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Toxicity of Lilac fumes

M

Michael Armstrong

Joined
Apr 29, 2004
Messages
14
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Location
Owen Sound, Ontario, Canada
A fellow woodworker sent me an email informing me that the fumes from turning lilac are toxic to humans. Anyone here of this before. I turn lots of it and have not had any kind of reaction to it at all. Of course I wear a respirator for all my turning and sanding but that wouldn't stop the fumes. In fact the perfume is one of the nicest things about turning this wood.

Michael
 
Michael

I raise lilac, I have over 20 varieties planted, mostly common and french, but with some Asiatic types like Persian, Japanese and Korean. This would be news to me. So I did some research.

It's listed on many bird sites as a safe wood to be in their cages
It's listed as a good wood for grilling

My opinion, hoax
 
European? Lilac to Laburnum not too much of a stretch, and it's got poison all over it.
 
MichaelMouse said:
European? Lilac to Laburnum not too much of a stretch, and it's got poison all over it.
Click to expand...

Got any source of that claim?

www.aragriculture.org lists common liiac (Syringa vulgaris) as
Toxicity Category 4 - plants are generally considered non-toxic to humans.
Click to expand...

The same catagory and rating as:
  • Pecan
  • Russian-olive
  • Crapemyrtle
  • Tuliptree, Tulip-poplar
  • Pine
  • Plum
  • Cherry
While Oak and Holly both rate a 3 "plants usually produce only mild to moderate stomach upset or dermatitis."
 
I missed something

Where did "European" and a language issue come from?

I thought "Michael" just got an e-mail.

Interesting, though, that Laburnum [Golden Chain Tree?] has heartwood that is actually sought after and used as a substitute for ebony.

I do think I'll pass it by however.

Hey, Michael [ & n7],

I've never seen Lilac beyond the bush-type that got to maybe 20' and 1-1/2" thick. Where do you get turnable wood from it anyway?

M
 
Mark
It depends, you can graft it to a similar species root, and plant it with the graft above the ground and you will get a "tree", rather then a "shrub", it can take years, but I have seen trunks several inches across (never more then 1 foot).
Me, I aways plant with the graft below, I want spreading shrubs
 
Root balls. Them's the best with shrubs. Picture a vase with 30-40 eyes in it.

Dietrich

(or go to kulze.com and look at one. don't look at the rest of the site. it kinda sucks and I need to clean it up alot)
 
Lilac size

Mark:
I have some lilac sitting in my garage that is 3-4 inches in diameter. Good for making small weed pots, christmas tree ornaments, kaleggoscopes etc. We had a severe winter storm up here in Ontario that dumped a lot of heavy, wet snow on us. I asked people that were cleaning up afterwards if they had anything over 2 inches to let me know. I'm still getting a few more offers. But the toxicity thing worries me 😱
 
micharms said:
Mark:
I have some lilac sitting in my garage that is 3-4 inches in diameter. Good for making small weed pots, christmas tree ornaments, kaleggoscopes etc. We had a severe winter storm up here in Ontario that dumped a lot of heavy, wet snow on us. I asked people that were cleaning up afterwards if they had anything over 2 inches to let me know. I'm still getting a few more offers. But the toxicity thing worries me 😱
Click to expand...

Think you can quit worrying, lilac ain't toxic from all info available. Now, your "lifelong wood inspector," might be inspecting the wrong woods or something. If you're still concerned, ask him/her for backup on the statement.

M

PS: Save the shavings for the "pot pouriee" filler. 😉
 
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