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Allergies to Lacewood?

PSeverin's picture

Allergies to Lacewood? (post #146361)

PSeverin on Fri, 02/05/2010 - 15:47 (updated 02/05/10 - 02:35) 
in

Having recently bought a couple of beautiful lacewood boards for quite a bit of money, I'm now wondering how much caution I should use in working with it. Recently Fine Woodworking had a page on the problems a cabinet shop had using lacewood. Within days of starting to work with the wood half the shop had such severe allergic reactions to the wood they couldn't be in the shop.

Have any of you had bad outcomes working with Lacewood. The article almost made it sound like it was so toxic it needed to be approached fully suited in a super filtered clean room. What has been your experience?

Peter

-A +A
Westchester's picture

Maybe I can do a good will (post #146361, reply #1 of 10)

by Westchester in reply to PSeverin [original] on Fri, 02/05/2010 - 16:05

Maybe I can do a good will gesture and let you send that wood to me. :-) sounds dangerous for you to keep -

Man a quick search on line mentions those allergic reactions over and over.
The Lincoln book of world woods doesn't mention that problem- I think it's also known as European Plane Wood from Europe and West Asia.

SA

dboetb's picture

It can cause a rash like (post #146361, reply #2 of 10)

by dboetb in reply to PSeverin [original] on Fri, 02/05/2010 - 16:45

It can cause a rash like Poison Ivey on Caucasian skin I’ve heard. I would place some of its saw dust on your arm to see if it causes a rash. If it does I wouldn't touch the stuff and I sure wouldn’t want to inhale the dust.

Don

sid works's picture

is it australian lacewood?. (post #146361, reply #3 of 10)

by sid works in reply to PSeverin [original] on Fri, 02/05/2010 - 21:30

is it australian lacewood?. there are a couple of others that they refer to as the real stuff but it isn't
ron

http://s908.photobucket.com/albums/ac281...

HowardAcheson's picture

Lacewood is one one of the (post #146361, reply #4 of 10)

by HowardAcheson in reply to PSeverin [original] on Sat, 02/06/2010 - 09:31

Lacewood is one one of the most problematic woods to work will. Almost everyone ends up with some type of allergic skin problems.

Howie.........
PSeverin's picture

The boards are Australian (post #146361, reply #5 of 10)

by PSeverin in reply to HowardAcheson [original] on Sat, 02/06/2010 - 10:56

The boards are Australian Lacewood. When I bought Paduk from another lumber dealer, I was warned to wear a mask and be careful. A salesman in the local Rockler store where I bought the Lacewood said he was now so sensitive to cocobolo, that even picking up a piece and moving it caused a red rash to appear up his arms.

So how much caution is necessary. Wearing a mask yes, but should you wear long sleeves and surgical gloves? I know it depends on how sensitive you are or are about to become. I don't have a lot of reactions to materials so far. I am looking for advise on what is prudent precautions to take for one project. I would just prefer not to become pan-allergic to all woods.

Has anyone seen a ranking of woods from benign to caustic?

Peter

sid works's picture

I have used quite a bit of it (post #146361, reply #6 of 10)

by sid works in reply to PSeverin [original] on Sat, 02/06/2010 - 14:03

I have used quite a bit of it and have had no problems with it. true A.lacewood is getting more difficult to get. make sure that someone is not selling you snake oil. there are a lot of substitutions floating around out there
mind you woods don't bother me to much except for the dalbergias and as long as I keep the dust out of my face no problems.it just makes my nose twitch a little

http://s908.photobucket.com/albums/ac281...

HowardAcheson's picture

Everyone is different in (post #146361, reply #7 of 10)

by HowardAcheson in reply to PSeverin [original] on Sun, 02/07/2010 - 13:00

Everyone is different in regards to their sensitivity to various woods. In general, once you have developed a sensitivity to a particular wood, it gets worse with every exposure. It can get bad enough that one can go into anaphylactic shock. It's nothing to play with.

Basically you need full body protection. A respirator and covering of all skin surfaces is required.

