Purpleheart wood??

Bill DeShivs said:
I love cocobolo, but when I'm working it, it looks like I have been pepper-sprayed.
Snot running like water, sneezing, choking.
Click to expand...
Bill, I have the same problem but I still use the wood. I now wear a long sleeve white shirt, respirator , goggles, and I run a powerful stand fan next to my grinder to shape this wood. I vacuum anything that remains later. Then I have to strip down and shower immediately or I will break out in a rash. It's worth the trouble on some knives because the wood looks so good when I'm finished. Other times I just pick out a piece of ironwood and skip the whole process. Larry
 
I'd still pick working with cocobolo or pao Ferro over stabilized yellow cedar burl. It's beautiful, but the most horiffic smell and horiffic headache I've ever gotten working with something
 
Stabilized purple heart should keep the color. I have several blocks that were stabilized a long time ago and still are purple.
 
Larry, promise me you'll keep a bottle of liquid Benadryl in your shop, or better yet, talk to your doctor about an epinephrine pen. Sometimes the next allergic reaction is anaphylactic shock. I witnessed someone nearly die from it, once. If we hadn't managed to shoehorn a Benadryl into him, he'd have died. It happened QUICKLY. You may not be given a chance to call for help...


LARRYZ10 said:
Bill, I have the same problem but I still use the wood. I now wear a long sleeve white shirt, respirator , goggles, and I run a powerful stand fan next to my grinder to shape this wood. I vacuum anything that remains later. Then I have to strip down and shower immediately or I will break out in a rash. It's worth the trouble on some knives because the wood looks so good when I'm finished. Other times I just pick out a piece of ironwood and skip the whole process. Larry
Click to expand...
 
I wrote a piece about working with rosewood.

A few notes on using rosewood. Always use a mask, as the dust is very irritating. After using rosewood, go straight to the shower to wash it off. The less time the oil is on your skin, the better. Shower with shampoo rather than soap helps, as shampoo is a surfactant rather than a soap and is much more effective at removing the oils from the skin. use a fresh wash cloth to rub the skin vigorously. The oil is better removed with friction. Always minimize skin contact with long sleeves and gloves if possible. Be dilligent about washing your face as well, as most grinders will throw dust into your face where it will be extra irritating.

Rosewoods are beautiful, strong and classic. Dont let yourself develop a strong reaction to them. Be safe and be cautious and you will be able to use and enjoy the beauty of rosewood for years to come
Matthew Gregory said:
Larry, promise me you'll keep a bottle of liquid Benadryl in your shop, or better yet, talk to your doctor about an epinephrine pen. Sometimes the next allergic reaction is anaphylactic shock. I witnessed someone nearly die from it, once. If we hadn't managed to shoehorn a Benadryl into him, he'd have died. It happened QUICKLY. You may not be given a chance to call for help...
Click to expand...
 
I've also found a shop coat to be worth wearing. It not only keeps the dust off you, but off your clothes to help avoid bringing it into the house.
 
Benadryl may help a little, but anaphylactic shock is bad stuff.
It happened once to me. I had just set up my first Grizzly 2X72, and was grinding on an unfinished knife for a friend. Brass and some kind of Micarta/phenolic.
I ground a lot of it-no mask.
About an hour later I started itching on my thighs, then my palms and soles of my feet felt like they had been beaten with a ball-pein hammer.
Then, my throat started closing up. I finally called a friend who was an MD. He called in a steroid dose pack, and told me if I got worse or was not significantly better in 3 hours, to go to the ER. A couple of hours later, the symptoms began to subside.
I have never had another bout of anaphylaxis, but I do keep a Medrol dose pack handy.
 
Matthew Gregory said:
Larry, promise me you'll keep a bottle of liquid Benadryl in your shop, or better yet, talk to your doctor about an epinephrine pen. Sometimes the next allergic reaction is anaphylactic shock. I witnessed someone nearly die from it, once. If we hadn't managed to shoehorn a Benadryl into him, he'd have died. It happened QUICKLY. You may not be given a chance to call for help...
Click to expand...
Matt, That's a good idea and I will do it. I have already quit using carbon fiber because of fumes and fine dust but I still work Cocobolo. I will keep some Benadryl nearby from now on. Thanks, Larry
 
Purpleheart? Dense. Heavy. Stable. Tough. What's not to love? And it's also pretty enough sitting next to micarta, warwood, etc.

Some say it splinters easily but it's well behaved to me. It cuts and finishes very predictably. This block came from the late great Johnny Warner who used to hang out here. Knife was made in March this year (top pic) and still no noticeable color change today (bottom pic). It was sanded out to 800 redline then oiled and buffed out with canvas scrap. It will eventually turn a deep brown in some years. Not for every knife but it's a decent option that can take a serious beating.

But then I like Bodark too.

JcewRcM.jpg


CptraSF.jpg
 
purple heart works ok for handles. water based polyurethane seals the wood and I have not seen any color shift after 2 years. Locally we have Klingspor Woodworking stores that carry purpleheart and other exotics in "Hobby" sized pieces. 1/8 to 1/2 thickness, 1 to 2 inch wide, 12 or 18 length. on occasion you can also find small pieces in their "drops" box. I like picking my own pieces rather than ordering blind on internet.
 
I know this is an old thread but was thinking how I love my Purple FRN Delica 4 but would love wood scales then remembered Purpleheart Wood however reading this I am not sure if it is best or if Dyed wood or Kingswood would be best. I also doubt I have the wood working skills so once I determine if there is even a feasible option I need to find someone who can do the job. So any thoughts or opinions for my hope of keeping a purple Delica 4 but getting nice wood scales put on it?
 
I have a couple nice chunks of Greenheart burl I won't use due to dust issues. If anybody wants them let me know and I'll make a deal.
 
You must log in or register to reply here.
Back
Top