Poplar dust

Ron Short asks:

>I've heard about all the exotic woods and the irritations their dust
>can cause but has anyone had a problem with poplar dust? I was working
>in the shop all weekend long (all day for 3 days straight). I was
>making some prototypes out of poplar and now I seem to be developing a
>bad cough, chest irritations and a sore throat. I may have to go to
>the Dr. soon to get it checked out. At first I thought it was just
>irritation fromt he dust but I've used it before and haven't had a
>problem.

Almost any wood can cause throat and nose lining and eye irritations, given
enough exposure. You say you've used it before: have you used it this
extensively before? What other conditions in your shop may have changed? In
your health--are you taking medication and if so what kind? Have you had a
recent bee sting or insect bite?

You've just run up on the real reason for either using a dust collector or
wearing a dust mask when working with even the mildest woods.

But, then, you may also just be coming down with a cold.

Good luck in clearing up whatever it is.

Charlie Self
"Men stumble over the truth from time to time, but most pick themselves up and
hurry off as if nothing happened." Sir Winston Churchill

I have used Poplar for years and the only thing bad about it to me is the
yucky sweet smell. You may simply be getting sick and the dust is being an
irritant.


"Ron" <[email protected]> wrote in message
news:[email protected]...
> I've heard about all the exotic woods and the irritations their dust
> can cause but has anyone had a problem with poplar dust? I was working
> in the shop all weekend long (all day for 3 days straight). I was
> making some prototypes out of poplar and now I seem to be developing a
> bad cough, chest irritations and a sore throat. I may have to go to
> the Dr. soon to get it checked out. At first I thought it was just
> irritation fromt he dust but I've used it before and haven't had a
> problem.

Ron, I have worked with poplar quite a bit lately and have found that when
machining or sanding, I need to wear a dust mask.
I am not a doctor, medical advice from me would be like asking for Charlie
Self's advice on building an airport.
Dave



"Ron" <[email protected]> wrote in message
news:[email protected]...
> I've heard about all the exotic woods and the irritations their dust
> can cause but has anyone had a problem with poplar dust? I was working
> in the shop all weekend long (all day for 3 days straight). I was
> making some prototypes out of poplar and now I seem to be developing a
> bad cough, chest irritations and a sore throat. I may have to go to
> the Dr. soon to get it checked out. At first I thought it was just
> irritation fromt he dust but I've used it before and haven't had a
> problem.

On Wed, 8 Sep 2004 08:06:03 -0700, "TeamCasa" <[email protected]>
wrote:

>Ron, I have worked with poplar quite a bit lately and have found that when
>machining or sanding, I need to wear a dust mask.
>I am not a doctor, medical advice from me would be like asking for Charlie
>Self's advice on building an airport.

I've got a buddy that designs or builds airports for a living, and
believe me - based on Charlie's writing ability I'd *much* rather him
than he be designing the airports of tomorrow.

JP
****************
It needs to be STRAIGHT?!

Same thing happens to me with poplar so I just started using a dust mask =
when I work with it. Solved the problem.
Puff

"Ron" <[email protected]> wrote in message =
news:[email protected]...
> I've heard about all the exotic woods and the irritations their dust
> can cause but has anyone had a problem with poplar dust? I was working
> in the shop all weekend long (all day for 3 days straight). I was
> making some prototypes out of poplar and now I seem to be developing a
> bad cough, chest irritations and a sore throat. I may have to go to
> the Dr. soon to get it checked out. At first I thought it was just
> irritation fromt he dust but I've used it before and haven't had a
> problem.

No one should work in the wood shop without at least a nuisance dust mask
on. If you are into heavy sanding operations a two strap mask is suggested.

--

Rumpty

Radial Arm Saw Forum: http://forums.delphiforums.com/woodbutcher/start

- - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - -


"Ron" <[email protected]> wrote in message
news:[email protected]...
> I've heard about all the exotic woods and the irritations their dust
> can cause but has anyone had a problem with poplar dust? I was working
> in the shop all weekend long (all day for 3 days straight). I was
> making some prototypes out of poplar and now I seem to be developing a
> bad cough, chest irritations and a sore throat. I may have to go to
> the Dr. soon to get it checked out. At first I thought it was just
> irritation fromt he dust but I've used it before and haven't had a
> problem.

"Ron" wrote in message
> I've heard about all the exotic woods and the irritations their dust
> can cause but has anyone had a problem with poplar dust? I was working
> in the shop all weekend long (all day for 3 days straight). I was
> making some prototypes out of poplar and now I seem to be developing a
> bad cough, chest irritations and a sore throat. I may have to go to
> the Dr. soon to get it checked out. At first I thought it was just
> irritation fromt he dust but I've used it before and haven't had a
> problem.

