cocobolo combs & allergy?

Chad Bender wrote:

> I'm planning on making a set of combs for my girlfriend, and was all set
> to use cocobolo because it looks great and supposedly can deal well with
> water. Then I started reading about the 'poison-ivy like' allergy
> associated with the dust from this wood. I'm not worried about that
> because I can deal with the dust while I'm making the combs. What has me
> concerned is that she will be using the combs on her head. Is there an
> allergy problem with the solid wood too? If I make her something that
> causes her head to break out, she won't be so happy...

There are thousands of cocobolo pens out there and California hasn't banned
them (yet).

--
Jack Novak
Buffalo, NY - USA
(Remove "SPAM" from email address to reply)

As they say, some are sensitive to it, the rest will become sensitive.
It's the oils/chemicals in the wood, which are made more available when
they're spread in dust. Damn good thing it isn't a manufactured product, or
we'd have endless lawsuits....

That said, her exposure will be much less than yours.

"Chad Bender" <[email protected]> wrote in message
news:[email protected]...
> I'm planning on making a set of combs for my girlfriend, and was all set
> to use cocobolo because it looks great and supposedly can deal well with
> water. Then I started reading about the 'poison-ivy like' allergy
> associated with the dust from this wood. I'm not worried about that
> because I can deal with the dust while I'm making the combs. What has me
> concerned is that she will be using the combs on her head. Is there an
> allergy problem with the solid wood too? If I make her something that
> causes her head to break out, she won't be so happy...

Standard tactic is to remove surface oil with a solvent like acetone prior
to application of the finish.

Wiping varnish, maybe? Lots of chemicals in hair treatments to interact if
careless. Urethane would be a good choice.

"Chad Bender" <[email protected]> wrote in message
news:[email protected]...
> On Fri, 18 Jun 2004 17:30:33 -0400, Gerry wrote:
>
> > Don't know about your example, if we look at the state that California
> > is in... In any case, most any finish that seals the wood should provide
> > sufficient protection.
> > Gerry
>
>
>
> Ok, then can anyone recommend a good, unobtrusive finish to use on this?
> I've read that because it is oily it doesn't take most finishes very
> well.
>
> Thanks
> Chad

Don't know about your example, if we look at the state that California is
in... In any case, most any finish that seals the wood should provide
sufficient protection.
Gerry

On Fri, 18 Jun 2004 16:11:17 -0400, Nova <[email protected]> wrote:

>Chad Bender wrote:
>
>> I'm planning on making a set of combs for my girlfriend, and was all set
>> to use cocobolo because it looks great and supposedly can deal well with
>> water. Then I started reading about the 'poison-ivy like' allergy
>> associated with the dust from this wood. I'm not worried about that
>> because I can deal with the dust while I'm making the combs. What has me
>> concerned is that she will be using the combs on her head. Is there an
>> allergy problem with the solid wood too? If I make her something that
>> causes her head to break out, she won't be so happy...
>
>There are thousands of cocobolo pens out there and California hasn't banned
>them (yet).

On Fri, 18 Jun 2004 17:30:33 -0400, Gerry wrote:

> Don't know about your example, if we look at the state that California
> is in... In any case, most any finish that seals the wood should provide
> sufficient protection.
> Gerry



Ok, then can anyone recommend a good, unobtrusive finish to use on this?
I've read that because it is oily it doesn't take most finishes very
well.

Thanks
Chad