Got bit by Cocobolo

D

DukeHarley

Joined
Apr 11, 2014
Messages
644
Ok finished a knife about 10 days ago that had cocobolo scales. Knife turned out awesome but for the past week I've had this INTENSE ITCH everywhere with a fine rash of tiny bumps not unlike a mild case of posion ivy. I'm going crazy!!!!! Does this run it course or do I need something to clear it up? Please tell me your experiences with Cocobolo. Does Desert Ironwood have the same effect?

Jay
 
Really common with cocobolo actually. I have built guitars from it and get the same reaction. Mine gets better when the dust is handled really carefully. It is really oily, and can be a bigger to actually wash off your skin entirely. If it is not getting better at all, you could try some Benadryl, but I suspect you are getting re-exposed to the dust.
 
I've heard that ironwood can have the same effect on some people. I didn't have a reaction to ironwood but I suspect you might due to the cocobolo reaction.
 
Cocobolo is listed as a "sensitizer". Your reaction to it may get worse with more exposure.
 
Yeah I knew the possibility of a reaction before I started using Cocobolo but I've found very little info on Ironwood. From what I've read Bicote, all Rosewoods, Tulipwood, and Ebony can all cause the same reaction as Cocobolo.

Ok my next question is for those of you that have reactions to Cocobolo what precautions have you found that work for you which allows you to still use this/these woods? I really hate the thought of not using Cocobolo. I was wondering if full face respirator, laytex gloves, and a Tyvek suit would work and also possibly do my shaping and sanding outdoors with a large fan at my side blowing the dust away would work.
 
Good observation because it is EXACTLY like a mild case of poison ivy. Same type of chemical at work. Cocobolo and mango (particularly the bark, sap and skin of the fruit) are supposedly the worst offenders, but not the only ones. I have seen a guy who USED to do teak work on the stupid expensive sportfishing boats in Palm Beach have to quit the business and sell his company after like 18 years because he woke up one morning with this type of allergy. The guy had one of more clever business names in that industry. He called himself the "Teak Sheik":D
 
When I grind cocobolo I wear long sleeve shirt, 3m Face Mask, hat and I run a large fan blowing across the grinder and have a bucket of water under the grinding wheel.

Luckily my grinder is at the garage door and I keep that open when grinding so it gets blown outside.

I also will stop and use an air hose to blow off the grinder and my clothes before to much builds up.
 
I've worked with blackwood, cocobolo, and bocote without ill effect.
Desert ironwood seems to get me though so you could be bothered by one and not the others. No rash here but if I breath any ironwood dust at all into my nose I'll get a pounding headache for about 24 hours. Took me 3 times to be sure it wasn't coincidence. Strict mask procedure solved the problem for me.

Maybe your suit, mask, fan setup will work, but maybe not. Since cocobolo is a sensitizer the reaction is supposed to get worse each time. You wouldn't want to find out your new setup failed by having your throat close up from anaphylaxis.
Might be a good idea to get an epipen from your doctor just in case. Stay safe!
 
Antlerhog said:
Yeah I knew the possibility of a reaction before I started using Cocobolo but I've found very little info on Ironwood. From what I've read Bicote, all Rosewoods, Tulipwood, and Ebony can all cause the same reaction as Cocobolo.

Ok my next question is for those of you that have reactions to Cocobolo what precautions have you found that work for you which allows you to still use this/these woods? I really hate the thought of not using Cocobolo. I was wondering if full face respirator, laytex gloves, and a Tyvek suit would work and also possibly do my shaping and sanding outdoors with a large fan at my side blowing the dust away would work.
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Honestly I hate using it now. I love it as a tonewood, but it is just nasty stuff for me. When I work with it, I wear full skin covering clothes, hair cover, respirator and closed eye protection. I use a really complicated shop dust collectio/ filtration system, and always have downdraft collection systems running.
But unfortunately, my most common way to deal with it is to say no when people ask for it.
 
Adam gave some good advice. Every now and then just step aside from your work and use the air hose to blow off.
Don't touch your face with your hands and don't pick your nose!!
I used it for years before I finally generated a sensitivity to it - eyes swell up, skin all itchy, etc.
The remedy has been to simply blow off as I am working it.
Luckily, I do not grind any knife handles - I file all mine to shape - so the air is not filled with fine dust. That's a huge benefit.
 
