Walnut Dust

[Buckskinn]

My brother mentioned to me that dust from walnut wood is an allergen and is a sensitizer, meaning the more exposed you are to it the more likely you will develop a reaction to it. Do you guys use any PPE or have a dust filter system?

 

[FishDFly]

No

 

[LME]

My brother mentioned to me that dust from walnut wood is an allergen and is a sensitizer, meaning the more exposed you are to it the more likely you will develop a reaction to it. Do you guys use any PPE or have a dust filter system?

I worked in my shop sanding a box made of Walnut and neglected to use my mask. I had terrible respiratory problems for a week. I now grab my mask and put it on every time i pick up any wood.Wear a mask if you want to avoid being congested and have a hard time breathing.

 

[Metalshaper]

having asthma and now long hauling after covid.. ANY wood dust is an allergen!!

Respect Always
Metalshaper/Jonathan

 

[Phil Coffins]

I did a lot of work with walnut from paragraphing stocks to finial finish. Did this work most every day for four years and found my hands had a slight tint in the callous areas. It didn’t bother my breathing but being wiser now I would use a mask when using power tools like routers or such. It has its traits but it’s not a nasty wood. Some people are more affected and they should listen to their body.

 

[rchas]

Cedar dust causes me more trouble than walnut. I use a dust mask when sanding.

 

[Cherrybow]

I wear a mask only when using power sanders on any wood. Walnut is a bit more toxic than many other woods especially the fine dust.

 

[James Beardsley]

I always wear a mask and have a fan blowing away from me. An old luthier friend of mine told me dust from some of the exotic woods they use in high end guitars can put you in the hospital. I think he said ebony and cocabola were bad ones. I also mask up when I'm shaping a recoil pad.

 

[Are. M.]

Yes. I was a smoker for several years and any sanding done without the pink 3m filters brings back that old smokers cough. I also built myself a $25 dust filtration system out of a box fan and some taped-on, sto-bought filters. MERV5 for the intake and MERV11 "allergy reduction filter" for the exhaust. Seems to help collect a good bit of dust especially when I'm sanding and finishing multiple projects.

 

[Ames]

Ebony perhaps. But after 40 years++ remodeling homes there not a lot I wasn't already inhaling weekly. Walnut wasn't going to make me reach for the mask.

 

[Rudyard]

Used enough never bothered' me any . Did have a friend who's dog suffererd reaction to walnut dust.
I knew an hornscale cutter sawed lots of horn I asked him did it bother him. He replied "No it just made soup" he was 90 and still working. But pearl was the killer it has hooks that stick.
Rudyard

 

[deerstalkert]

before covid got me nothing bothered. now i have to use a mask with any sanding.
age and foreign sickness is bugger all!

 

[Ames]

Forgot Mother of pearl. That one I used a mask for. It can kill you.

 

[DOUBLEDEUCE 1]

Working with walnut stocks several years ago stained my hands purple. i couldn’t wash it off, and it took several days to disappear. I did wear a mask while working on it though.

 

[godutch]

'Depends on recipient of the dust as is evident by all the above posts. Black Walnut is a heavy tannin wood. A lot of plants won't grow under a Black walnut with all that tannin leaching out of the nut husks leaching out into the ground. It never really bothered me, but I don't like it either. 'Makes my nose burn a bit and I don't care for the smell either. If you've got a sensitive shnoz mask up 'Love the wood though.

 

[tenngun]

Anytime you put a fine dust in the air it’s hard on you. I don’t wear a mask because I don’t do that much. It’s a good idea if your regularly exposed to even the dust from any filing or sanding, even a lot of baking

 

[sheriff john]

Older gentleman here retired and went to making custom pistol grips. Cocobella (sp) put him in the hospital - as he was highly allergic to it. Quit the grip making altogether.

 

[mushka]

I live in a very dusty area of the country and it settles on everything in my garage where I do most of my hobby working. Also I have all kind of power saws and sanders. I usually vacuum the floor but have to use a compressor to blow dust, etc, off the upper parts, the garage gets a cloud in it. It makes sense to mask up. Usually takes a couple of compressor uses and vacuuming between them to get the place mostly dust free. Usually a couple of weeks between this endeavor. Without a mask I'll hack for a day and noxious looking materials are expelled while blowing nose. Mask wearing while working around any kind of visible dust keeps me mostly comfortable.

 

[Steve Martin]

I have asthma and always wear a mask (sometimes I STILL have problems for a couple days), be smart and wear a mask.

 

[Buckskinn]

Yeah, I started wearing one now. Interesting thing is I never really noticed, but I was cleaning my bench up today and my sinuses started acting up and my throat got scratchy. Don't know if it's in my head or I just started noticing because I was thinking about it...

Mushka, you should get a Milwaukee 18v blower or the likes for your garage. I open up the doors on a windy day and blow everything outside. Works great!