: 'Mornin', all. I ripped some walnut strips this weekend, and I was shocked at
: how irritating the dust was. Prior to this weekend, I'd only worked with
: ply, pine, and ash. I never felt much of a need for a respirator with
: those, and I only donned one for multiple cuts. With the walnut, however,
: I knew I was dealing with something much worse after the very first small
: cut. I wore a half face respirator for every cut after that, and I'm
: thinking of upgrading to a full face type. I've heard cedar is really bad,
: but how bad could it be compared to walnut? I'm definitely ripping outside
: from now on, too.

Hi Dan,
All types of wood have some kind of chemical defence against insects and such, which is toxic to some degree. Hardwoods tend to be more toxic than softwoods but even softwood can cause respiratory problems.
A good mask and eye protection along with airflow minimises any risk. In more extreme cases, like teak, coveralls and hood is a very good idea.

My thinking is that we breathe in enough junk as it is without adding to the problem with wood dust.

Mike Savage
South West Cork