Wood to stay away from (Question)

JD · Joined: 08 Nov 2007 Posts: 43

I just read an interesting article of woods that turners felt others
should stay away from. Here in Kentucky, I am lucky to be able to find
numerous woods that are great for turning. I was wandering what others
might have experienced and what woods you would recommend staying away
from. Let if be known, I'll probably turn something you tell me not
too anyways, just because I like to see for myself what will happen
(unless it means I'll be covered in a horrible rash or other such
ailment).

Personally, the only wood I would recommend caution on would be
Mimosa. It is a beautiful wood, turns nicely, but there is something
in the wood that can be overpowering to the nose. I mean it literally
burns the nose and makes my eyes water.

Also, red oak is a wood that I'd only try to turn when wet. It becomes
extremely hard when dry.

These are just my experiences and look forward to here others.

JD

Archived from group: rec>crafts>woodturning

mac davis · Joined: 15 Feb 2008 Posts: 35

On Sun, 24 Feb 2008 09:27:14 -0800 (PST), JD wrote:

>I just read an interesting article of woods that turners felt others
>should stay away from. Here in Kentucky, I am lucky to be able to find
>numerous woods that are great for turning. I was wandering what others
>might have experienced and what woods you would recommend staying away
>from. Let if be known, I'll probably turn something you tell me not
>too anyways, just because I like to see for myself what will happen
>(unless it means I'll be covered in a horrible rash or other such
>ailment).
>
>Personally, the only wood I would recommend caution on would be
>Mimosa. It is a beautiful wood, turns nicely, but there is something
>in the wood that can be overpowering to the nose. I mean it literally
>burns the nose and makes my eyes water.
>
>Also, red oak is a wood that I'd only try to turn when wet. It becomes
>extremely hard when dry.
>
>These are just my experiences and look forward to here others.
>
>JD
I truly hate red oak...
A friend sent me 3 or 4 kiln dried bowl blanks and they were miserable to turn..

mac

Please remove splinters before emailing

robo hippy · Joined: 04 Aug 2007 Posts: 48

I haven't turned any woods that gave me any real problems from the
allergy point. Any tree with seed pods (locust, mimosa, kentucky
coffee tree, red bud, etc) are legumes, and you can react to them.
Walnut gets to me a bit if I turn it all day long, but nothing bad.
Catalpa has a smell that is rather sweet, and I can't decide if I like
it or if it is going to make me sick. Elm, is stinky, but smells nice
when dry. Everything on Golden Chain (laburnum) is supposed to be
poisonous, but never bothered me. Cotten wood stinks like some one
threw up. I turned some coconut palm once and it would not cut well at
all, but then that stuff isn't wood, just fiber. Haven't turned much
in the way of exotics like cocobolo or rosewood.
robo hippy

On Feb 24, 6:52 pm, mac davis wrote:
> On Sun, 24 Feb 2008 09:27:14 -0800 (PST), JD wrote:
> >I just read an interesting article of woods that turners felt others
> >should stay away from. Here in Kentucky, I am lucky to be able to find
> >numerous woods that are great for turning. I was wandering what others
> >might have experienced and what woods you would recommend staying away
> >from. Let if be known, I'll probably turn something you tell me not
> >too anyways, just because I like to see for myself what will happen
> >(unless it means I'll be covered in a horrible rash or other such
> >ailment).
>
> >Personally, the only wood I would recommend caution on would be
> >Mimosa. It is a beautiful wood, turns nicely, but there is something
> >in the wood that can be overpowering to the nose. I mean it literally
> >burns the nose and makes my eyes water.
>
> >Also, red oak is a wood that I'd only try to turn when wet. It becomes
> >extremely hard when dry.
>
> >These are just my experiences and look forward to here others.
>
> >JD
>
> I truly hate red oak...
> A friend sent me 3 or 4 kiln dried bowl blanks and they were miserable to turn..
>
> mac
>
> Please remove splinters before emailing

William Noble · Joined: 01 Aug 2007 Posts: 108

I'd encourage you to avoid anything that is poisonous, particularly she-oak,
silky oak and others related to poison ivy/poison oak - the resultant doctor
bills will deplete your tool kitty nicely

