Klarinet Archive - Posting 000808.txt from 2003/02

From: "Lelia Loban" <lelialoban@-----.net>
Subj: [kl] Rebuilding NEW clarinets.
Date: Wed, 26 Feb 2003 15:36:44 -0500

Dan Leeson wrote,
> It turned out to be cocobolo, which I understand
>is dangerous to use when making instruments
>because the dust may cause problems. But maybe
>that is an old-wive's tale.

It's no myth. I own a cocobolo recorder, which I've played for years with
no problems, although I've got a few minor allergies to other things.
However, cocobolo *dust* has strong allergy-causing properties, similar to
poison ivy (which doesn't always cause a rash the first time someone gets
exposed to it). My husband does a bit of woodworking. He took
precautions, such as wearing rubber gloves and a dust mask, but after
making several walking sticks and fountain pens out of cocobolo, he
developed the allergy, even though he is not allergy-prone. (He has no
other allergies that we're aware of, except to poison ivy.) He can use his
walking sticks, because once the wood is finished and polished, it no
longer gives off dust, but he can't work in cocobolo at all any more,
without a severe allergic reaction. He gets hay fever symptoms along with
a bad, persistent rash on any skin the dust touches. Different people are
more or less resistant to developing the allergy, but according to the
doctor who treated my husband, an allergic reaction to cocobolo dust can be
life-threatening for an asthmatic.

Lelia Loban
lelialoban@-----.net
Please note new address!

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