Advice on Silky Oak?

Australian Silky Oak (Grevilla robusta), can be VERY dangerous, Cover your arms against dust and wear Dust protection when ever you work with it. (Green or Dry). I know two woodturners who both were able to turn it till the cows came home, here are their stories.

"A" had been turning Silky Oak for years and loved the look it gave him till one weekend He turned some on the Saturday, and like usual not taking any special care after all it did not effect him, and everything was normal on Sunday he went to finish the Job he was doing, next thing he knew he was in intensive care fighting for his life.

"T" even after knowing "A's" Story bragged that Silky Oak did not effect him and he could turn it with no effect 4 years later he now loses his sence of taste and smell for 3 days after turning the wood even though he now wears a full resperator AND a secondary mask under the resporator.

That said it does work well and has some interesting grain.

Phil,

Silk Oak is very dangerous to some people. I know of three that were hospitalized and one who died. I had to make a trip to my doctor and then to urgent care to stop the most horrendous inching you could ever imagine (Three nights with NO sleep). The symptoms do not show up for about a week. Over the counter remedies do not phase the itching and swelling.

I would toss it in the trash.

AZCRAIG

Same here -- I got a major rash from green silky oak which was awful and required a doctor's visit to deal with. Over the years I've turned lots of different rosewoods (many people have problems with these) green without a problem.

Bill

I had a minor rash on my arms a few weeks ago after turning some Macassar Ebony. A couple of applications of 5% cortisone cream took care of it. I cleaned up a bit in my shop Saturday, which included emptying my shop vac (which still contained some of the dust and shavings). Well, guess what? My rash is back. I was only out there a few minutes, was wearing a short sleeve T-shirt. I had already had a shower that morning and didn't bother to take another. I really didn't think I got that much dust on my arms. I think skipping the shower may have been my undoing.

Barry

Barry:

Probably a hot shower is not the best idea either. A cool shower may be what is called for.

As a kid I was not allergic to poison ivy -- I could roll in it and never feel a thing. About 15 years ago I pulled p/i vines off a tree on a very hot and sweaty type of day and got a major case. I have no desire to find out if I would get a rash now, though -- an unanswered question.

I believe that Ivy Block applied to your skin before turning woods to which you are mildly allergic would be a good idea. But silky oak just isn't worth messing with, I think.

Bill

Here's my story sad but true ....... sounds like a song. Well one dark and stormy night, no, no. Acually it was a turning class during the summer. I had short sleves and shorts on. I was having fun making the shaveings that piled up on my hands and arms while makeing my first bowl. Nature called and off to the restroom I went brushing of the shaveings. After the rest room I finished my bowl. The next morning everything down below was swollen my forarms in peticular were red and iching. Spent a few miserable weeks with calamine lotion and trying not to scratch. looked like poison oak. Down below was in bad shape too. Once I got over it I was ok. Don't know what happened to the bowl may it burn in he........ The big lesson I preach to people is when turning new stuff have long sleves rolled down and wash your hands BEFORE useing the rest room. I have gotten into the habit of scrubbing my hands when called for dinner or if I am going to be away from the lathe for andy length of time and especilly if nature calls.

Joy. This is a lot of gorgeous wood, I'd hate to have to throw it away. That said, I don't want to screw up my life over some wood.

Further advice other than just "Throw it away" would be nice. Also, once turned and dried, I assume you have to epoxy seal it if you want to use it for a working cup or bowl? Or is that not even safe?

Phil

I Never said to just THROW it away. With this wood it is only the sap and the DUST (Dry or Green) that is harmful once finished even with oil it becomes very useful. I do turn Silky Oak but am VERY aware of the risks and the fact that the harmful part of the wood can build up in the body. "T" still turns it and makes useful items from it, he just takes extra care.

When using silky oak cover up both the skin and the lungs, enjoy the wood and the grain of the final object.

Better to be fore warned than sorry.

Thanks, I'll keep that in mind. I may even invest in a triton air respirator.

I realize that YOU weren't the one to say toss it out, but a few of the other replies did.

Any other advice on working it green? Does it warp a lot?

Phil

When turning it Green any good dust mask will do but once it is dry and you are sanding the Triton or one like it with a Very Fine filter is a MUST. The main problem with Green silky is skin irritation here in Aust some people can not even touch a growing Grivillea, so unless you know it does not effect you cover up and wash exposed areas ASAP after turning. "T" has some success in rough turning then FREEZING and defrosting in the fridge, before finish turning (he then carves his peices to remove any flaws). using this method "T's" bowls do not appear to move much. (for Phill Photos of "T's" bowls can be supplied upon request)

I would throw it out. It is stupid to risk your health for a hobby.

AZCRAIG

a single piece of silky oak cost me $300 in doctor's bills and several weeks of a spectacular rash - beware

Maybe not, but probably better than no shower at all. The only time I had had a problem with a wood allergy was back in the summer with the same wood. I was wearing a short sleeve T-shirt, hot and sweaty with shaving clinging to both arms for several hours. But I only got a mild rash that quickly cleared with some 5% cortisone cream.

With poison ivy, I hear it takes a "sensitizing exposure" to set your body up for some real fun the next time you come into contact. Apparently with you, it took several "sensitizing exposures". The stuff doesn't bother me either.......but I try to stay away from it. I figure sooner or later I'll get hold of a turning blank that had the stuff all over it and I'll get a dose and a half.

Barry

what is called for.

feel a thing.

type of day and got

which you are mildly