Back in 2008 I had major poisoning and reaction the first (and last) time I built a one piece Indian Rosewood neck from a 3x4 block, and for a typical Big Body Jazz guitar Guitar. Within a week I ended up with huge whelps (sp?) that slowly started covering my torso and folds of arms and legs, as you mentioned. Regardless, I thought I was going to end up in the hospital or near dead. During college I worked in Central Supply at UAB hospital- delivering medical supplies to the various ICU floors. Neonatal, Burn units, horrific issues, you name it. Some images you never forget, and I was terrified that's what was in store for me. Anyway, I ended up on a 24 to 30 day Steroid treatment with varying dosages. The doctor told me that once the poisonous wood is in your blood stream it will always be present, and you'll immediately relapse if exposed again. Sure enough, last year I shaped a Bolivian Rosewood fretboard and started my first Classical Bolivian back and sides set, and within 24 hours my face and eylids started puffing up, itching, and whelping. I haven't had any issues with Honduran Mahogany, Gabon Ebony, or especially Maples, and we all know those three woods will build just about anything that sounds great. So, if anyone is exposed, I'd recommend an immediate trip to the doctor and do the 30 day Steriod plan. Thanks much for the great content, Marc

@chuckmorrison

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I'm glad you were able figure it out and get help. My ritual now with resawing and woodwork in general with exotic woods is to wear a (p90 or better) mask while in the shop and afterwards a good soapy shower w/shampoo and a complete change to clean clothes. Basically, don't breath it and wash it off ASAP. As I get older it seems like new allergies and other skin conditions pop up to surprise me. It's best to be prepared.

Ugh I get that as well. Nostrils and all

Allergy is an issue to me as well. I've always been a nature lover and an outdoor person, so it came like a punishment when I started to get sensitivity reactions from all sorts of flowers and plants. The first serious cases came about 15 years ago. When I was camping or after swimming in a natural body of water, my eyelids and forehead became incredibly itchy and swollen. The symptoms persisted for a few days even at home, after finishing the activity. Then, about 2 or 3 years ago, I had a really shocking experience. I had planted a few olive saplings in pots the year before. The spring came and the olives went into bloom, opening thousands of tiny yellow flowers and spreading tons of yellow pollen all around. First, my eyes got seriously affected again, itching, swelling, redness and all that stuff, then I went down with high fever, complete weakness and an overall sick feeling for two weeks. By then I'd realised what the source of the problem was, luckily. Sometimes it's really difficult to find the culprit causing the issue! To our sorrow, we had to get rid of the six little beautiful olive trees. My girlfriend had to look after the issue, I was so weak, I couldn't get out of bed. In the end, we were happy that there was someone ready to adopt them. I've had no problems since, but now I'm very cautious and don't go out as often as I used to. In fact, my whole lifestyle changed quite a bit. That nasty experience with the olive pollen was really horrible, sometimes I really felt like I was about to die, I was totally weak and unable to do anything for two weeks even when we had got rid of the trees themselves. So if you are prone to allergies, you must be really careful, you never know when such a fit comes again, and what might cause it to happen.

Thanks for this. We tend to get kind of lax with our PPE when we haven't had any recent issues. I had a respiratory problem from angle grinder carving and hand sanding some Paudauk on a solid body I was building. Could hardly draw a breath for a couple of days. Definitely going to check out the Wood slicer for my 18" saw.

There are few things that mess one up worse than skin issues. We both know that I have plenty of experience with that. Sorry you're having this, I can just feel your eyelids, been there, done that. The odd thing is that when I was having the cocobolo issues a few years back, I didn't have any visual reactions, it just itched like a MONSTER. Sorry you're having to deal with this. It's miserable. Just remember what they say, once you have issues with a rosewood, you have a good chance of issues with the others, too. So far, cocobolo is the only one that has gotten me. Hopefully it will stay that way. Totally agree on the wood slicer blade, it's amazing. I will have to get one for my 18" saw and leave the 14" for curved and general cutting. Amazing surface that thing leaves. Heal well and soon.

A lot of allergies are co factored by dairy, maybe if you can remove that.