ALLERGIES

[tseger]

I assume it's allergies, I had a bout with pnemonia back in the spring, and from then until now, I can't even go in my shop without spending the next 3 or 4 days sneezing, coughing, nose running (or stopped up), just auful! I have never had any reaction to any wood, exotic or domestic before. Has anyone else had an experience like this? It has really got me down! So far,I have turned down 4 seperate orders for pens and candle holders because of this. Any advice??
Oh, BTW, I have already seen an alergy Dr. and I am scheduled for alergy test on the 18th of Sept. Tim

 

[Fred]

Sounds to me like you haven't been using much, if any, dust control. As such, you may have finally become 'sensitized' to a wood in your shop, and if that is the case you definitely have a serious ongoing problem.

Being allergic to something is not too bad - not good, but not to bad. Becoming 'sensitized' to something is far, far worse as it will only get worse as you are exposed to it more. You will never overcome being sensitized. That is the reason many wood workers MUST control their exposure to the dust they generate AND the skin contact.

Do you know what woods you have worked with most recently? Were you aware of any skin reaction? Did your eyes water and or get really puffy and swollen? I bet you had a cough shortly after working in the shop too.

All those are but a few of the reactions one experiences with many of our most worked woods. Oak is really hard on some, and most exotics will find a person that is allergic and attack them with a vengeance. You will have to install a VERY EFFECIENT HEPA filter on your dust collection device (assuming you have one). If you do not have a system installed you must do so if you want to continue to use your wood shop.

Sorry for the bad 'news', but I just went through all this with my uncle who had a near death experience while working with Cocobolo. He really was near death when his wife found him and had not a fire department been right next door he probably would have died according to the doctors. He spent three weeks in the hospital ICU and then another few weeks going to respiratory therapy and his breathing is still not right even after six months.

You are yet another example of how important it is to have damn great dust control. The wearing of a full face dust mask is also in your immediate future. Your doctor will need to know all the woods you have been using lately and I'll bet you a new drill bit that he finds one or possibly more that you are seriously endangered by.

Check out the BIG difference in allergic vs. sensitized. Ask the doctor and he should be able to explain to you the dangers of each.

Good luck on getting better ... []

 

[gketell]

I had the same problem after too much CA fumes. Now I use a good dual-canister breathing mask everytime I go into the shop. No more problems.

GK

 

[TellicoTurning]

I guess I can add my voice to this thread. About 4 or 5 weeks back I started sneezing and coughing and sinuses clogged up and I broke out with a major rash over my upper chest.. finally went to Dr.. he treated me for a sinus infection.. I'm thinking I was doing a peppermill from cocobolo... last week, I did a hollow form from Walnut that was really dry... the dust penetrated my shirt and coated my chest and belly with a fine black dust... even though I was running the DC, a 20" fan to my back blowing the dust away, and wearing a dust mask, allbeit evidently not a very good one.. today I'm getting to the end of another "sinus" infection.. still sniffling and coughing some..
What you said Fred is a little disheartening... but my birthday is coming up and rumor is that I will get a respirator ... so hopefully I can at least prevent the respitory problems... may still have to live with the rash problem though. Between cocobolo and poison ivy... [V]

 

[tseger]

Thanks for the replies. I DON'T have a dust collection device in my shop, however, I DO have a duel canister breathing mask that I use faithfully and a fan that blows from the side. I have been turning for about 7 years and in that time I have turned just about every kind of wood that I could get my hands on. NEVER once had ANY kind of reaction until this. Even with this episode, I have had no rashes, no watery eyes, no ichy nose. In fact, when I am turning, it's just like it has always been (NO PROBLEMS), but by bedtime that night, I'll be coughing, sneezing, and so on and so forth......I am at a complete loss, just seems funny that it was not something that came on gradually or even started getting worse over time. It started all at once, after the bout with pnemonia. If anyone else has experienced anything like this please let me know. Tim

 

[bkc]

Your lung capacity is reduced for a good while after having pneumonia. So it wouldn't take much dust to cause problems. Also, make sure you shower after being in any wood dust area. I'm always amazed at how much dust has clung to my body that I don't notice after a hour or so in the shop. If walking around your house much before showering, you're leaving a nice dust trail to irritate also. My husband has lung problems. He can't even walk into my shop without gasping for air. And I have a dust collector.

 

[TellicoTurning]

Tim,
I do have a dust collector and and fans running and a dust mask .. not a canister mask, though think I'm getting one for birthday. I turned 3 little pieces of cocobolo yesterday for the darts in another thread... I feel like death warmed over this morning.. itchy eyes, stuffed nose, runny nose, coughing and just general lethargy... but when I'm in the shop, I feel great. I definitely have to find a way to get around this... I like my woodturning too much to stop now.

 

[Fred]

Chuck... Does your dust collector have a HEPA filter in it or is it using a simple paper filter? The HEPA filter will probably help you a bit as your 'tale or woe' indicates that your present filter is possibly allowing the tiny micro sized dust to escape and float to your snout ... not to mention all over the shop for continued contamination.

Working in as close quarters as many shops are built, it is very important to use a danged good and highly proficient filter in the dust collection system. A first stage separation device like the Cyclone Lid is also helpful. I put mine right at the sources of the dust creation and then let the dust collection system take care of the smaller stuff. So far, so good. I also have a Loc-Line setup connected to my shop vacuum and it is adjustable to 'catch' a lot of the debris right at the tool and the wood that is being turned. That thing really pulls the dust to the vacuum which is away from me and the HEPA filter in it catches all the little 'nasty' stuff.

Dust collection must start at the source and then one has to rely on the filter(s) to do their part. Cheap filters equal fine particulate matter being blown into the air you breath. So, I highly recommend the use of name brand HEPA filters to catch that which can become an airborne killer in time.

Woodcraft has them, Rockler has them, and Peachtree Woodworking Supply (PWS) has the Gortex filters (http://www.ptreeusa.com/dustacces.htm#294) PWS also sells the Loc-Line system with a bracket. I suggest that if anyone wants to buy the Lock-Line to instead buy the adapter from PWS and then deal direct with Loc_line as for the same amount of money one can get a longer Loc-Line assembly and the longer length makes a HUGH difference in the ease of use.

I will try to get out to the shop and photograph my setup as writing about it is v e r y time consuming and pictures will make a lot more sense to many..

 

[TellicoTurning]

Fred,
My DC is one of the HF 2 hp double bag supposed to be 1600 cfm.. still has original bags, but it is in a separate room of my shop... I built a closet outside the shop and run the hose through the wall so the dust can't settle back into the shop. Also have a 20" box fan that I run blowing away from me... my shop is an all metal building that gets pretty warm during the day.. it's under trees, but still gathers some heat.