non-toxic and non-allergenic woods, anyone?

I’d be curious if there was a list as well, though I’d be surprised if there was. Allergic reactions are a pretty personal thing in my experience. Recently my nephew brought over a piece of Leopard Wood to trim out the work bench he is making. We did some planing, cutting and sanding and got the pieces ready to assemble. By the time he got home that evening he was covered in a rash and heavily congested while I had no reaction whatsoever.

It would seem reasonable to find the families of woods that cause a reaction and avoid those while sticking with the wood families that don’t affect you negatively. With reactions being individualized I’d bet this is the best you can do.

-- When you give someone a chance it may well be their last.

I recently discovered a wood called orange agate. It is harvested from the panhandle of Peru. It has similar characteristics as cocobola but without the allergens. This is a recent project I made with it. It has gorgeous grain patterns and the color is outstanding.

-- My favorite piece is my last one, my best piece is my next one.

Not to long ago, Dorje and I were working on a project with Bolivian Rosewood, we both develop a rash from the dust. It took weeks from my rash to go away! It is now on my to avoid list :(.

-- http://theinquisitivewoodworker.com/

Here is a great list: Toxic Wood List

One thing to be really aware of when dealing with allergies is that every time you expose yourself to the offending item, your reaction will become worse. You really don’t want to have an anaphylactic reaction.

-- “There is scarcely anything in the world that some man cannot make a little worse and sell a little cheaper … and the buyers who consider price only are this man’s lawful prey.” John Ruskin

I just cleaned up the shop yesterday and have a little bit of a rash on my wrists…I’m not planning to work that Bolivian Rosewood again any time soon.

Future projects will probably be out of american hardwoods…though I’m hoping that I’m not allergic to some of the other exotics that I have not used yet. Time will tell.

-- Dorje (pronounced "door-jay"), Seattle, WA

the one form of protection people forget in the shop is the mask… Hard enough to get folks to wear hearing protection… Glasses usually make sense to most of us. USE A MASK… and wear gloves. At least in my shop

-- making sawdust....

Here is another list of toxic woods:

http://old.mendelu.cz/~horacek/toxic.htm

Lew