Primitive Archer
Main Discussion Area => Bows => Topic started by: billy on April 27, 2009, 11:49:42 pm
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The last few times I've cut osage on my bandsaw, I've begun itching when the dust gets on my skin, particularly on sensitive areas like the inside of my elbows. Anyone have any similar experiences with this?
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Sounds like you are alergic to the oils in osage. You better send it all to me......... for medical reasons of course. ;)
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Gosh I hope not. I would have been dead years ago. :o Billy, have you just recently noticed it? Are you allergic to other things like tree pollen or grass pollen? If so, you may be over sensitive now but get over it when all the pollen is gone.
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I know the last couple of years i have been sneezing a lot more, I layed off the wood for a few weeks and the sneezing stopped, went back to the wood and the sneezing started right back, didn't bother me for many years but seems to now. Steve
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I've got a friend whose mom is allergic to mulberry (related to osage) and can't even be near it as saw dust or if its being burned for respiratory and skin related reasons. It is very possible that you are afflicted with something like that. Sorry, but if you need to send it to anybody to help relieve you...
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I read that osage can cause Contact Dermatitis.Phillip
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It happens to a lot of woodwokers, especially with oily and exotic woods. They work with woods for years with no problems but through prolonged exposure become sensitized. Some have to stop working with the wood altogether, but many of them can handle things by limiting or eliminating as much exposure as possible. wear clothing to eliminate contact, set up dust collection to take dust out of the air or wear a respirator, and wash exposed areas as soon as possible after contact. This usually makes it manageable.
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If you were making violin bows with pernambuco you would wear a respirator. Breathing the dust can keep the hemoglobin in the blood from carrying oxygen. Likewise, ebony dust can cause constriction of the throat and inability to breath freely.
Continued exposure to any toxin, whether it is hardwood dust or epoxy, whatever, can cause a sensitivity that will re-occur even years later.
Plan ahead.
piper
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Makes sense. You might have to wear long sleeves etc. when sanding/cutting. I know that when I work with cocobola on the lathe or sander, I wear a fine mask b/c it's toxic. Hope it doesn't bother you when you shoot osage.
Tracy
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When cutting Ipe slats on my table saw I have gotten a burning sensation on my skin...esp. when real hot a sweaty and the pores of my skin are wide open......now it's ALWAYS a respirator and long sleeves.....
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No skin rashes but I get hay fever like symptoms from too much osage dust. I wear a dust mask and run my dust collector system if I am spending a lot of time rasping or sanding osage.
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I know the osage dust bothers me when I'm sanding, but yew and ipe give me the itch. I've started wearing a respirator mask for finish sanding with these woods, unless I'm outside.
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I dont get itchy but osage and especially ipe will tighten up my chest at the base of my neck and its not comfortable so I wear a good respirator. I think dust masks are almost useless.
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it sounds like you need to come back where the yew is at...john
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Yew bothers the heck outa me...Makes my tounge tingle and skin kinda jumpy. I leave it alone now.
Osage hasn't bothered me yet? Good respirator is a good Idea.
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I dont get itchy but osage and especially ipe will tighten up my chest at the base of my neck and its not comfortable so I wear a good respirator. I think dust masks are almost useless.
Dust masks are useless. They only work for maybe a minute or two, until they become completely clogged with dust, and then you might as well not wear it. I noticed with osage, ipe, and yew, that when I was using my belt sander, I would get a bit short of breath, and dizzy. And yes, yew is toxic. The berries and needles are extremely poisonous, so I don't imagine the dust is any better. I'm sure it probably causes cancer, as well. Please everyone, invest in a good respirator mask, and use it!
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I've never noticed the itching reaction before...it seems to have come about only recently. I am not allergic to anything...I can eat pollen for breakfast with no reaction. But osage seems to be what's causing my itching problem I'll wear long sleeves and a respirator from now on whenever working with it.
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Tracy, a lot of woodwind instrument makers get very sensitive to cocobolo. it is really nasty stuff.
piper
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When using a power sander or any other tool that makes a lot of dust most hook up to a shop vac and I use a north half mask with hepa filters (the purple ones) same thing they use for asbestoes. Wood antler and other stuff is just as bad for you. Thanks Leroy
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I have all my dust producing power tools hooked up to a Delta 1HP dust filtration system, with 4" collection lines. However, I still wear my respirator.