urethane for casework.

Yesterday she layed down the law... "no more use of finishing materials in your shop!" She offered a laundry list of forbidden substances including most of the usual suspects. So here is my question:

What can I use for finishing turned projects that has no odor yet produces an acceptable finish. So far I have used Shellawax, EEE Ultra Shine, French Polish, Watco Danish Oil, Renaissance Wax Polish, Sam Maloof Oil/Wax finish and they all cause her problems. The straw that broke the proverbale camel's back was the French Polish.

She also complains about the finishes causing her eyes to itch.

So short of suggesting that I look for a new wife, can anyone suggest somthing that is odor free. I've got over $100 worth of very good finishes on my shelf that I can't use.

Thanks,
 
Is it possible for you to do your finishing outside on a nice day?

For smaller items that I finish on the lathe I'll either use Myland's, or a bit of mineral oil with a few coats of HUT wax over that. Unfortunately it's not the best finish for anything larger than a small bowl.

Are you sure the wife isn't replaceable? 😉
 
Charles Henderson said:
Are you sure the wife isn't replaceable? 😉
Click to expand...

A nice piece of wood is irreplaceable. ... Just saying. 😀

Seriously, can you consider oil finishes like walnut oil? The kind that you find at hardware stores ius trhinned down with VOC's and costs a lot, but I get mine at the grocery store for much less and it is pure. You can normally find it around the salad oils such as olive oil. I prefer an oiled finish on most things rather than a film finish. Another oild that you could consider is pure tung oil. It is very difficult to find it in its pure form and it is really expensive. It may have a bit of residual smell.
 
dick.shryock said:
The straw that broke the proverbale camel's back was the French Polish.
Click to expand...

I just can't imagine what it must be like to be "allergic" to ethanol. 😉

The "salad bowl" finishes I am familiar with are dilute oil-based varnishes, so that's no solution. The only thing I can suggest is a separate shed for finishing with other than water-based finishes.

If momma's not happy, nobody is happy around our house.
 
Dick,
Is she allergic to the finishes after they have completely cured? Sounds like you may need a finishing room that is completely detached from the house. Wish you good luck in finding a successful answer.
 
No odor, nothing. They will all have some oder uncured. I would suggest better ventilation or cross ventilation in the shop. Or build a detached shop.

Even a spray booth has to be vented, so all they really do is move the odor to where ever you vent it.
 
As an oil finish I use Tried and True Oil Finishes - a polymerized linseed oil product with no VOCs and no flamables. Ships by air legally.

they also sell a varnish which has the same attirbutes and behaves like an oil-varnish. Works well in a "Shaker Style" finish and has not chemical odors.

You are stuck with non-gloss finishes unless you use a buffed wax, but carnuba with a buffing wheel has no odor --
 
I suspect it's time to get her Doctor involved and get her referred for testing and proper medical treatment. If she is developing a broad spectrum reaction she is going to have more issues then just your finishes.
 
Perfect reason/excuse to build a detached shop, complete with wash room. "Just think honey, no more dust/shavings tracked back into the house."

robo hippy
 
I'd suggest trying tung oil from The Real Milk Paint Company http://www.realmilkpaint.com/oil.html This stuff has no additives of any kind so it takes a bit longer to cure, but is waterproof and very durable. I've used it for a couple of years now, inside my home and it's not bothered anyone. There's a slight nutty kind of odor, but nothing at all like other oil finishes, BLO, varnishes, or anything else.
 
Smell

Well there are a few other ways. A bucket of pig manure in the living room and she will not smell the finish.
But better would be your finish day is her baking day. That is when the smells of that hot apple pie better override ther finish. Maybe a batch of homemade spaggetti sause. Or fresh chocolate chip cookies. Whatever fills the house with the best smell.
 
my wife complains about the smells from my shop too, but they have nothing to do with wood or finishes. 😀

if you don't like bathroom humor stop reading now.

well warned you.
Used to be ever time I would fart my wife would give me a disgusting look and say "can't you go into the bathromm to do that". - yea, like I'm going to lift my a$$ out of the recliner and go to the bathroom just to fart.... never will understand women 🙄 Anyway, we got double sinks and one time we are both in the bathroom at our respective sinks and I fart and she starts to yell at me and I just tell her, hey you always tell me to go into the bathroom to do that and I'm in the bathroom so what exactly is your problem now ??? 😀 she didn't know what to say then 😱
 
From the makers of Shellawax comes the Shithot Wax stick (yep).

It's a hard wax stick that you rub on the piece while spinning and then melt in with a rag and friction. Negligible smell. Works best on open-grained timbers like Oak and English Elm; needs nothing else.

Edit: sorry, irrelevant post. I missed the fact that there was a 2nd page.

My missus and I have been together for 20 years and only now is she starting to laugh at my fart jokes.

Prob cos it means she can't breathe through her nose while doing it 😀
 
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