Posted by hurdy_gurdyman [ 209.153.156.150 ] on January 04, 2004 at 11:33:55:

In Reply to: Any advice on working with exotics? posted by gonefishin on December 22, 2003 at 14:33:26:

Enough cannot be said about using proper dust mask at all times when sanding some types of wood. A few years ago I was building a mountain dulcimer as a Christmas rush project. Much of the instrument was made of mahogony. I was sanding a lot, but sometines removed my mask because my coold workshop was causing my glasses to fog up with the mask on. On a Friday I started to get a swelling in my left upper leg. By Sunday I was one sick puppy. I went to the hospital Monday. My whole body was so swollen I couldn't lay down and had to be propped up in bed. I came down with Pnemonia that same day. I spent three days in a sitting position, propped up, gasping for every breath, sometimes not fully coherent. I almost died that week. On the fourth day, I got better and was allowed to go home in my wife's care. It was weeks before I could keep up just walking with her in a department store.
A lesson for all to remember. Sawdust, especially certain more exotic woods, is nothing to trifle with. Wear that mask!

Dave

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