Are there woods that we shouldn't use?

As we use a CA, wax, melamine to finish our wooden pens and people usually stick a pen in their mouths,
are there woods or even finishes that we shouldn't use?

Dave

Balsa?

Interesting Thread Dave.. Never really thought about it.

One I don't rally have an answer for, however I think its more of a problem to the penmaker having allergic reactions to the wood dusts. Such as Laburnum, makes me sneeze and makes an awful mess on my visor when I do.

Will be interesting to see other views on this subject.

The only time I have ever been asked about woods and plastics is the environmental Impact, more recently TBH.

I honestly don't think it would be a problem unless someone actually chewed the wood off the tube and ingested it.

Even toxic woods like Yew and Laburnum are unlikely to cause a problem. I know of people who have safely used Yew platters or drunk from yew goblets without ill effect.

Furniture has been made from Yew for centuries and there is no recorded incident of anyone suffering ill effects from eating food that has been in contact with a Yew dining table.

As Eamonn says, the risk to the turner from inhaling dust is a much more significant risk.

Here is a link to the HSE guide to toxic woods. As you can see there aren't many that are not on the list.

www.hse.gov.uk/pubns/wis30.pdf

I think it is down to the person making an item from certain woods whether they feel comfortable with their choice. People use a lot of beech for kitchen utensils but a lot of that is not only down to the wood not being a health risk but also its bacterial properties especially things that sharp knives are used on like cutting boards. There are other woods that are used like Elm for bread boards.

I am thinking Oleander,known poisonous species, I have never seen any of my pens being chewed what with the clip tooth factor and finished surface creating a natural respect. One thought is not to give a finished pen to a very yound child as they chew anything they can get their hands on.Not sure of ink safety either.

Peter.

My first thought was Oleander, But I got a inch long bit of Oleander in my foot had to go to hospital to get it cut out, had a 2 hr wait, the doc said as it was dry there is no problem.
Bugger should have said it was green and go seen quicker.