I had many reservations about asking this, but………here it goes. I build a lot of furniture out of walnut and have developed some “rashes” on my forearms and under my arms. I have my own WoodMizer and saw and dry the walnut then take it to the woodshop and make something. Do you guys believe these rashes could be my body getting too much walnut? I have a central dust collection system that catches all the dust a sends it outside. I know many of you could have fun with this post but I am married and have no medical problems. I am just SO tired of doctors telling me to take an antihistamine and rub cortisone all over me. I am 34 and my wife wants me to stay out of the woodshop for a couple weeks, which I am not very excited about that idea since I have just entered the “Hand Plane” stage of my woodworking career. Any ideas??
Thanks,
Jeff
Replies
Tell your wife you need to go buy some cherry, maple, poplar, etc. Try working another wood for a while. Heck, try some nice clear white pine; it's sure easy to plane! This will be a good test of whether it's the walnut or something else, and will let you keep playing in the shop.
My wife is allergic to walnuts in particular. I'm not sure how allergenic it is in the grand scheme of things but it is certainly possible. I would join in that suggestion that you try some other woods for a while.
Matt
Woody,
I get an allergic reaction like you describe when I work with cocobolo. Try longsleeve shirts, and keep as much wood dust off of you as possible. If sanding, try pointing a fan away from you to suck the dust in the other direction. Keeping the dust from landing on the sweaty areas of my body has been the best way to avoid the rashes. An allergic reaction to that type of wood would not be out of the question. You will just have to find a way to minimize your exposure.
Lee
yes you can get sensitized to walnut. I believe that the more oftern you get exposed to it, the more severe the reaction can be. do a google search on it.
Woody, just saw this after the the other. I have a place in TN. and while my neighbors -one raises horse the other crops , look for my planner curls(horse bedding) and cyclone sawdust(crop fodder-compost) no one wants walnut or black walnut! Get the message, they burn the leavings. These are people of the earth whose kin have lived on that land on either side of my place for over 70 years.
I would not fault their judgment. It's not good stuff.
My problem is that once I finally move in I will drop four old growth trees for good purpose, two hickory and two black walnut as their nuts hurt the horses feet . I will mill the boards and dry them in the overhead of my barn shed.
Be carefull and watch out. Maybe get an air pressure supply mask when working walnut. Be safe, Paddy
" I......... have no medical problems."
That is what you may think! Actually, rashes, etc., don't necessarily have to be allergic and other woods can be the culprit as well as walnut. Follow the other posters' advice about protecting yourself from the dust any way you can. A good shower as soon as you are finished for the day might be a very effective measure.
I have had to learn to live with respiratory allergies. Cherry sawdust clogs my airways quickly. No rashes though. I simply use little cherry. There are desensitization treatments. The trouble is that their success rate is quite low. Steroids and anahistimines have side effects that we really should avoid. Cortisone cream is probably the least undesirable treatment siggested.
I hope that you can learn to live with your problem also. Neither defiance nor denial work at all, however.
Good luck!
Cadiddlehopper
Hi Woodman,
Yes, walnut can cause allergic reactions, of which rashes ore one. Some other woods such as Bloodwood, or Cocobolo in particular can cause serious problems. Wear long sleeves, a good dust respirator, good dust collection, and shower quickly. Or use maple, cherry, hickory, etc. Try Chechen (Metopium brownei). It's called black poison wood, but I don't know if it's allergenic or not. Check descriptions at http://www.westpennhardwoods.com, or http://www.woodworkerssource.com, or http://www.woodfinder.com. There click on wood library to check properties. Good luck.
Postscript: If you become a dedicated hand planer you will make much less dust. That should reduce your problem also. More luck!
Cadiddlehopper
Walnut has a chemical in it called juglone that is a mild toxin. In some individuals it causes the symptoms you describe. I myself am mildly sensitive to it and to combat it, I wear long sleeves and take a cold shower when I am thru for the day. Good luck!
When I work with walnut and sand it, I get a minor rash under my wedding ring ( seriously!!!!). If I have been working with it and I know someone is coming to my shop I air the place out in good shape before allowing people in. There are some people who react very badly to walnut.
Wicked Decent Woodworks
(oldest woodworking shop in NH)
Rochester NH
" If the women dont find you handsome, they should at least find you handy........yessa!"
Here's some advice from a retired Dr. (GP).
It's not clear from the location of the rash whether it's from direct contact, but I think probably so. The typical contact dermatitis is that from contact with poison ivy, that is to say red with fine vesicles (blisters), and very itchy.
One can try avoidance or protection from contact, as others have suggested. One might also try a patch test. To do that you would take a band-aid with non-medicated pad, make up a paste of wood dust and water, apply it to the pad, stick it somewhere on your skin where it can be left undisturbed for two days , then examine the skin for any rash. For control a plain band aid should be applied next to it, so that if there is a reaction you will know that it is not from the band-aid.
The list of possible causes of contact dermatitis is very long, and sometimes needs expert opinion.
Good luck
Tom
Yes, Yes, Yes.....Walnut carries a toxin that will actually harm animals.....
A neighbor thought the hay I was selling him made their horses sick...One eventually died.
After canvassing their property and my hayfields for a possible culprit, the Deadly Nightshade plants (we found none) we checked their barn stalls. We found that they were getting shavings and sawdust (used for bedding) from a local cabinetmaker and he was using Walnut.....
The horses were ingesting the shavings and sawdust while eating my hay....Our Vet confirmed that Walnut was the answer.
Definitely use something like the 3M ventilated mask (this toxic dust is getting into your lungs also). Wear long sleeves and wash clothes after each days use. If possible use an air cleaner system and dust collector vented to the outside. Also if possible air condition your shop so you are not sweating and getting the fine dust into your pores.
PS I am a Bio-Medical Engineer and a woodworker also. I have found that Cedar dust also is a problem causing a cough. Get the ventilated mask on both counts.
Dave in MN
" I am just SO tired of doctors telling me to take an antihistamine and rub cortisone all over me. " As well you should be. First of all, they should be telling you to limit your exposure as much as possible. Once you start showing an allergic reaction to a particular wood, it's important to protect your skin as much as possible. The rash is a warning sign from your body, and although it could stay at that level, there's every bit as much of a chance that you will develop asthma or a more dramatic skin response to the allergen.
Long sleeves (tight of course), "liquid gloves" if need be, whatever it takes to keep the sawdust off of your skin. A respirator. Serious dust collection.
forestgirl -- you can take the girl out of the forest, but you can't take the forest out of the girl ;-)
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