I haven't had the pleasure of working with cocobolo yet but have with desert iron wood. I didn't have any problems. I have rubbed down with baby powder before sanding fiberglass and it worked well. The baby powder is supposed to fill your pores so that whatever you are sanding doesn't get in them. Doesn't help your lungs so wear a respirator.
 
I'm sorry to hear that you are having a reaction, but I am glad you posted this thread. I was recently diagnosed with a formaldehyde allergy and have to watch what I'm around. I'm presently working with laminated walnut and I suspect there may be some in the glue. Some of these woods mentioned I may have to stay away from.
 
Lo/Rez said:
I was recently diagnosed with a formaldehyde allergy and have to watch what I'm around. I'm presently working with laminated walnut and I suspect there may be some in the glue. Some of these woods mentioned I may have to stay away from.
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Stay away from micarta (obviously) but also things like Delrin and Chloraseptic throat spray and certain other antiseptics and sanitizers.


It sucks to develop a sensitivity, which is a good reason to be careful to avoid them in the first place. To the OP, as far as woods are concerned, Cocobolo might actually be the worst.

There are people who work in the furniture industry in South American countries who develop a sensitivity to it but power through it and eventually become immune. Or perhaps the weak ones just die...
 
A. Wash with Tecnu cleaner, great for skin sensitization.

B. Yes, Benadryl for continued reaction. Will make you sleepy.

C. Buff and seal the cocbolo with Johnsons Paste Wax.

Some people develop a sensitivity over use, some form simple contact.

Larry
Tinkerer
 
Nathan the Machinist said:
Stay away from micarta (obviously) but also things like Delrin and Chloraseptic throat spray and certain other antiseptics and sanitizers.


It sucks to develop a sensitivity, which is a good reason to be careful to avoid them in the first place. To the OP, as far as woods are concerned, Cocobolo might actually be the worst.

There are people who work in the furniture industry in South American countries who develop a sensitivity to it but power through it and eventually become immune. Or perhaps the weak ones just die...
Click to expand...

Darn. Canvas Micarta is probably my favorite handle material. I haven't worked with it yet though. Does G10 fall into the came category?
 
Lo/Rez said:
Darn. Canvas Micarta is probably my favorite handle material. I haven't worked with it yet though. Does G10 fall into the came category?
Click to expand...

Formaldehyde is released when certain chemicals decompose or degrade, and phenolic is one of them, and it's enough you can smell it and can even make your eyes water.

G10, which is a glass and epoxy composite, might not have that same problem. I think it is probably present in the epoxy, but having machined tons of it, I've never noticed the formaldehyde smell from G10. I'd proceed with caution...

(disclaimer: I'm a dumb machinist, not a materials or chemical engineer)
 
You are right about that!! You can smell the formaldehyde stank when you grind Micarta.
Nathan the Machinist said:
Stay away from micarta (obviously) but also things like Delrin and Chloraseptic throat spray and certain other antiseptics and sanitizers.


It sucks to develop a sensitivity, which is a good reason to be careful to avoid them in the first place. To the OP, as far as woods are concerned, Cocobolo might actually be the worst.

There are people who work in the furniture industry in South American countries who develop a sensitivity to it but power through it and eventually become immune. Or perhaps the weak ones just die...
Click to expand...
 
Nathan the Machinist said:
Formaldehyde is released when certain chemicals decompose or degrade, and phenolic is one of them, and it's enough you can smell it and can even make your eyes water.

G10, which is a glass and epoxy composite, might not have that same problem. I think it is probably present in the epoxy, but having machined tons of it, I've never noticed the formaldehyde smell from G10. I'd proceed with caution...

(disclaimer: I'm a dumb machinist, not a materials or chemical engineer)
Click to expand...

Thanks for the info, I appreciate it.
 
I carve with Cocobolo all the time and I have never had any reaction to it. From what I think I know if your having that strong of a reaction to cocobolo you are likely to have some kind reaction to most woods that are considered poisonous. I would steer clear if I were you some people have life threatening reactions to these woods. Its not likely but from what you described I would steer clear of exotics.
 
I don't know if this is the same for a lot of people with these sensitivities, but my dad had a mild sensitivity to the allergenic mango parts like skin and small amounts of sap that would come on gradually. He loves mangoes and at the time we had like 8 big mango trees in our 3/4 of an acre yard in Miami along with maybe another 15 or so other fruit trees. When they came in every year, he would eat them until he itched and then no more mangoes until next year. they bad news is that my bother and I had to collect the rest and either give them away or pile them up for compost. You have NO idea how many mangoes will fall off 8 old trees join one season!!! :eek::D
 
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