Official Luthiers Forum!

I've been meaning to start this thread for a while. One thing that is often overlooked by luthiers, wood workers, guitar builders, ect is the dangers of certain woods for certain people. Stuff from inside trees can be toxic. Medicines, poisons, ect are sometimes made using ingreidents found inside trees.
It's possible to have an allergic reaction to wood dust. A clean shop, and good dust control and collection is obviously a step in the right direction. (and there won't be a picture of my shop for an example LOL)
Several years ago I had a friend who had an allergic reaction to an over the counter pain killer. He went into Anaphylactic Shock, and could have died if not for a quick responding co worker. He described what he felt before he literally passed out, as starting with his throat feeling "funny", then he started having trouble breathing. About the time he passed out, one of his co workers, who has a severe allergy to bee stings seen him and gave him an injection with an EpiPen.
Many, or even most of us work alone in our shops, so if we had a problem it could be fatal. A couple years ago, while alone in my shop I was re-sawing some Cocobolo. My throat started feeling "funny". I recognised that symptom from my friends ordeal, and went outside quickly. My wife wasn't home, but my neighbors were in their back yard. I went over there, and told them, (in a funny sounding voice) that I thought I was having an allergic reaction, to call 911 if I passed out. They gave me some Benedryl. With the combination of benedryl, and fresh air I was OK in a few minutes. My Wife and Dad cleaned all the Cocobolo out of my shop before I went back in.

I talked to a Doctor. He said usually the next reaction to something will be worse than the last one. He suggested I keep an EpiPen in my shop. He said if I started feeling........strange to use it.

My suggestion to all my woodworking friends. Talk to a Doctor. I believe an EpiPen would be a good idea in any shop.

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I didn't mean to say it, but I meant what I said.
http://www.brackettinstruments.com/

I agree, and while my reaction to Cocobolo hasn't risen to the level that you experience, I do experience itching on my hands as I handle it. I've cut quite a bit of it over the last couple of years.

EpiPen's and a ready access first aid kit that has some kind of QUICK CLOTTING AGENT inside. Guys if you cut a digit off it's gonna bleed a lot.

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There is no difference between the man that thinks he can....and the man that thinks he cannot.

Those of you who are not troubled by allergies might be tempted ignore the dust, but you can still get premanent lung damage even though you are not allergic. There are specific lung diseases identified for breathing mahogany, redwood, and maple bark dust. I suspect that every species of wood can cause such diseases--there just hasn't been a researcher interested in studying them all. So, the neti pot to wash your nose is too late. The finer particles are all ready in your lungs. Wear a mask, at least.

Still not a bad idea. I had a brain tumor removed a few years ago through my nose. There were complications that resulted in a bunch of nosebleeds. After more surgery and a recovery of three weeks, the doctor suggested getting a neti pot kit (I purchase the squeeze bottle variety) to get all the crud and corruption out of my nasal passages.

It worked so well, I now enjoy a weekly cleansing of my sinuses, and haven't had any colds, sore throat, or related problems with breathing that used to plague me. It's become part of my health maintenance routine, and I don't see stopping it until I'm taking a dirt nap.

And wearing a mask is always a good shop practice!

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"Act your age, not your shoe size" - Prince

Nasal rinses are a good idea, especially if you've been in an environment with lots of airborne contaminants (of any kind).

I use these Ayr rinses nearly every night, especially if I've been in the shop.
http://www.amazon.com/Ayr-Saline-Nasal- ... B002UFUIWS

They are a lot easier to use than trying to poor water out of a pot through your sinuses.

I don't have any wood specific allergies (that I've discovered y et), but I find I sleep a lot better, breath a lot better, and just generally feel better when I do this.

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Jim Hansen

Anyone have a particulate meter in the shop? http://www.dylosproducts.com/

There are a lot of threads over at Sawmill Creek about dust collection including this long one about particulate count.

http://www.sawmillcreek.org/showthread. ... ylos-Meter

It's a can of worms to be sure and I'm still trying to figure out the best approach. I'm most concerned with the long term respiratory problems that sneak up over the years. I've seen too many woodworkers in their 50's who get winded going up a flight of stairs. I spent a lot of time and money this year upgrading my DC. Now handwork is the primary dust source in my shop. My shop is dramatically cleaner and I wear my respirator a lot less. Hard to tell if that's a good thing or not in the long run.

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http://www.chassonguitars.com