Allergic?

[Shimmy]

Has anyone on this board gotten an allergic reaction from carving Basswood?
I just noticed this in the last month or so.My throat and nose gets very dry and I had a cough for 3 weeks now.It seem to subsided and then I started carving one night and I noticed after that it started again.I took a Catscan which they said was negative.They say it the cough is a allergy .Taking Claritin D will see what happens.
When I carve now I put some Vaseline in my nostrils that helps alot.I had this happen 20 yrs.ago with Mahogony wood.better never with Basswood.

[Alice in Wonderland]

I learned that no matter how little I work with any kind of wood I have to put on a mask and somtimes I add a wet piece of tissue into the mask as well,I take a gum or candy as well ,if not, I surly cough, sneeze etc.
Alice

[Mryooper]

Originally Posted by Alice in Wonderland

I learned that no matter how little I work with any kind of wood I have to put on a mask and somtimes I add a wet piece of tissue into the mask as well,I take a gum or candy as well ,if not, I surly cough, sneeze etc.
Alice

LOl A mask......I have one but I should use it. I found out I get a skin rash from Diamond willow and sometimes basswood.

[Hi_Ho_Sliver]

I had a reaction to the smoke while woodburning some basswood, but got a mask and a desk air filter....no problem now.

[Mryooper]

Originally Posted by Hi_Ho_Sliver

I had a reaction to the smoke while woodburning some basswood, but got a mask and a desk air filter....no problem now.

I had a allergic reaction to smoking indian gum LOL was a little kid then and thought I would give it a sneek.

[Claude]

You very easily could be allergic. I have asthma, but so far the reaction I get is some sneezing and a nose that tends to run. I always wear a mask and have my shop-vac running when power carving or sanding, as that helps a lot. Here's a list of toxic woods - unfortunately, basswood isn't listed.

http://old.mendelu.cz/~horacek/toxic.htm

Claude

[AlArchie]

One thing I've found, and it probably is NOT an alergic reaction, is that carving basswood dries my fingers out something fierce, and they tend to crack. When sanding or power carving, that same drying sensation works on the nasal pasages, causing watery eyes, sneezing and some minor bleeding of the mucus membranes. Wearing even a dust mask helps a lot and the cannister type respirator makes a world of difference. Doesn't help the cracking figers, though.


Al

[Callynne]

Shimmy, I noticed right away, once I started bandsawing out my pieces (hubby did them at first), that I got cold like symptoms. I wear a dust mask and run the shop vac now. When using rotary I always wear a dust mask and run my dust collector.

I do as little rotary carving as possible, I enjoy the hand carving much more, but the important thing is to really clean your carving off before starting to hand carve. I sweep mine off with the my sweeper and sometimes even mist it lightly with 50% water 50% rubbing alcohol, dries quickly but 'settles' the dust.

Al, check at JoAnn Fabrics, they used to sell a handcream especially for needlepoint workers, it softened and protected your hands from cracking but didn't leave any residue to mark the cloth. Should work well for working with wood too, I would think! Deborah

[AlArchie]

Thanks, Deborah, I'll have to give that a shot.


Al

[Shimmy]

Yes I started spraying the 50/50 alcohol om pieces before I start.I only carve by hand.When I use the bandsaw I use a mask .I guess I just have to be careful. Thanks for the replies.