Main Discussion Area > Bows

Allergic to my Hobby

<< < (2/3) > >>

Eric Krewson:
So did Micky Lotz.

For me it started with walnut, then osage and lastly, any kind of wood dust.

If you adjust your respirator just right it won't fog up your glasses but it still takes the fun out of working wood. This had a lot to do with me slowing down on bow making an even building flintlock rifles.

The bad news is it get worse over time, even pine dust bothers me now.

bjrogg:
I have developed allergy to Osage to. So far it seems like just Osage that really bothers me but I’m sure there are others I just haven’t been exposed to yet.

I don’t have trouble with shavings but the dust gets me. Sinuses start bleeding and very congested. I also get rash in the moist areas on my face. My lips, around my nose and eyes.

I try to use aprons and remove it without it brushing my face. When I file or sand i wear a mask and as soon as I am done I wash my hands and face really good

Bjrogg

PS it’s really hard to give up Osage. I usually just suffer through it

Badger:
The allergies I think, contributed to me eventually quitting altogether. It just kept getting worse, and I wasn't very good about wearing a mask. I did things mostly by hand, but on laminated or backed bows, I used the belt sander and bandsaw. I guess age also contributed to it, but the allergies were really starting to bother me.

bjrogg:
Badger it hasn’t made me quit yet. But it certainly makes me think about it when I am suffering through it.

It’s like Eric said too.

At first it wasn’t that bad but it keeps getting worse.

I definitely think about it when I pick up a piece of Osage.

Bjrogg

Eric Krewson:
I have an elaborate dust collection system in my shop with a 2hp motor on blower, it gets 90% of the dust from sanding and using the bandsaw but the microscopic stuff is still floating in the air.



I have this collector near my vise to catch even more dust from the point on stave that I am working. There is an accessory called a down draft box that many carvers use under their work that I have thought of making. Because a bone spur on my neck keeps me from shooting a bow I don't see any need to make them anymore.



I have gotten to the point that I have to strip off my clothes after I leave the shop and take a shower. Just a little fine dust on my tee shirt and in my hair is enough to give me cold like wheezing and sneezing symptoms.

Navigation

[0] Message Index

[#] Next page

[*] Previous page