rosewood

The best advise is to use a respirator or other good dust mask, unless you want to be miserable. Rosewood is highly irritating and allergenic, breathing in the dust is nearly guaranteed to make you miserable - and cause worse allergic reactions with longer exposure.

I use a 3M mask with both fine particulate and carbon filters. Not only does that catch the dust I'd otherwise be breathing, it also takes care of fumes from finishes. (Nothing like putting everything away, taking off the mask, and realizing what a horrible stink I've made!) I also wear long sleeves when I'm doing a rosewood piece.

Whatever you feel like. : )

steve

Sharp chisels are a must..........no matter what you are turning. With the woods of the rosewood family, so is avoidance of the dust. It can produce a nasty skin rash. The effects are intensified when you are hot and sweaty. Usually, once a person becomes sensitized to an allergen, be it rosewood or peanuts, subsequent exposures produce more intense reactions. The wood is beautiful, though. Just use all the protection you can afford. Cheaper than going to an allergist after the fact.

Barry

Amen, Barry. I've yet to find a need to turn with dull chisels. Advising to use sharp turning tools for a specific purpose is like advising to start up the lathe in order to turn. :)

Turn to Safety, Arch Fortiter

First, try to KNOW exactly what you have,, because there's Rosewood, rosewood ....and 'rosewood'. Many varities from various parts of the world, and some that is NOT Rosewood, but called 'rosewood' by dealers because "Bolivian Rosewood" sounds better than "Striped Caviuna" or "Morado" ...(there IS no true Rosewood from Bolivia)....and I have a few pieces of a hard-to-find wood from the American desert called 'Arizona Rosewood' (Vauquelinia californica) which is not even vaguely related. Be VERY careful of common names of wood.

Rosewoods have different amounts of the chemical that is an irritant, with Cocobolo being the worst, and Tulipwood being not-too-bad....test a small piece against a sander, and if the wood has a purpleish-reddish tinge and seems a bit oily and has a tart odor, it's best to use lots of protection...(even poison ivy lotions will help, but masks and long sleeves are better, and full body coverings like a Tyvek suit better yet...you 'may' not seem sensitive at first, but exposure over time can get you!) (I cannot touch Cocobolo and the gummier Rosewoods, though I can turn Tulipwood)

A friend--a luthier, or guitar maker--gave me some nice rosewood stock that he'd rejected for guitar fretboards. They were fairly thin, but I glued up several into spindle blanks and turned some smallish candle sticks. They turned out beautifully and took a polish that rivals a buffed lacquer finish. I had no trouble of any sort with them, but then I keep my tools finely honed. I would recommend following the advice of others who've recommended breathing and skin precautions, as it can be a species with allergenic qualities. Google for websites that detail the toxic or allergenic properties of the various species of wood for more info.

Max

breathing problems.

that i know of. lucky! rich