• Thanks for visiting The Penturners Forum today.

    There are many features and resources that currently you are unable to see or access, either because you're not yet registered, or if you're already registered, because you're not logged in.

    To gain full access to the forum, please log in or register now. Registration is completely free, it only takes a few seconds, and you can join our well established community of like-minded pen makers.

Toxic woods

Twister

Registered
Joined
Jun 18, 2014
Posts
2,202
Location
kent
First Name
Steve
I have a spindle blank with Black Poison wrote on it

I have to say i keep looking at it and wonder about the risk

Steve
 

Penpal

Grand Master
Joined
May 26, 2013
Posts
25,342
Location
Canberra AUSTRALIA
First Name
Peter
Lost two mates from cancer determined to be from their woodwork you would be flat out contradicting these diagnosis some workers have a weakness that is exposed by timbers. They both were careless in reducing dust.

Peter.:thumbs::thumbs:
 

EStreet

Registered
Joined
Jan 12, 2015
Posts
289
Location
USA
First Name
Ed
Simple..

All wood is 'toxic', however that being said. your reaction will vary according to a large number of things, many of which you have little to no control over. In this matter experience is the best teacher. The one factor that should always be seen is dust in any form in a small micron size that is inhaled is very nasty for your body, just don't go there. Same with vapors, fumes and the like. Protect it as once its gone then its gone.
 

Penpal

Grand Master
Joined
May 26, 2013
Posts
25,342
Location
Canberra AUSTRALIA
First Name
Peter
A former President of our Wood Guild was a scientist with CSIRO found that the oil from Huon Pine was a great pheronome attractant to lure particular insects he was a world authority in his field was forced to withdraw this use by law it was declared Carcinogenic. This particular tree only grows mm,s a year is one of my favourites the timber was heavily cut and used for ship building, docks etc by the early pioneers in Tasmania, virtually insect free, the smell of the tree is strong, sweet and invasive. A mate here in Canberra bought some tons for fine furniture making but the smell in his workshop was so overpowering he sold off most of it.

Peter.:fingers::fingers:
 

Neil

Fellow
Joined
May 21, 2013
Posts
3,137
Location
Hitchin, Hertfordshire
First Name
Neil
:funny:
Simple..

All wood is 'toxic', however that being said. your reaction will vary according to a large number of things, many of which you have little to no control over.

Ed, in that you have put toxic in parathensis it is difficult to be sure what you are trying to highlight. Regardless, your assertion that all wood is toxic is incorrect. The three assessments of toxicology, chemical, physical and biological are used to asses the degrees of toxicity and the manner in which is toxic, or which ultimately has the ability to kill the animal for which the toxicity is assessed.

Is wood chemically toxic to humans, no. Is it biologically toxic to humans, no and is it physically toxic to humans, again, no.

However, change its form and the answers change, dust is physically toxic to humans, but because it is dust. Wood is not toxic.

Unfortunately simplistic analysis has led to much unnecessary debate amongst woodturners about what woods can be used for many applications, almost entirely erroneously. The difference is important.
 

Lons

Fellow
Joined
Dec 17, 2013
Posts
4,758
Location
Northumberland
First Name
Bob
+ 1 Neil, a very sensible opinion. :claps:

The same can be said of most materials e.g. Asbestos (in certain cases), coal (perfectly harmless until breathed in as dust, my father was a miner and it contributed to his death!) , Plastics (dust and fumes are harmful).
I've just fitted a Mistral (corian) kitchen worktop which is very safe and hygenic but the dust when sanding and routing is horrendous.
 

Penpal

Grand Master
Joined
May 26, 2013
Posts
25,342
Location
Canberra AUSTRALIA
First Name
Peter
Using Camphor Laurel gives my sinuses a work out but a mate of mines nose bleeds freely when he carves it we used to make more money at our annual exhibition selling Muslin Bags with some in them also Huon Pine shaving fantastic in the back of a cupboard, I down loaded a Wood reference today a bit definitive my deepest use of words tells me to leave debate on this subject using these words well alone however the words to the wise tell me to give timber respect when working with it.

Peter.:fingers::fingers:
 
Warning! This thread has not had any replies for over a year. You are welcome to post a reply here, but it might be better to start a new thread (and maybe include a link to this one if you need to).
Top