Is cocobolo an irritant?

[Neil]

15 years I think, at least ten plus years I have been turning, at times with cocobolo, and never once had any reaction. Life just got its own back. I was at a Game and Country show in Oxfordshire over the weekend, under canvas so in the shade, but was so hot I was wiping my forehead with the bottom of my t shirt. Big big mistake, the dust was being redistributed over my forehead, around my eyes, and this morning I woke up like this:


Don’t turn the nasty stuff in the heat!!

 

[flexi]

A sound warning to us all mate, I know some woods can be worse than others especially the spalted variety but never thought about cocobola.....
Best wishes for a speedy recovery

 

[Penpal]

Years ago I bought a board of Cocobolo ,the owner a dealer in Nth America became allergic,so much so he sold it to me and would not cut it at all. I have a beaut mate in Washington state who cut it into 1 inch square by roughly a foot long pieces and sent them to me all numbered. Been using them ever since plus others. Neal I felt for you,timely warning for us all. Please send this strange heat we are waiting anxiously for the season to improve over here. Take care mate,kind regards Peter.

 

[Terry Q]

There 2 types of cocobolo turners. Those who are alergic and those how are going to be alergic. So far I fall into the latter category.

 

[21William]

Sorry to hear that Neil. Get yourself off to the docs and get some allergy relief meds.

 

[pittswood]

Hi Neil,
According to my "Wood, id and use", cocobolo is a sensitizer, skin irritation from dust, can cause dermatitis, conjunctivitis, nausea, bronchial asthma, nose and throat irritation, wheezing, chest tightness and headache.
It looks if you may have got away with most. Get well soon.
Kelvin

 

[Garno]

Thing to remember now Neil is that you will always get a reaction to cocobolo now the first reaction has been triggered.

Get well soon

 

[howsitwork?]

Cetirizine is your friend ! Antihistamine , non sedating ( usually ) one per day .

air helmets , although unsightly are useful . Steer clear of cocobolo for a few MONTHS AT LEAST once you improve . The more you are exposed the worse the reaction gets and you are also likely to become reactive to other timbers too as your body’s immune system is in overdrive.

take care

 

[Neil Lawton]

I think it was Grump who said " Anyone called Neil is an irritant!"
Everyone I know who turns it has a reaction but another thing to look out for is wearing a watch whilst turning in hot weather. Dust gets under the strap and causes a rash with even the most common timbers and makes you more likely to react next time you turn it.

 

[Neil]

Cetirizine is your friend ! Antihistamine , non sedating ( usually ) one per day .

air helmets , although unsightly are useful . Steer clear of cocobolo for a few MONTHS AT LEAST once you improve . The more you are exposed the worse the reaction gets and you are also likely to become reactive to other timbers too as your body’s immune system is in overdrive.

take care

Antihistamine, doc said don’t bother, got given six oral steroid pills within half an hour and six in one dose every day for four days. I frequently turn cocobolo and was complacent, knowing the risks but it had never affected me before, it was the heat and wiping my face with the bottom f my t shirt, covered in dust, not very clever on reflection!

 

[silver]

Kin ell mate, would be interesting to see a before and after photo. :wink:

As that looks really ugly as well, shame as they say once a reaction always a reaction.

So looks like you might be ugly for a long time now.

You have the Drs giving you a helping hand so shouldn’t be long before you are playing lathes again.

Get well soon tho..

 

[Neil]

Eamonn, thankfully, a week gone by, 30mg steroids a day and my face has shrunk to normal, here's the before and after!

 

[silver]

Eamonn, thankfully, a week gone by, 30mg steroids a day and my face has shrunk to normal, here's the before and after!

Ouch, glad to see you back on the mend tho mate.

I like how you have perfected the glasses on the head as well

 

[Pierre]

Thanks for the timely reminder its 33 here and i was going to turn some cocobolo tomorrow

 

[Geoff Kent]

Just seen this thread.I hope you are feeling a bit better now.My shed's been like an oven for ages.Lathes enjoying the rest though!