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Toxic stock wood! Watch it, guys!

I see that Cocobola is on that list. Years ago I could work with it no problems. Now, just a little saw dust and I break out in an equivalent of Poison Ivy. I's a real irritant in more ways than one:mad:.
 
Most oily tropical hardwoods can be toxic to some extent. In general, I have found that if I need to acetone it to get an epoxied forend tip or a polyurethane finish to stick, I'd better be in full hazmat gear to cut or sand it. That means rosewood, ebony, cocobolo, most mahoganies, ipe, snakewood, purpleheart, and undoubtedly dozens of others. I also have some problems with black walnut, but not European or claro.
 
I finished the stock. I already had too much time into it to trash it. The wood has nice grain and looks. Never again, no matter what. The gun is a Kodiak RB,LP,LE coned bolt in 30 br. It has a "magazine", as it was set up for hunter Benchrest when I bought the original barreled action. I wanted a heavier stock to help tame the recoil of the 30br.
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I know a couple fellows that turn wood for pens/pencil barrels.

They say stay away from antler or be prepared for respiratory problems.

Any thing can do it to some folks. As you noted it might not be a problem the first time. Allergens are being absorbed and then later a full blown reaction occurs.
Benadryl (diphenhydramine) should help at the larger dose.
 
If you want to understand this all better, then start getting that toxicity reactions, sensitivities, and allergies are all different things.

Source: being comically allergic to everything, many conversations with allergists. Allergy shots and allergy meds do not stop sensitivities, much less toxic chemical reactions.
 
Back in one of my other locations, a co-worker of mine killed off a bunch of his chickens with smoke from a burn pile burning cashew wood. Seems it's related to poison ivy.
 
I make duck calls and cocobolo is popular but its a bad irritant. Its the only wood ive ever seen that makes its own polishing oil. I always polished it with denim
 
I just saw this, I built a double swinging gate out of IPE last Christmas. I cut and sanded each piece and even had my very sensitive 14 yr old daughter out helping sand. Blew off the dust with air. No problems. Probably an allergic reaction on the OP. You should probably mention this to your physician next physical. --Jerry
 
I just saw this, I built a double swinging gate out of IPE last Christmas. I cut and sanded each piece and even had my very sensitive 14 yr old daughter out helping sand. Blew off the dust with air. No problems. Probably an allergic reaction on the OP. You should probably mention this to your physician next physical. --Jerry

Oh! I went to the Doc and showed him. He told me:”Don’t do that again.”o_O
 

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