"JD" wrote in message @s37g2000prg.googlegroups.com...
>I just read an interesting article of woods that turners felt others
> should stay away from. Here in Kentucky, I am lucky to be able to find
> numerous woods that are great for turning. I was wandering what others
> might have experienced and what woods you would recommend staying away
> from. Let if be known, I'll probably turn something you tell me not
> too anyways, just because I like to see for myself what will happen
> (unless it means I'll be covered in a horrible rash or other such
> ailment).
>
> Personally, the only wood I would recommend caution on would be
> Mimosa. It is a beautiful wood, turns nicely, but there is something
> in the wood that can be overpowering to the nose. I mean it literally
> burns the nose and makes my eyes water.
>
> Also, red oak is a wood that I'd only try to turn when wet. It becomes
> extremely hard when dry.
>
> These are just my experiences and look forward to here others.
>
> JD

--
Posted via a free Usenet account from http://www.teranews.com

George · Joined: 01 Aug 2007 Posts: 409

"William Noble" wrote in message $0$26081$88260bb3@free.teranews.com...
> I'd encourage you to avoid anything that is poisonous, particularly
> she-oak, silky oak and others related to poison ivy/poison oak - the
> resultant doctor bills will deplete your tool kitty nicely
>
> "JD" wrote in message
> @s37g2000prg.googlegroups.com...
>>I just read an interesting article of woods that turners felt others
>> should stay away from. Here in Kentucky, I am lucky to be able to find
>> numerous woods that are great for turning. I was wandering what others
>> might have experienced and what woods you would recommend staying away
>> from. Let if be known, I'll probably turn something you tell me not
>> too anyways, just because I like to see for myself what will happen
>> (unless it means I'll be covered in a horrible rash or other such
>> ailment).

One of many similar lists. http://www.ci.tucson.az.us/arthazards/wood2.html

The darker the wood and the more durable it is in contact with the ground,
the more extractives it has which could sensitze or irritate your mucosa.
If the materials were not "natural," the bureaucrats would probably have to
put warnings on or ban them.

I think red oak is attractive, and it's no more difficult to turn than many
others. Work in red oak has always sold well, too. Looks good even without
a finish.
http://i35.photobucket.com/albums/d160/GoodOnesGone/Red-Oak-Profile.jpg

Max63 · Joined: 04 Aug 2007 Posts: 19

Cypress - the odor is strong and stays with you after you shower,
dress and drive to the other
side of town. Some mention it as hazardous, others adour the semi-
sweet odor.
just my 2c

Alan · Joined: 25 Oct 2007 Posts: 8

On Sun, 24 Feb 2008 21:49:40 -0800, "William Noble"
wrote:

>I'd encourage you to avoid anything that is poisonous, particularly she-oak,
>silky oak and others related to poison ivy/poison oak - the resultant doctor
>bills will deplete your tool kitty nicely

Sheoak (allocasuarina fraseriana) is not poisonous, I have
turned large amounts and had to dispose of about 1/2 tonne when I
moved house as there was no room in a 40' seatainer for anything else.
I also had to dump Norfolk Island pine, Jarrah, Olive, Almond and many
others.
Like Jarrah, the dust can be a nasal irritant, causing sneezing, so
I always wear a mask.

http://www.woodfinder.com/woods/sheoak.php
rotten pictures of the grain.
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Allocasuarina_fraseriana

Arch · Joined: 04 Aug 2007 Posts: 165

Australian pine and pecan: Seasoned it turns like concrete tho pecan can
be attractive.

She oak; Red itchy rash on my arms.

Slash pine: Sticky, it gums up the works and isn't very pretty.

Sabal palm: Why bother? Ok I did one and quit.

Brazilian pepper: Other than proving I can turn it, why would I ?

Turn to Safety, Arch
Fortiter

http://community.webtv.net/almcc/MacsMusings

Wood Drying Question I was asked to make a jewelry box out of the wood from our land a few weeks ago. I split some oak and let it dry as much as possible in the small frame of time. Tonight, I planed and squared the boards. They are still awfully wet. I intent to make the joi

Wood Filler Question For the things I do, I seldom use wood filler. And when I do, I normally make my own, with glue and sawdust. However. Some years back I made a set of revolver grips for a house gun. I used some wood filler from a batch of sfuff my mother gave me after

Simple wood-chisel question. What is the correct response when you find that your wife has been using a 1/4" wood chisel to pry open paint cans? Bonus question: She asked me why the tip had the little plastic cover.

I'm new to the group - wood bending question I'm about to try to make a bent elm "bucket seat" like this:

Finishing wood and plywood question I'm making a corner curio cabinet, using African mohogany plywood for the sides and wood for the frame, door and trim. When I put a finish on it will the plywood and wood be the same color? I know the wood will darken so I assume the ply will also. Any su