Fine Engineer
Member
This isn't specifically about turning, but it is about wood, so I thought I'd post it here.
Recently, I found a wood that is just gorgeous, machines great, and finishes just beautifully. It is called Morado, or Bolivian Rosewood. It is reasonably priced at my local hardwood supplier, and I've used it for several projects like the ones shown here. With all the positives, it turns out there is a significant downside to it; it can cause significant allergic reactions!
Like CA glue, it has a sensitizing period that lures you into thinking that this is just amazing. That's what it did to me, a couple of cutting boards that came out great made this my go-to wood for deep brown projects. Shortly after my 3rd project, I noticed rashes at my inner elbows, burning eyes, and some redness on my neck. It went away in a couple of days, and I didn't think about it again. Then I finished the knife handles shown here, and I tried a new finish called "Tried & True Varnish Oil". Right after working on these I had the same symptoms as before only more severe. Kinda knocked me on my but for a day or so. With some newfound concern, I contacted the oracle of google only to find no reported incidents of allergic reactions to the finish, so I asked about the wood. This is what came back:
Morado (also known as pau ferro or Bolivian rosewood, Machaerium scleroxylon) contains sensitizing chemical compounds—specifically (R)-3,4 dimethoxydalbergione—that can trigger allergic reactions upon contact with dust or wood scrapings
Type I and Type IV Reactions: Morado can prompt both rapid immune responses and delayed allergic contact dermatitis (which often worsens with repeated exposure over time).
That was it! I've become sensitive to the dust from my new favorite wood! ****. I was going to make a couple of pens with this and then show it to the group, but now I think I'll just carefully use the last of what I have, and not use this anymore. So this is my warning / findings for the group, don't use Morado for projects unless you are able to use proper PPE to protect yourself.
Recently, I found a wood that is just gorgeous, machines great, and finishes just beautifully. It is called Morado, or Bolivian Rosewood. It is reasonably priced at my local hardwood supplier, and I've used it for several projects like the ones shown here. With all the positives, it turns out there is a significant downside to it; it can cause significant allergic reactions!
Like CA glue, it has a sensitizing period that lures you into thinking that this is just amazing. That's what it did to me, a couple of cutting boards that came out great made this my go-to wood for deep brown projects. Shortly after my 3rd project, I noticed rashes at my inner elbows, burning eyes, and some redness on my neck. It went away in a couple of days, and I didn't think about it again. Then I finished the knife handles shown here, and I tried a new finish called "Tried & True Varnish Oil". Right after working on these I had the same symptoms as before only more severe. Kinda knocked me on my but for a day or so. With some newfound concern, I contacted the oracle of google only to find no reported incidents of allergic reactions to the finish, so I asked about the wood. This is what came back:
Morado (also known as pau ferro or Bolivian rosewood, Machaerium scleroxylon) contains sensitizing chemical compounds—specifically (R)-3,4 dimethoxydalbergione—that can trigger allergic reactions upon contact with dust or wood scrapings
Type I and Type IV Reactions: Morado can prompt both rapid immune responses and delayed allergic contact dermatitis (which often worsens with repeated exposure over time).
That was it! I've become sensitive to the dust from my new favorite wood! ****. I was going to make a couple of pens with this and then show it to the group, but now I think I'll just carefully use the last of what I have, and not use this anymore. So this is my warning / findings for the group, don't use Morado for projects unless you are able to use proper PPE to protect yourself.
