toxic wood question

[DavidF]

It's not boat related but since it isn't ass related I thought best to stay out of the bilge.

Is hophorn toxic?

My latest hobby is carving pipes from burls and I was working on a hophorn piece and the sawdust tastes horrible, which is a not-bad indicator of badness.

Do any of you sages know if I should refrain from lighting a fire in this thing?

[Donn]

If you mean Hop Hornbeam (Ostrya virginiana), no, it isn't toxic. In fact, it's long been used for medicinal purposes.

That said, I'm not sure I'd want to smoke a pipe made with it. I've burned it as firewood, and it is certainly stinky. It's possible the smell would lessen once the bowl is properly seasoned, but I'd pass on it.

[ssor]

Hop Hornbeam is good for many things but a smoking pipe would not be high on my list of recommended uses.

[john l]

briarwood is the wood of choice for pipes.

[ishmael]

Any wood, but especially those that are thick with volatiles, can set off a reaction. I react to cherry. It's not exactly toxic, but when milling much of it I get hives. Mahogany and cedar bring a similar skin reaction, but not as strong. All of them smell and taste good to me, so that's not a good indicator.

Hm, a pipe of hornbeam. I've never worked hornbeam, but if it tastes bad working it, why would you want to make a pipe of it?

[John R - Kitenui]

Some woods do emit toxic gases when burning. The oleander shrub (sorry forgotten the latin) is poisonous enough to kill people in a room when the wood is placed in a properly constructed fireplace. I should stick to those which you know are non toxic

[ishmael]

A double band dust mask is a must at the table saw, and other tools like the planer, especially if you don't have good dust collection running. My skin reaction, with a powerful, permanently plumbed, collector running says it's prudent even with a vacume running at the blade. Dust collectors don't catch everything.

[John R - Kitenui]

Boylesboats - Thanks for the link.
I think this thread is a good reminder to all of us.For a wood to be durable it needs to contain chemicals toxic to the things which attack it; mould, fungus, insects, man.

[Bob Smalser]

Here are the folks to talk about pipe making or restoration with:

http://www.pipemakersforum.com/modules.php?name=Forums

And Andrea can fix you up with top-quality Med Burl:

http://www.pipemakers.org/

[gert]

I don't see Makore (sp?) on these lists, (may be a canuk name) GS's station molds are of Makore ply from China, it's smell is quite distinct; after working in it's dust for a day and a half I broke out in moderatly itchy hives over 85% of my body, the most amazing welts of many sizes, on the soles of my feet and my tunge too. I actually began to wonder if I had been poisoned. I went to bed and next morning they were all gone. I have since varnished all the stations, tossed the off-cuts and asked them at work not to buy this stuff any more.

[John R - Kitenui]

Your reaction may also be to the inner veneers or the glue. I have turned makore solid without any reaction or irritation whatsoever. It is actually an incredibly good wood for turnery. Makore comes from Africa I believe, but who knows what chinese substrates they are using with a makore veneer exterior.