is cocobolo dust dangerous?

[knifenutz2008]

i have heard many different responses whether cocobolo is toxic. was wondering what some opinions are from members that work with cocobolo alot.

 

[polish avenger]

There's lots of info out there about toxic wood. Bottom line....ANYTHING in your lungs is not good for you. Check out this- www.ubeaut.com.au/badwood.htm
-Mark

 

[Shakudo]

http://www.ci.tucson.az.us/arthazards/wood2.html

http://www.hobbywoods.com/wood_toxicity.htm

 

[Ed Caffrey]

It is....if your allergic to it! I'm one of those folks who is. The dust can get on me and not bother me, but if I get it in my lungs or throat....it's a bad scene. My very first knife (many moons ago) was made with cocobolo slabs. After finishing it I noticed that my throat was tight, and after an hour or so the wife was hauling me off the the emergency room, with my eyes swollen shut and barely being able to draw breath! Even after the Doc said that I had an allergic reaction to something, and had given me a couple of shots, I still hadn't made the connection. We talked about what I had been doing that day, and when I mentioned finishing the cocobolo handle, his ears perked up. After I was able to go home, I did a little test by lightly sanding the handle and sniffing it......BINGO! I still work cocobolo, but make darn sure I have a respirator on....problem solved for me.

 

[knifenutz2008]

geez thats awfull learning the hard way. i quess you really dont know if your allergic or not . i would like to act like i am with anything i grind,sand,cut,polish,ect. i usually wear a respirator as second nature, i figure i smoke and am doing enough damage to myself that there is no sense in adding to the agony. i have seen qupote on quote men who say aaahh i dont need that mask or safety harness. i once knew a young man who nearly lost his life and i say nearly as an understatement, he was working construction on a dome type of structure, and beneath him they were laying rebarb for concrete slabs he was told to wear a safety harnesss after all this is a dome structure come on its common sense to wear a safety harness you would think well he decided it was less of a man if he wore one, well the rearb on the ground was sticking out about 3 foot just sticking up all over where the slabs were going well. he took the plunge and once he started it was too late he came down off that dome he landed on his feet alright,, with a 3 foot piece of rebarb planted in his bung hole. the rebarb travled straight up through his organs and missed spearing his heart by a fraction of an inch. the doctor told him the only thing that saved his life was his legs did not give out when he came down on that rebarb. the story ended with him having 2 bags permanantly attached to him for the rest of his life. he will never stand or sit on a toilet again he justs empties his bags. really nice kid he just made a bad decision. it was not a good sound hearing someone scream that just rammed a piece of rebarb of his fanny and i do mean directly up the shoot. some lifes ventures are just not meant to be learned the hard way i quess. at that time he was i think around 16 years old. i felt real bad for this kid.

 

[Stacy E. Apelt - Bladesmith]

Many people are sensitive to cocobola dust.It makes them itch all over,especially the wrist and neck area.

 

[Raymond Richard]

I've know a few makers that have used it for years with no problems and then all of a sudden they have a reaction to it.

 

[howiesatwork]

Yep, some people are allergic right away, some have to get sensitized for a while, and eventually, all will be allergic.
I did two short cuts on a table saw, and it was bothering me already.
There are many woods to be careful with.
Maple is even bad for some.
Spalted woods, with their mold spores should be treated as hazardous.
I'm real allergic to ivory. Cut out two slabs on my metal band-saw, with very little noticeable dust in the air. I could barely smell it then, but was tasting it every day for two months when I was coughing and coughing...

 

[JCaswell]

I find cocobola dust somewhat irritating to the ol repiratory system, but what really bugs me is the smell. It makes your fingers smell peculiar (I presume from the oils in the wood), and the smell doesn't just wash off. Takes days to go away completely. Maybe I'm just extra sensitive to it, but it's pretty annoying.

 

[Daniel Koster]

dang...I love the smell of cocobolo...the feel....the way it works...and so on. The dust does make my skin turn colors (ie. local reaction) but doesn't itch any more than metal dust itches and I haven't noticed any side effects. I do use a dust mask, and sometimes a respirator...depending on how good of ventilation I have going at the time.

No problems so far...though, if I was to work it all day...I'm sure I'd get hammered by it.

note: I have no known allergies...except to work, of course.

I guess I'm one of the lucky ones.


Now, desert ironwood on the other hand...turns my skin green and makes me cough - respirator or not! (still love to use it though )

 

[raylaconico]

I work with cocobolo a lot and have had no bad effects from it. I do wear a dust mask when I work it with a belt sander. I don't always wear a mask when I am hand sanding. I probably should due to any long term effects it may have on my lungs though.

 

[JTknives]

Im with Daniel Koster, i love the smell of it. it will also make your mouth numb if you taste the dust.

 

[JCaswell]

Your mouth is going numb tasting cocobola dust?

I've heard of hand-rubbed finishes, but that's going a bit too far!

 

[JTknives]

you have never heard of the tung rub finish? na just got some on my hands then got somthing to eat and my mouth felt weird but just for a few min. that is the onley time that it has ever done anything to me.

 

[Daniel Koster]

LMAO!!!

JT - you're awesome, bro. :thumbup:






Ok...since we're confessing...I have tasted african blackwood...stuff smells like cocoa butter....but, um....doesn't taste anything like it.

 

[JTknives]

i thought cocobolo would taste like cinimon but it does not, i can just see it now. now ariving soon at you local food market, cocobolo buns. tastes like cinimon but with half the carbs and no sugar or fat.

 

[Phydeaux]

I remember reading in a book many moons ago that cocobola is a member of the poision ivy family. I believe the book is called "Know Your Woods".

When I handle cocobola too much, the skin on my hands will start to peel a little. I have taken a liking to lignum vitae. It smells nice too.

Ric Lee

 

[cmd]

Cocobolo is irritating a little for me, but the worst by far (in my limited experience) has been purple heart. Nasty stuff to work with but beautiful when finished.

Now I use a respirator and long sleeves when working with wood, just like G10 or Micarta, but not the first couple of times .