newtoyou Loc: Eastport

I have done it most of my life.
The photos show the effects of working with Rosewood. Dalbergia nigra, or Brazilian Rosewood.
I was sweaty, it was August. The client wanted a Pembroke table to duplicate another that he had handed down to him.
And no way to duplicate the look of Rosewood.
So, rosewood it was. First time working with this wood.
Even tho I washed up, this is the result of the sawdust on my arms.
And I thought Brazilian Cherry was rough on skin, not like this.
So the pictures.
First two are the day after exposure.
The next three are about a week later.
I had heard that this wood is #1 on the list for causing contact dermatitis.
Now I know why. Beats poison by a mile for rash.
Bill

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John from gpwmi Loc: Michigan

WOW!! Did not know this. What about dust in the lungs? Thanks for the warning.

NMGal Loc: NE NM

Dang! If you ever work with that again, be sure to wear some good gloves.

newtoyou Loc: Eastport

I wear a wet dust mask when cutting.
The wetting helps collect dust.
In all probability a lungful or two would send you to the emergency room.
Bill

kerry12 Loc: Harrisburg, Pa.

I too am a woodworker. I have never worked with rosewood or brazilian cherry, but I do get a skin rash from ponderosa pine. I have used west african padauk with good results. most of the wood I use is domestic. Good luck with your rash. Hope it clears up soon.

Woodsman Loc: North of Peterborough Ontario

Wow, I used to dabble in woodworking as winter projects. I am glad I stuck to pine.

FTn

Where did you find Brazilian Rosewood to build a table? CITIS makes it pretty much unobtainium here in the U.S. Matched back and side sets to build guitars that are documented pre CITIS go for a minimum of a thousand dollars. I'm sure that the table is beautiful. Hope you heal soon.

- FTn

Bill_de Loc: US

https://www.hearnehardwoods.com/rosewood-brazilian-lumber-2/

When this place doesn't have it you know it's hard to come by. Based on the OP's experience it might be a good thing that it is rare,

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FTn

It is the most incredible tone wood for acoustic guitar building. The sound is the benchmark by which all other tone woods are judged. Martin Guitars used it for years to build their legendary guitars. I hear that Cocobolo more caustic to work with.

- FTn

newtoyou Loc: Eastport

Thank you.
That was about three, four years ago.
Looking back thru older photos I found these. Knowing there is a number of woodworkers on UHH prompted the post.
Amazingly, little itch, but left some 'bleached out' areas.
Bill

usnret Loc: Woodhull Il

I too, learned my lesson the hard way. Turning Bolivian rosewood on my lathe a few years ago left me with a rash that left a fair amount of permanent scarring. I purchased all of my wood from Cooks Woods in Oregon. Nowhere on their website do they make mention of the health issues associated with any of their wood species. I wonder how long it will before a class action lawsuit is presented to them.

TriX Loc: Raleigh, NC

When I started buying Morado (Bolivian Rosewood) to build my loudspeakers years ago, a wise old woodworker at the supplier said: “don’t let it kill you” and went on to warn me of the dangers (which I didn’t know), so I was VERY careful - always wore a respirator, face shield, careful dust collection, and did any possible operations such as routing outside the shop. I did not have a skin reaction like yours, but I was super careful about breathing the dust. Over the years, I’ve been spreading the word to other woodworkers. Brazilian Cherry has never been an issue for me, but of course, Oak dust makes me sneeze like crazy. Woodworking can be a very dangerous hobby, and you just proved it. So glad your pictures aren’t showing missing digits - seen a number of those accidents over the years. I used to know a woodworker that made a ritual of counting his fingers before and after a shop session just to emphasize safety, and I have a sign in my shop that says:”where will your hands go if the workpiece suddenly disappears”. Learned that from watching my NextDoor neighbor take the end of his thumb off on a jointer while face planing a board.

newtoyou Loc: Eastport

A friend has a woodshop. Not much is built there anymore, but about 25 or so years ago he decided to invest in wood.
His current inventory is huge, mostly wood in the rough.
Local wood and exotics. You name it.
He has made literally millions buying, selling and milling his own wood and air drying it, building custom cabinets and furniture.
In my 25 years supplying him with work in houses I worked in, I submitted orders for over 2.5 million. I was one of many.
His latest project, he has a source of huge tree boles. Some six to seven feet in diameter by up to ten feet long. He has them sawn in Bucks Co. Pa. into bookmatched natural edged slabs, three inches thick.
Large bookmatched tables will be made in the George Nakashima style.
The shop will become a display area. A few finished pieces and the wall lined with rough slabs for sale.
In the meantime he obtains logs and bandsaws them full width and length pieces for drying.
The bandsaw handles a 30 inch by 30 foot long log. It can cut 'slabs' as thin as 3/8 inch easily.
Thanks for commenting, all.
Bill

newtoyou Loc: Eastport

It's doubtful there could be a successful lawsuit.
You probably would have to prove that the seller knew of the danger.
There have been successful lawsuits for selling walnut sawdust and shavings for horse stable floor.
It causes laminitis.
And as for myself, I knew that it could cause rash, but, I thought washing well and changing clothes, which I did, would suffice.
WRONG.
So, the upshot was that I excused myself and gave the client another name to get more rosewood furniture made.
I checked price. Up to $85.00 for a square foot of 5/4.
If you can find it.
Current supply was grandfathered in.
Supplies will dwindle, price will go up more. My friend may not sell any more rosewood, not till it goes up more.
Last thing, is it hard? Some of it turns the teeth on some non carbide blades.
Good morning, America
Bill

TriX Loc: Raleigh, NC

Wow - didn’t know it had gone up that much - right up there with ebony. The last I bought must have been about 12-15 years ago, and as I recall, I bought about 80 bd-feet to build my speakers at $15-20 per bd-ft. I will say that despite the danger, this lovely, dense wood was a pleasure to work with sharp blades. Crisp edges, and I actually was able to get a mirror finish, straight out of the planer - no need to sand. And yes, it is VERY hard. I made a few smaller items with it and probably have a piece or two left.

I used Jatoba (Brazilian Cherry) for contrasting accents and liked it so much as a material, that I laid about 2,000 feet of tongue and grove Brazilian Cherry floors in my home. No issues with that (and there was lots of sawdust), so I guess I’m just lucky not to be allergic to the dust.

Cheers