You may want to go to a doctor and be checked for your sensitivity.

Howie.........
sid works's picture

the one thing that triggers (post #146361, reply #8 of 10)

by sid works in reply to PSeverin [original] on Sun, 02/07/2010 - 15:21

the one thing that triggers cocobolo and other dalbergias to being reactive is moisture on the skin, such as sweat and it doesn't have to be much; same goes for going into mouth,nose and eyes.
if any of you have everhad the experience of working with hot peppers can attribute to after rubbing an eye can attest to. they don't burn until they get in your mouth.
when I was a kid and it was cold, the old man used to but ground red pepper in his shoes. wearing wools socks and a bit of sweat on the feet kept his feet warm all day
ron

http://s908.photobucket.com/albums/ac281...

WillGeorge's picture

As Sid said seems to fit. (post #146361, reply #9 of 10)

by WillGeorge in reply to PSeverin [original] on Sun, 02/07/2010 - 19:47

As Sid said seems to fit.

...being reactive is moisture on the skin, such as sweat and it doesn't have to be much; same goes for going into mouth,nose and eyes........

I have used much Lacewood.. The real stuff... I still use it but I have found that I need to be very careful about the dust. I open my shop doors and have a fan that blows across my tool in use to blow away the dust not collected by my dust collector.

I have to limit my time working with it. I do not seem to have a skin reaction but if I breathe in any dust in I am in Big Hurt for about a week. Most of my Lacewood is quarter sawn as purchased. Most I have left is about 8 foot long by 8 inches wide by about 1/2 inch thick. I love the interlocking grain of the QS and now use it just for trim and small boxes. The grain almost looks artificial as in it was made of the ends of compressed fish scales. Hard to describe it...

I found this picture which is very much like what I have but mine is much darker brown in color.

http://olor.net/images/lacewood_lg.jpg

I was supprised at how strong the wood is. I made a four section Shoji screen that has been very abused by childrens play and my dogs knocking it over. Many panels of rice paper broken away but the frame is still intact and has never warped. It sits in the sun shine from a large plate glass window in the morning and then in the shade as the day goes by.

The color has never changed? It is only finished in oil without anything but a wax final finish.

I have used it for a liminated (slight recurve) archery bow for my son. The back of the bow is made of hickory and the rest my QS Lacewood. He uses it for target practice, so it is used alot. He thinks it is his best bow that is not used for hunting.

Have a great day.. Life is wonderful even if you are having a bad day!

9619's picture

YOu asked a difficult (post #146361, reply #10 of 10)

by 9619 in reply to PSeverin [original] on Sun, 02/07/2010 - 19:54

YOu asked a difficult question. All wood dust is toxic, and has long term effects. Some woods have immediate effects. The effects can be on:
- skin
- eyes
- nose (breathing)
Some woods have an effect which grows with exposure.
However, even woods which are toxic to lots of people are not toxic to everyone.
That's the good news.
The bad news is that some woods can have a TERRIBLE effect on some individuals while not affecting most people.

So how do you tell what is going to happen to you with a particular wood? Difficult question. If you are allergic to other types of wood, that may be a hint, but it is not a guarantee.

You can, as someone suggested, put a little on your skin. However that only works for woods which irritate the skin, and it won't tell you if it will affect your breathing or your eyes.

There are people who buy expensive masks which suck in air from outside the workshop, and cover themselves completely. That doesn't appeal to me.

Oh, I get affected by American walnut, but not if I only get some dust on my skin. It happens when I am sweating and it gets on my skin.

See. It gets complicated. Personally, I find that there are so many woods that are beautiful and that are not toxic, that I stick with them, and stay away from many of the exotics.

Moreover, I have moved to dust-free woodwork -- hand tools. Now I have lots of chips and shavings, but rarely have much dust. I am not recommending that, but it is an option.

Hope this helps.
Most of us here on Knots are not professional health workers. So take our opinions with a grain of salt.
Mel

Measure your output in smiles per board foot.