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schapekop0701

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Joined
Dec 17, 2016
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7
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Belgium
What is the most difficult sort of wood to turn??

I'm asking because yesterday i have been turning old ebony,i'm still sneezing.
The black stuf is everywhere.
 
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mecompco

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Joined
Apr 24, 2015
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Location
Fairfield, Maine
I guess it depends upon what you mean by "difficult". For me it would be Cocobolo as I'll have a nasty rash for two weeks after turning it.

Regards,
Michael
 

eharri446

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Joined
Mar 17, 2016
Messages
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Location
Marietta, GA
For me it is cherry. It does not matter if it is domestic or African it makes the sinus go crazy as well as putting me into a sneezing fit.

However, Cocobolo does not even bother me.
 

More4dan

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Joined
Mar 17, 2016
Messages
2,102
Location
Katy, TX
Thuya Burl. I'm highly allergic. One sniff and a sinus headache soon follows.

For tuning splalted pecan even stabilized exploded on the last pass with a shallow cut.


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Jim Smith

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Joined
Jul 27, 2008
Messages
1,961
Location
Lakeland, FL
For those of you that have sneezing, headaches or sinus issues when turning these woods, do you get these symptoms even when you're wearing a powered ventilated hood/face shield? I started wearing one a number of years ago because the fine dust bothered me and it's almost completely stopped now that I wear a Triton face shield.

Jim Smith
 

CREID

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Joined
Jul 23, 2008
Messages
3,009
Location
Vancouver, wa
For those of you that have sneezing, headaches or sinus issues when turning these woods, do you get these symptoms even when you're wearing a powered ventilated hood/face shield? I started wearing one a number of years ago because the fine dust bothered me and it's almost completely stopped now that I wear a Triton face shield.

Jim Smith

For me it is a rash on sensitive skin. Like if sanding dust gets inside my shirt. Not devastating, just annoying for a couple days.
 

bpgoldo

Member
Joined
Apr 13, 2010
Messages
340
Location
Carlsbad
Guys, I am so glad this topic is coming up...again. It's kind of a crusade for me. These woods are all classed as "sensitizers". You are being exposed to vaporized quinones generated at the point of contact between wood and steel. Not dust. Quinone vapors! Dust masks won't stop them. I spoke with a craftswoman in Hawaii once who said she virtually got into a "moon-suit" style get up and tried turning Cocobolo....and poof, she blew up like a hivey balloon. If you must turn it ( I know...I was there ) then know that you have only so many pieces before you become sensitive to it. Choose your projects wisely.
 

mmayo

Member
Joined
Jan 12, 2013
Messages
2,958
Location
Tehachapi, CA
Worst wood ever, but gorgeous!

Please send your cocobolo to me and I'll happily keep you from any allergic reaction.

Now this wood will make you ill. It is guanacaste wood from Costa Rica. Sand some and off gases from CA glue will be far better.

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I made my personal tackle box from these two thick pieces. The man a Tule Peak Timber kiln dried the wood and re-sawed it for me in a huge Laguna bandsaw. He warned me over and over what was in store for me.

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I guess a guanacaste tree in the rainforest of Costs Rica produces very powerful insecticides which also bothers humans profoundly.
 
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