Bowls Bowls Bowls

I got a rash similiar after the second time. No problem the first time but the second. Look out.

I was making pens. and then I made a clock base. That was the one that got me.

Never again.

JockMike2 had a problem with spalted wood. Read his info on it. It almost did him in. Lungs, eyes etc I believe.

-- Karson Southern Delaware karson_morrison@bigfoot.com †

The cocobolo bowl sure turned out nice, though! So did the others.

-- You can discover more about a person in an hour of play than in a year of conversation. (Plato)

Sweet turnings Bob! Beautiful woodworking art.

-- Carpe Lignum - Seize The Wood,

Very nice bowls. I’ve worked with cocobolo many times and have never had a problem – but I think I’m going to make the last time I used it the last time, not worth the risks. Too bad – it is one of my favorite species.

-- Bill - "Suit yourself and let the rest be pleased." http://www.cajunpen.com/

it’s so beautiful..
definitely sounds like a dangerous wood to work with .. and possibly to have sitting around your house.

-- "Functional WoodArt" by Debbie, Canada (http://www.execulink.com/~yohan)

I’ve not had any problems with Cocobolo yet. Knock on my workbench. Hopefully it stays that way. It turns wonderfully.

-- We must guard our enthusiasm as we would our life - James Krenov

The way I discovered COCOBOLO was highly alergic was when I visited the New Jersey Woodturners monthly meeting. One of the members told me something I’ll never forget…. “There are 2 types of people, those THAT ARE allergic to cocobolo and those that WILL BE allergic to cocobolo”.

It’s a good thing I attended this meeting , otherwise I’d still be wondering why I had a rash. After some research, I discovered the oils in the wood and the saw dust is what causes the rash. The wood itself, especially after it has a finish on it is harmless. The wood turns fantastic, I’ve never seen anything like this before. After taking it to 400 grit, the wood looked like it already had a poly or wax finish. Almost a plastic looking object.

I still have about 10 bowl blanks. If and when I tackle this again, I’ll be sure to use long sleeves shirt, gloves, dust mask and keep the dust collector on the whole time.

-- Bob A in NJ

I sometimes get batches of Spanish Cedar that makes my nose run the whole time im around it. The only wood ive ever had a reaction to. Sounds like cocobolo is the wood version of the poisonous puffer fish.

-- miles125, Alabama.."Architecture is frozen music""

They are beautiful. I’m partial to the spalted Maple. Thanks for the warning…last thing I need is a 4 day rash!

-- Jesus is Lord!

Bob -

I assume these are some of the bowls that got you distracted! Very nice.

-- http://foldingrule.blogspot.com

Spalted wood is made with fungus, and can get in your lungs and eyes, It took me about six weeks to completely get it out of my eyes and lungs and I’m still having problem with my lungs, I have a Drs appt. tommorow cause I’m coughing up lugies the size of baseballs. It is not pretty, the doc wants me to quit woodwork, I told her to remove the lungs. She got the point. jockmike

-- Mike. Profisher50@yahoo.com