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So, I've got 5 coco sets in the shop and finally got around to some prebend finish sanding. Apparently, I'm not allergic to it. But.... So I'm sitting with my wife watching TV after a full day in the shop, no shower yet. I scratch my head and rub my eyes and OMG! That crap came off my eyelashes into my eyes. Might as well as have been black pepper. I'm sitting there thinking it will pass and it only gets worse... Like I just bit into jalapeño pepper. Finally, eyes red as beets, can't see, I run to take a shower, wife laughing the whole way.

It sure is beautiful wood. Only reason I'd put up with that.

Mike

Maybe this will help.
http://m.youtube.com/watch?feature=kp&v=saBoM7O_imM
Not to poke at you, but never go to the bathroom after picking chile peppers.
I'll never forget how much my wife laughed.

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wah
Wah-wah-wah-wah
Wah

OMG! Mike hope it clears soon


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Hey Mike,

I used Coco for 8 years no issues. Always wore a mask, washed my hands etc. But 2-3 years ago I was working with it on a guitar and found my eyes getting all itchy. After I stopped working with it my eyes cleared in a few days. I guess I've developed a mild allergy. I pretty much avoid the stuff now, if I do work with it I'm wearing goggles and washing my hands and arms as soon as I'm done, but even then I notice a bit of the itchiness. I'm pretty much avoiding it all together at this point. Which is a shame because it is a beautiful wood. The announce of having itchy watery eyes is enough to make me stay away. I guess what I'm trying to say is be careful. You will probably experience something similar if you get the dust in your eyes again. And from what I've heard it only gets worse going forward.

_________________
Josh House

Canadian Luthier Supply
http://www.canadianluthiersupply.com
https://www.facebook.com/canadianluthiersupply?ref=hl
House Guitars - Custom Built Acoustic Instruments.
http://www.houseguitars.com

I wasn't taking this too seriously nor portraying as such. More just a funny

"I wasn't taking this too seriously nor portraying as such. More just a funny"

Time to suit up! When I work with cocobolo I try to avoid sanding whenever possible. When I do sand it, I treat it like working with poison ivy - avoid getting the dust on my skin and shower immediately afterwards. Wear a good dust mask. A bit of "careful" today may allow you to work with it tomorrow.

White Oak doesn't do that...
I got rid of all traces of Cocobolo in my shop.

I got a bit of an itchy throat from the vapors rolling out of the side bender, so although not dust, looks like some precautions are in order for bending as well,as the oil in the wood gasses off. Want to keep using this wood, so will do all I can to avoid being sensitized.

I have made an oath as of right now. I will not buy cocobolo wood also no poison ivy either.


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I use coco all the time and have never had a problem (yet). I break out in a red skin rash anywhere my skin contacts East Indian rosewood. Go figure.


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I have to admit that the cooked smell is not very enticing. But the dry sanded smell is awesome. Truly a weird wood (but oh so beautiful)