Safe Handle Materials to work with if you have asthma or a respiratory condition?

[Steelhog]

Hey all. I have recently started making some knives and really enjoy it. My question for the group is mostly in regard to handle materials. From what I understand many of the very popular materials like G10 and Micarta can cause some respiratory issues. I have asthma so thus far I have limited myself to specific woods and even then wear a mask and take precautions. So my question to the group is basically what handle materials are mostly safe or should be avoided if you have a respiratory condition like asthma. I know this will very from person to person but hoping to get some feedback from the group.

Honestly given what I have read about g10 that sounds like a total no go for me unless others can recommend otherwise. Thanks for help/suggestions (I know this is an odd one).

 

[Bill DeShivs]

G10 is pretty dangerous.
Rosewoods, cocobolo and some other woods can cause allergic reactions.
You really should wear a respirator with any material that can become airborne.

 

[Daniel Carraher]

I have asthma and use everything but do wear a full face respirator

 

[LCoop]

I've know people who are allergic to walnut wood. PPE and dust collection is always important.

 

[john april]

ALL dusts are very bad for you, some your body cannot break down and dispose of, like fiberglass and resins in micarta. i wear a 3m half face respirator anytime im doing anything that makes dust. even the bandsaw.

 

[J-T-K]

I think you are doing the right thing by being careful. I have no health issues and the only things I'd do without a respirator are some sawing, filing and carving of wood outdoors in an open space. Indoors, everything with the half mask, and even so I don't feel tempted by G10 or yew.

 

[scarysamcary]

Lifetime serious asthmatic here, a good respirator and a smart sense of your limits is all you need. Just remember to safely stop what you are doing and leave the shop if you feel like you are going to pass out. I have unfortunately gotten myself quite ill from failing to wear PPE while working on the grinder.

 

[Scaniaman]

I would ask a physician working in occupational and/or pulmonary medicine about this.

 

[Hengelo_77]

make dust = wear mask
That's my rule, I even wear it and sanding a handle. You'll get used to it.
You can get small ballow to blow dust of your work, or have a brush at hand.

 

[Nick-D]

I'm asthmatic, and don't have any issues with the nastier fibers (g10 and carbon fiber) wearing a proper respirator. I grind sand and clean/vac with the mask on, once the shop is free of dust it comes off. Never had any issues. I wear overalls as well that come off and are dusted off before the mask comes off.

Its definately nasty stuff but don't think it offers any specific extra risk to asthmatics, unless you happen to be allergic to the specific particulates. (epoxies are quite a common allergy)

 

[imill3567]

Also asthmatic and agree that wearing your respirator anytime you're making dust seems to work fine. I avoid G10 only because my shop is in the basement and so that fiberglass dust could settle and stick around. In my case where the shop is enclosed I also have dust extraction at the grinder and disc when I'm grinding handles and a hanging air filter which I run for a couple hours every time I'm done working.

 

[Cushing H.]

I’m not asthmatic, but like Imill3567 I have a small enclosed shop. I also use dust extraction going to dust deputies and shop vacs with hepa filters, AND a separate air filter. That whole shop air cleaner does a wonderful job of pulling floating particles out of the air.

to my thinking, as others have said, asthma or not, any floating particles you might inhale are just not a good idea at all (especially with the rosewoods). Oh ... i also use a 3m half face respirator when doing anything that might generate particles...