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Is cocobolo an irritant?

Neil

Fellow
Joined
May 21, 2013
Posts
3,132
Location
Hitchin, Hertfordshire
First Name
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:
63DC6936-0018-4992-8991-A208E0DA6218.jpg

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

flexi

Executive Member
Joined
Sep 12, 2014
Posts
6,159
Location
Maidstone
First Name
mark
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:praying::praying:
 

Penpal

Grand Master
Joined
May 26, 2013
Posts
25,340
Location
Canberra AUSTRALIA
First Name
Peter
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. Pleas:thumbs:e send this strange heat we are waiting anxiously for the season to improve over here. Take care mate,kind regards Peter.
 

pittswood

Fellow
Joined
Mar 14, 2016
Posts
1,251
Location
Rhigos, South Wales
First Name
Kelvin
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

Fellow
Joined
May 12, 2021
Posts
1,372
Location
Dronfield
First Name
Gary
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 :praying:
 

howsitwork?

Graduate Member
Joined
Sep 18, 2019
Posts
513
Location
north york (gods own county)
First Name
Ian
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

Longlocks
Fellow
Joined
Dec 26, 2013
Posts
3,115
Location
York
First Name
Neil
I think it was Grump who said " Anyone called Neil is an irritant!":goesred:
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

Fellow
Joined
May 21, 2013
Posts
3,132
Location
Hitchin, Hertfordshire
First Name
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

General dogsbody
Executive Member
Joined
Jun 29, 2013
Posts
6,301
Location
Somewhere in Staffordshire,
First Name
Eamonn.
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. :winking:

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

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

Get well soon tho..
 
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