New Computer Desk

[Yorkie]

Drifting off the topic of Colins new computer desk, there’s an informative report on wood dust hazards (including Western Red Cedar) at this link:

http://www.woodbin.com/misc/wood_dust_toxicity.htm

To quote from the report:

All woods should be considered potentially toxic but some woods are more toxic than others. For example, hypersensitivity reaction leading to asthma has been reported as a result of exposure to Western red cedar, Cedar of Lebanon, oak, mahogany, and redwood. Western red cedar is a particularly allergenic species that has achieved a certain measure of notoriety in the North American wood products industry. It has been estimated that at least five percent of forest industry workers in British Columbia exposed to Western red cedar dust are allergic to it.

Dermatitis caused by exposure to wood dusts is common, and as many as 300 species of trees - hardwoods and softwoods - have been implicated in wood-caused dermatitis. And it's not just imports or exotic woods but domestic species as well. NIOSH considers both hard and soft wood dust to be potentially carcinogenic but there is some evidence to indicate a greater risk of certain types of cancer related to hardwood dust exposure. For example, NIOSH states that certain species of hardwood including oak, mahogany, beech, walnut, birch, elm, and ash have been reported to cause nasal cancer in woodworkers.

End quote.

Many woodturners shy away from Laburnum, spalted beech, and particularly iroko, which isn’t a very interesting timber for woodturning anyway, but takes a reasonable finish. (See attached 5" bowl I turned in Iroko). The spalting to which beech is susceptible is a form of fungal attack and is said to be carcinogenic, yet it isn’t uncommon to see such things as fruit bowls and platters turned from Spalted beech.

Drifting further off topic, I mentioned that Simon Hope was to demonstrate at our woodturning club on Tuesday night, as indeed he did – an excellent evening. (I came to know Simon through buying a lathe from him some years ago). He demonstrated a vacuum chuck, and rather than the risk of a workpiece coming off the chuck, if the vacuum is too great, there is a risk that a thin-walled bowl or such like could collapse inwards, so the vaccum must be adjusted according to the particular task that it has to perform. The major expense is of course the cost of the vacuum pump.

Simon is one of the youngest turners to have been admitted to the Register of Professional Turners when he was 26. He’s right at the top of his game, and anything he makes and adds to his gallery quickly finds a read market, as will be seen on his website. He has designed and markets a range of high quality woodturning tools, including a vacuum chuck. He demonstrates all over the country and runs course from his home:

http://www.hopewoodturning.co.uk/index.html

some years ago designed the ‘Simon Hope’ sanding ball for sanding the inside of hollow forms:

http://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/Woodturning-Sa...0641169545

He also makes very high quality ‘smallpipes’ a type of bagpipes but more melodious (IMHO!) and similar to Northumbrian pipes. Whether or not one likes the sound they make, the craftsmanship is a joy to behold. All main drones and stocks are made from Pink Ivory - the rarest commercial timber in the world. Chanters are made from African Blackwood with a pink ivory mount. The main stock has a solid silver hallmarked ferrule. The drones are brass lined and dressed with African Blackwood and polished stainless steel.

Simon also casts jewellery grade pewter which features in some of his creations.

http://www.hopepipes.co.uk/first.html

The standard attained by some members of our club are extremely high and far exceed my capabilities. This week, one member, who is a country music singer who makes all his own guitars, brought his latest effort – a banjo that he’s made. It took him five weeks, and as well as all the woodwork, he rolled and brazed the metal ring that holds the skin in place, and had it chrome plated. He inlaid his name ‘BERNIE’ at the top of the fretboard, made the fretboard himself but had the abalone scrollwork inlaid by laser. I’ve attached some pics. He spends much of the summer in Spain playing country music around the clubs and teaching line dancing. He's a regular on the club scene in East Yorks. An all round great guy, and very modest in his achievements.

Country music isn’t to everyone’s taste, but what’s not to like about a guy who makes his own instruments, and plays and sings easy listening music like this?

http://www.countryuk.karoo.net/

Now’t wrong with that is there?