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OK, so I spent a long night. sore throat, drainage, nothing worked to get me any relief until I took Benedryl around 4:00 A.M. I've been having these symptoms for the last few days. Not bad enough to be a cold, but annoying, and last night was the worst so far.

The Benedryl says allergy, but what has changed? Well, possibly many things, but one thing is I have been bending ebony on my hot pipe. And I bent another piece just yesterday. I have never had any problems with ebony dust.

So I am wondering, is there anything that could be released by heating the wood to increase my sensitivity to it? has anyone else experienced symptoms after bending wood?

And, if I have to bend some more, what is the best thing to wear? My respirator with a dust mask, or the carbon filter?

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Phil

http://www.oleninstruments.com

"Those who tilt at windmills are only considered insane by those who can't see the dragon."

Have you had the furnace on in your house? If you've recently turned your furnace on for the first time this year you're probably allergic to dust mites, or something else that built up in your furnace all summer.

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

yes, the heat has been on, and that is certainly a possibility. I have problems with it every year when it starts up, but never this bad.

There are also fall blooming plants, weird things outside, and some form of fallout that is coating my cars with what looks like tree sap, though they all sit out in the open. I've also started drinking spiced apple cider, which could contribute. But I hope that ain't it!

So who knows what all it could be, it could be as simple as the hot dry air coming out of my heat gun. I was just wondering if there were any oils, etc that could be released from the wood as it was heated, and if anyone else had any experience with it.

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Phil

http://www.oleninstruments.com

"Those who tilt at windmills are only considered insane by those who can't see the dragon."

Some allergies can become more severe from exposure . As your body becomes more sensitive you can have more sever reactions. Go talk to a doctor and use the proper mask. Not all masks are the same. Ebony does bother me a lot more now than it did 5 years ago.

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John Hall
blues creek guitars
Authorized CF Martin Repair
Co President of ASIA
You Don't know what you don't know until you know it

If you get wood hot enough, irritants in the wood will be present in the smoke/fumes and they can be nasty. Since you're from Alabama, you probably know about poison ivy in camp fires.

I was sensitized to cedar after building a sauna years ago. I got a face full of smoke from cedar kindling one evening and it was not fun.

Who knows whether that's what you are experiencing but it's certainly possible.

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http://www.chassonguitars.com