is bolivian rosewood the same as cocobola?

[desi2960]

i am very allergic to cocobola and.
i bought some bolivian rosewood from bell forest products, a great company, which i have been doing business with for years.
i started the first taper and hung the piece up so it could rest.
i took a shower and settled down to watch the basketball playoffs, fell asleep.
i woke up about 4 hrs later with my eyes almost shut, itching like crazy, my nose, throat sore and itching. first i thought flu.
i was thinking about what type of drugs i should take, then i saw my wrist, where i was wearing my watch, [ photo is 4 days old, it was much more severe ] there was a bright red band of rash going all the way around my wrist. inside my elbows, around my neck, anywhere i had sweat and the dust had had a chance to stick.
could bell have sent me some cocobola in thinking is was rosewood.
or am i allergic to both?
what other woods have you encountered that cause this problem? any help would be great, i was miserable all weekend, and i dont want to go through this again.
thank you chuck starkey

 

[masonh]

Bolivian Rosewood is not the same as Cocobolo.it is the same as pau ferro and supposedly not as toxic as Cocobolo.

for me though almost all of the Rosewoods are toxic if i get enough exposure to them.

 

[MVPCues]

Man, that sucks.

As Mason said, another name for Bolivian rosewood is Pau Ferro. Yet another name is Morado. It is not a true rosewood, ie, it is not in the Dalbergia genus. The wood pictured looks like Bolivian, I don't think they sent you the wrong species.

The only reaction I have had was to chechen burl. Eyes swelled up a little and got red and were irritated. I am lucky so far, coco only gives my hands an ever so slight burning sensation.

Kelly

 

[RocketQ]

Wood

Man, that sucks.

As Mason said, another name for Bolivian rosewood is Pau Ferro. Yet another name is Morado. It is not a true rosewood, ie, it is not in the Dalbergia genus. The wood pictured looks like Bolivian, I don't think they sent you the wrong species.

The only reaction I have had was to chechen burl. Eyes swelled up a little and got red and were irritated. I am lucky so far, coco only gives my hands an ever so slight burning sensation.

Kelly

That wood looks a lot like Shedua. The Morado I have looks like east indian rosewood but with some tan and pinkish streaks. Could be the light/picture.

 

[Mr Hoppe]

Take a look at this thread. I found this link specifically interesting.

I also heard that super black ebony is very, very bad for your health. Luckily for you, I'm willing to take all that you have off of your hands, at no charge!
Mr H

 

[bellforest]

sorry Chuck

Hey Chuck. I am really sorry to see and hear that you had a bad reaction to the Bolivian Rosewood we sent. Judging from the photos you posted I am 99% sure that we sent the correct material - it is not Cocobolo and I don't know what else it could be. Unfortunately for you it looks like you are allergic to Bolivian Rosewood.

Mason and Kelly are both correct. Cocobolo (Dalbergia retusa - a true rosewood) is a different species and Bolivian Rosewood, which is not even in the Rosewood (Dalbergia) family.

The link that Mr Hoppe posted is very helpful. It just goes to show you that you can never be too safe. A dust mask is always recommended when working with any species of wood.

Eric

 

[desi2960]

bolivian rosewood off my list

eric, thanks for the info, and thats why i posted the photos.i wanted to know just what it was.
i cut that piece last saturday and the rash around my wrist is still there 6 days later. so even if i beg dont send me any more of that wood.
btw that 30 inch piece of exceptional curly maple you sent was a great piece of wood. its going to be a one piece butt,with no inlays, no splices, nothing but WOOD.


thanks again chuck

 

[Cue Guru]

Slightly off topic, but I think relevant-

If you happen to have a tree nut allergy (or someone blood related to you does) there is a very strong chance of having above average sensitivity to any and all wood products.

But, that being said, my girlfriend is tree-nut allergic (bad!) and she really enjoys Cinnamon with no ill effects (cinnamon is tree bark by the way).

So, just throwing that out there.

And you peanut allergy guys should not have any problems because peanuts are not nuts.

Further off topic I have a bad reaction to poison ivy, but most woods I have worked with have been OK for me. I do tend to wear Nitrille gloves to keep my finger oil off the wood, so that may help...

 

[bellforest]

eric, thanks for the info, and thats why i posted the photos.i wanted to know just what it was.
i cut that piece last saturday and the rash around my wrist is still there 6 days later. so even if i beg dont send me any more of that wood.
btw that 30 inch piece of exceptional curly maple you sent was a great piece of wood. its going to be a one piece butt,with no inlays, no splices, nothing but WOOD.


thanks again chuck

I would love to see a photo or two when that cue is finished!