I am now heartily subscribing to the theory that you eventually reach an age
where you become much more susceptible to airborne dust particles of any
type.

I had a similar experience last year, which I was ready to attribute to
walnut dust. While you may never know the exact reason, it is probably
safest to assume that "dust", regardless of source, is the reason for your
symptoms and you should take some type of appropriate action, starting with
a trip to the doctor before it gets worse.

I cleaned out the shop last Saturday with a leaf blower and, although I wore
a mask (my goatee makes a good seal impossible), shortly afterwards I begin
to notice the same feeling in my lungs that I got last year.

... needless to say that twice warned, I am now on a dust
collection/reduction crusade before I begin any new projects. You might want
to consider the same.

--
www.e-woodshop.net
Last update: 7/10/04

To answer some questions and give more info.

I've used poplar quite a bit, that's why I was surprised to be
irritated like this. I have a 16x20 basement shop with one window a
dust collector and a Jet air filter system. The problem is that I had
the window closed and the air filter wasn't running. No mask either.
In retrospect I guess I should run the air filter whenever I'm inthe
shop and I think in the future I will. Before I finished the shop off
I didn't have enough power to run all the tools at once so I just ran
the filter when it got real dusty. I guess I'll have to change that
habbit.

And my wife reminded me that the kids had a bad cough a few weeks ago
and maybe I'm just getting that. Of course the dust hasn't helped but
I haven't been in the shop in a few days and it hasn't gotten better
so probably not related.

[email protected] (Ron) wrote in message news:<[email protected]>...
> I've heard about all the exotic woods and the irritations their dust
> can cause but has anyone had a problem with poplar dust? I was working
> in the shop all weekend long (all day for 3 days straight). I was
> making some prototypes out of poplar and now I seem to be developing a
> bad cough, chest irritations and a sore throat. I may have to go to
> the Dr. soon to get it checked out. At first I thought it was just
> irritation fromt he dust but I've used it before and haven't had a
> problem.

"Swingman" <[email protected]> wrote in message
news:[email protected]...
>
>
> I am now heartily subscribing to the theory that you eventually reach an
age
> where you become much more susceptible to airborne dust particles of any
> type.

Mine is that it is a cumulative effect. Arithmetic, geometric or exponential
curve, I have no idea. But I'm betting it is additive.

So I've made a committment to wear my 3M half-mask respiratory ALL of the
time.
Like braces or single-malt scotch, it takes awhile to get used to, but the
payoff in the end is worth it.

"patrick conroy" wrote in message

> "Swingman" wrote in message

> > I am now heartily subscribing to the theory that you eventually reach an
> age
> > where you become much more susceptible to airborne dust particles of any
> > type.
>
> Mine is that it is a cumulative effect. Arithmetic, geometric or
exponential
> curve, I have no idea. But I'm betting it is additive.

I agree ... I just got another real-world example of the lack of youthful
lungs when I was fairly close to a big tanker explosion on the freeway a
couple of days ago. My initial instinct to rush to the aid of someone close
to the inferno was quickly squelched by the fact that I could no longer
breath from the smoke and fumes by the time I got halfway there ... rather
than being the subject of a rescue, instead of a rescuer, I backed off when
I saw there were other's obviously faring better in the smoke than I was.

Another humbling lesson in the mind aging slower than the body ....

--
www.e-woodshop.net
Last update: 7/10/04

"Swingman" <[email protected]> wrote in message
news:[email protected]...

> Another humbling lesson in the mind aging slower than the body ....

That - and ear hair...
I hate ear hair...

On Wed, 08 Sep 2004 06:27:28 -0700, Ron wrote:

> I seem to be developing a
> bad cough, chest irritations and a sore throat. I may have to go to
> the Dr. soon to get it checked out.

Others have handled the dust mask angle. Just a warning--there have been
lots of nasty upper respiratory bugs running around my area, maybe yours
too. Last month I spent a couple of days in the hospital with pneumonia.
It got so bad because I thought the early stages were "just sawdust".


--
"Keep your ass behind you"

I have never heard of or experinced a problem with poplar. You could be
coming down with the crud, or you might have a specific allergy to the dust.

If it is allergy, it might be cause for concern - some folks can have severe
reactions.

If it is the crud, try whisky and chili.

"Ron" <[email protected]> wrote in message
news:[email protected]...
>
> the Dr. soon to get it checked out. At first I thought it was just
> irritation fromt he dust but I've used it before and haven't had a
> problem.

What precautions do you have in place? What do you have for a DC, Air
Cleaner and Dust Mask?