When you think about the dangers of woodworking, you usually think about sharp blades along with eye and hearing dangers. But I recently received a note from a woodworker that reminded me about the hazards of sawdust. He was turning an exotic hardwood called Makore and despite having an exhaust fan on, his eyes and nose were severely irritated by the dust.
All woods have some level of toxicity, and people have their own allergies that can make certain woods more dangerous to them. I’ve had a customer tell me that Padauk, a bright orange wood from Africa, makes him itch just thinking about it. But Padauk doesn’t bother me – my personal kryptonite is walnut. It makes my sinuses explode if I breathe it in, so I‘m very careful when I work with walnut. Here is a link to a website with great information on various woods: http://www.wood-database.com/wood-articles/wood-allergies-and-toxicity/
I wouldn’t want to create the impression that working with wood is so dangerous that no one should risk it. You can enjoy woodworking safely. Here are some basic precautions to take:
- Dust Mask – There are a variety of masks available ranging from a simple paper mask to cloth masks with exhalation valves. They offer some protection but if you’re doing a lot of woodworking, you will want a better, long-term solution.
- Respirators –More permanent masks that use replaceable filters. They are usually made of rubber and will form a better seal than the paper masks. For people with more severe allergies there are powered respirators that use battery powered fans to create positive air pressure inside a dust hood.
- Fan – Blowing air around you while you work can help keep the bulk of the dust particles away from your face. Just remember that the moving air still contains dust.
- Air Filtration System – Powered units that use fans and filters to cycle through the air in your shop. Beyond to making the air in your shop more breathable, when you’ve finished sanding your project and are ready to apply the finish, running the air filter for a while will remove dust particles from the air and keep them from ruining your finish.
- Exhaust Fan – Another option is to simply blow the dust out of your shop. Just be sure you have an adequate source of fresh air so you don’t ‘starve’ the fan.
- Shop Vac – Will collect dust, but models with limited filtering that exhaust air straight out the back can roil the dust in your shop and actually make things worse.
- Dust Collector – Designed to move a large volume of air, a dust collector will whisk away the sawdust from your woodworking equipment and keep the area clean.
I’d be that last person to suggest you swear off woodworking, but you really need to pay attention to dust. The effects can range from immediate irritation to long term damage to your respiratory system. Use a combination of these dust control devices just to be safe.
