Allergic Reactions

Signed-In Members Don't See This Ad
J

jkeithrussell

Member
Joined
Oct 20, 2008
Messages
1,277
Where else to get medical advice? I've been locked out of my shop for nearly 4 weeks dealing with various allergic reactions. I basically got a bad case of hives (including a swollen and bumpy face for a week), then went back to the shop and re-aggravated it. I have about a week before this last round will have run its course before I can get back to work. Now trying to figure out what is causing it so that I don't repeat the cycle. I'm not normally prone to allergic reactions, so this has been pretty weird for me.

I've narrowed down the possibilities to: CA finish (least likely as it has not bothered me much before, although possible), M3 blanks (both times I developed the hives, I worked with M3 and had never worked with it before; produces a very fine powder), and/or Coffee Bean alumilite blanks. Each time I did some work with each of those things and had a reaction with 24 hours.

Anyone have any ideas? I can wear a respirator to prevent any further problems with CA, but I really don't think that's it. I'm inclined to blame the M3, but wondered if anyone has had trouble with coffee beans.
 
Signed-In Members Don't See This Ad
I would say use a respirator any time you use CA. You can be fine and in one day become allergic. I never had a problem till one day I made a couple CA finished pens. When I left the shop i didnt feel to good. Over then next few hours I felt worse. Ended up feeling flu like headache, sweats and nausha. I had planned on useing a respirator anytime I used CA. Friday I made a pen to ship out to Chris in Hawaii. I figure oh its only 1 pen no big deal. About 3 minutes in i went to get my respirator.
JMO
 
It takes a while to develop an allergic reaction to something. The first few times you are exposed are called the sensitizing doses. After that each subsequent dose can aggravate your sensitivity until it becomes very dangerous. I think if you are having reactions this strong I would avoid using those material completely or wear long sleeves, a tight collar and a hood with motorized filtered air, like a Triton or Trend. Allergies that affect your lungs can be very dangerous.
 
I have a strong CA allergy. I thought I was allergic to pao ferro after using it as a blank with a lot of segments, so I swore off the stuff.

Once I started consistently using a CA finish, I realized it was the glue instead. I use a respirator mask anytime I use a lot of CA (a quick tube glue-in doesn't bother me). I also have a home-made box fan ceiling filter, the dust collector, and a regular fan moving the air around any time I finish a wood pen. It's a pain, but it beats the sinus attack and closing throat I get otherwise!

Good luck!
Chris
 
The really bad part---once you start breaking out it will only get worse.
every time I turn cocobolo I break out.------notice I didn't say anything about stopping.
Things that will help.
Monster dust collector----big fan on the other side for the lathe blowing at Monster Dust collector. And a small trick that helps me out----colder whether and long sleve shirts.
There is a line that people cross and have to stop turning---the reactions can be very dangerous.
 
jkeithrussell said:
I've narrowed down the possibilities to: CA finish (least likely as it has not bothered me much before, although possible), M3 blanks (both times I developed the hives, I worked with M3 and had never worked with it before; produces a very fine powder), and/or Coffee Bean alumilite blanks. Each time I did some work with each of those things and had a reaction with 24 hours.
Click to expand...

all three are part plastics of some type. wouldn't be surprised if all three were culprits to one degree or another.
 
Like was stated earlier, the next reaction could be worse. You need to get a prescription for an epi-pen in case you have trouble breathing next time. Since you don't know what's causing it, it would be very advisable.

I had unexplained hives about 7 years ago and took days to get rid of. THey are absolutely miserable. Good luck and hope you make it back to your shop soon!
 
Some of that is going to be pretty hard to work around. It is 100 degrees plus in my garage 6-8 months out of the year, so long sleeves, shirt collars, etc., just won't work. I can add more fans and dust collection, and of course do better with the respirator and/or dust mask. If it sensitivity to just getting the dust on my skin, then I'm going to be sunk. It's just too hot where I live to cover up.
 
I used to have a friend who turned all the time. He passed away a few years back. He had lung cancer. We made a down draft table and set his lathe on it. then built a plywood box over the back, top, and ends. Plexiglass in the front with cutouts for long sleaves with elastic cuffs. He wore thin latex gloves also. Most of his wood he bought cut to size or had me cut it in my shop.
Mark
 
After making pens for a few years, I developed an allergy that affected my breathing. Took while to rule out different woods, glues . . . ended up I developed allergy to latex. I was always wearing latex gloves when dealing with CA. I gave them to the housekeeper to use - had to take them away from her and get them out of the house.

If you use latex gloves, change to nitrile gloves and see if that makes a difference. That's a simple thing to rule out.
 
[I used to have a friend who turned all the time. He passed away a few years back. He had lung cancer.]

Was the lung cancer related to his woodworking?
 
No the lung cancer was smoking related. After he found out the doctors said no dust so we built the table and box. It allowed hin to keep turning and carving with a dremmel tool for about 8 months. I think the kemo treatments are what finaly got him.
Mark
 
jkeithrussell said:
Some of that is going to be pretty hard to work around. It is 100 degrees plus in my garage 6-8 months out of the year, so long sleeves, shirt collars, etc., just won't work. I can add more fans and dust collection, and of course do better with the respirator and/or dust mask. If it sensitivity to just getting the dust on my skin, then I'm going to be sunk. It's just too hot where I live to cover up.
Click to expand...

I know the weather in Houston gets horrid in the summer, but if your reaction gets bad enough, you'll have a choice.. cover up or quite turning.
I used to live in Humble and my little shop in the back yard was too small to put a fan in... literally.. it was only 9 x 10 and had two work benches, two lathes, two scroll saws on their own table plus a stool for working the scrollers, a drill press, a band saw and the chop saw.... I turned without a shirt a lot, and after moving to Tennessee and building my new shop... an all metal building with no insulation, I continued to turn in the summer without a shirt.... until I broke out in the worst rash I've ever had... worse even than poison ivy which I am deathly allergic to. Now I don't care how hot it is, I turn in a long sleeved, velcro at the neck smock. In summer I wear it without a shirt, but I wear it religiously. It's the light weight one that Lee Valley sells.
 
You must log in or register to reply here.
Back
Top Bottom