Making Game calls out of allergenic woods

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redfishsc

redfishsc

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I have placed my first order of game calls which will arrive thursday. I have a few huntermaniacs that I work with that I'm hoping will be willin' to swap a good mess of venison for a nice game call.

I have some 1.5" wood already that I would like to use-- mostly rosewoods and other oilies (cocobolo, honduran rosewood, cochen rosewood, blackwood, lignum vitae). I know these woods tend to cause some pretty heinious reactions to some people when they work it--- one friend of mine breaks out in boils and sores if he turns cocobolo. For whatever reason I have no reaction to any wood other than the occasional sneeze.

Seems to me that if these woods cause allergic reactions when working them, they might cause a reaction if putting it to your lips--- the most sensitive part of your anatomy. Is this really a danger or does a good thick CA or lacquer finish seal in the oil sufficiently to avoid allergic reactions?
 
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Your choices of woods for calls is excellent. Dust is one thing. Many, if not most, of us are sensitive to a lot of wood dusts. But touching a hunk of wood isn't usually a problem. Since Cocobolo is, far and away, the most popular/common wood used for calls, one could surmise it has been field tested many times without negative consequences. Even finishes will wear off where touched with time. That said, my inclination is that there is no problem for most people.
 
I would go to the local BIG hunting supplier (Dick's, Gander Mountain -are ours) and find their "call" area. See what the "big boys" who sell nationally are including with their calls.

Even if they provide NOTHING with theirs, I would write up a business card size disclaimer: "This is cocobolo, (Latin name, which I have temporarily forgotten). Some people MAY have an allergic reaction to this wood. Please use with care.

Anything people put in their mouth CAN cause a problem. TRY to remind them of this.
 
Also, this MAY be a situation where I would look seriously at carrying insurance on my business and, possibly, incorporating. When you open the door to lawsuits, it doesn't hurt to put a few blockades in the way.

FWIW
 
Also it is usually the Oils in woods like Cocobolo and other rosewoods that causes the alergic reaction (the dust just transports these oils into the nose and lungs (if not protected) and onto the skin). So just putting it to your lips could cause issues, but a good finish should prevent most of the transmition of the oil.
 
Originally posted by ed4copies
<br />I would go to the local BIG hunting supplier (Dick's, Gander Mountain -are ours) and find their "call" area. See what the "big boys" who sell nationally are including with their calls.

Even if they provide NOTHING with theirs, I would write up a business card size disclaimer: "This is cocobolo, (Latin name, which I have temporarily forgotten). Some people MAY have an allergic reaction to this wood. Please use with care.

Anything people put in their mouth CAN cause a problem. TRY to remind them of this.
Click to expand...

Ed, sadly, currently, the big deal in calls is acrylic. 29 cents worth of injection molded plastic can sell as a call for hundreds of dollars.
Commercial calls made from wood usually don't have the wood identified.
Yes, anything CAN cause problems to some people. My attitude is I prefer reasonable caution and try not to run scared from everything.
 
Great info guys. Ed, I had not thought about incorporating, that is a great idea.

I intend to stay small-time for now, so I am not sure if insurance is affordable for me or not. With most of my time focused on working my normal, steady paying job and my full-load of seminary classes, I just don't have time to turn a lot of pens.

But when class is out.....[:p][:p][:p]
 
I think there is always a hazard to anything.... I make pot turkey calls. If a striker were left for a small child to get hold of they could have serious injuries. I think people really need to start using their common sense (if they've got any anymore) in how to use items. I'm always reminded of the frozen pizza directions.... 'remove plastic from pizza before putting in oven'. Stupid people abound apparently. So guess I should start putting warnings with my calls.....
 
Don't forget a warning with your pens - if placed in eye, damage may result...

I think that there's entirely too much worrying over lawsuits these days - but then again, it's your own livelihood and conscience that has to guide you, so do as you think best.
 
Unfortunaly most of those warning are put on there because there were lawsuits and stupid people always seem to win. Ie. Warning on McDonalds Coffee cups, "Warning Hot Contents!"
 
I probably would not even think of that situation, but since you did, I would think a card given with the call explaning the wood and finish. Then under it, in smaller print you could have some sort of disclamer about possible allergic reactions.
What a crazy world we live in. Imagine having to take out insurance to sell some ice cream pops. Wood may cause allergic reactions, splinters, blindness (if jabbed in eye) and assorted other lacerations. Ice cream may cause allergic reaction and choking. Then imagine all this engraved on the stick itself.
But my all time favorite disclaimer is "Remove clothes before ironing" [:D]
 
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