Replies

1. 
   JohnWW | Jun 20, 2009 04:35pm | #1

   Lyle,

   If the green wood still seems to be normal, except for the color of course, it will probably work just fine.

   You should use extra caution when working with the wood, the dust from wood that is infected with various fungi can cause some nasty allergic reactions and very difficult to treat pulmonary infections. Do as much of the work as possible out of doors, be sure to wear a good dust mask and clean up thoroughly afterward.

   John White
   Shop Manager for FWW Magazine, 1998-2007

1. 
   Iamlearning | Jun 20, 2009 05:26pm | #3

   Thanks John and FG for the heads up on safety. I didn't think of that and should have. I have already worked the wood somewhat, with the worst dust coming from my table saw. I will wear a good mask, but the cost of a respirator can't be justified for this project.

1. 
   oldusty | Jun 20, 2009 06:04pm | #4

   learning ,

             Would your health justify the cost of a respirator ?

          It may not take much exposure to irritants to cause problems when you are allergic or predisposed to fungi or offending dusts .

     The respirator can be reused for many future jobs , your lungs on the other hand may not.

          error on the side of safety

              regards         dusty

1. 
   Iamlearning | Jun 20, 2009 08:43pm | #5

   I guess you are "ol" dusty for good reason. However, I will not be working the wood extensively and I will only be making 16 3/8-inch pins about 5 inches long each. I think a standard N-95 mask will handle the particle sizes likely to be produced by a band or table saw. Has anyone measured the distribution of dust particle sizes produced by typical wood shop power tools? I suspect sanding is the primary source of small particles likely to reach the innermost recesses of our lungs. Also, I live quite comfortably with 3 large dogs and 4 cats in an 1820's farmhouse that yields up a LOT of very old crappy dust whenever I work on it!

2. 
   lwj2 | Jun 21, 2009 02:10am | #6

   Thanks John and FG for the heads up on safety. I didn't think of that and should have. I have already worked the wood somewhat, with the worst dust coming from my table saw. I will wear a good mask, but the cost of a respirator can't be justified for this project.+++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++Grainger #6AD97 3-M half mask respirator: $14.74
   Grainger #4JG21, prefilter NIOSH N95/pk10: $17.90
   Grainger #6AM37 filter, organic vapour, pk/2: $10.62Total: $43.26It's the spores that will get you, not the dust.Cost of average admission to Emergency Department: $350.00Leon

   Edited 6/20/2009 7:12 pm ET by lwj2

1. 
   Iamlearning | Jun 21, 2009 04:07am | #7

   Leon,I have and use N-95 disposable respirators. I mistakenly called them masks. The NIOSH spec is that the device will trap 95% of 0.3 µm aerodynamic mass median diameter aerosol particles. I am unaware of any mold or fungal spores smaller than 2 µm. I also expect that most of the liberated spores would be attached to wood dust particles that would be larger than 2 µm. Ergo, my masks (oops, respirators) will do the job quite well.

1. 
   lwj2 | Jun 21, 2009 04:53am | #8

   Yep N95s are your friends and d*mn good ones to have.Leon

2. 
   Taigert | Jun 21, 2009 06:09am | #11

   Learning,

   Just some food for thought, take the time to think about. This letter will give you the nummbers that are rather shocking.

    

   Taigert

    

    

    

    

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   Dust masks: Fit and filtration matter most<!---->

   As a retired professor who taught environmental technology, I was pleased to read your article on dust masks and respirators ("Protect Yourself From Wood Dust," FWW #201). But I think it was a mistake to recommend all masks with an N95 rating or better. The ratings, in this case N95, N99, and N100, refer to the minimum percentage of respirable airborne particles that a mask filters out. An N95 mask filters out at least 95%; N99, 99%; and N100, 99.97%. Respirable (breathable) airborne particles are the very fine (usually invisible) particles that cause the most lung damage. Therefore, an N95- rated mask would theoretically allow five times more of these dangerous particles than an N99, and 167 times more than an N100. This is just as, if not more, important than comfort, which you emphasized.For example, if the "Moldex N100 with Handy Strap" (labsafety.com) was only slightly less comfortable than one of your "favorites" (both N95), I would choose the N100 mask.The most important factor, however, is fit. According to real-world tests, most of the particles that make it into our airways come from poorly fitted masks. Pick a mask that fits your face tightly and allows no gaps. And, as the article pointed out, you should wear a powered respirator if you have facial hair.<!---->

   -- John Pettus, Westminster, California

2. 
   forestgirl | Jun 20, 2009 05:15pm | #2

   Ditto to what John said, but I'll up the ante:  Wear a respirator rather than a dust mask.  You really don't want that stuff in your lungs.

   forestgirl -- you can take the girl out of the forest, but you can't take the forest out of the girl ;-) 
   
3. 
   unionlabel | Jun 21, 2009 05:35am | #9

   Be careful with the use of the wood from the Pin Oak. The dark color of the wood may be due to a disease called Oak Wilt. It is caused by a fungus that shuts down the ability of the tree to absorb water. The disease is spread from spores in the affected wood. The disease has reached epidemic proportions in Texas, but is also prevalent in the upper midwest. The disease does not affect humans but it likes most of the red and black oak varieties. I would think that sawdust may spread spores into the air and could affect other trees. The disease usually causes a color change in the sap and heartwood.

1. 
   Iamlearning | Jun 21, 2009 06:08am | #10

   Thanks for this tip. I was unaware of oak wilt and a check of the USDA website showed that it is endemic in my area. However, the symptoms of my tree do not fit those of oak wilt-infected trees. I do plan on discarding all shavings rather than use them for mulch around my trees!

1. 
   KeithNewton | Jun 22, 2009 07:49am | #12

   I think you might tell us more about how you plan to use this wood. It doesn't sound like a good choice of wood to me. If you plan to use it green, I hope you are expecting it to shrink, and have a means to tighten it up as it does.Wood near the pith center is usually inferior to wood from farther on out in the trunk. Down where I grew up, many people call Willow Oak Pin Oak by mistake. I sure wouldn't bother trying to make something out of a 4" Willow Oak. Wood isn't free, if you waste a lot of time on a project that doesn't turn out, if you value your time.