Don't read this

[David Jayne]

A week into it I'm still scratching and applying lotion. She's miserable. Watch out! Even without leaves the vines are bad news.

 

[ChrisB2]

I assumed no issue because I'd cut them in the spring and thought they were dead so no problem.

Yeah, bad assumption. Urushiol oil can remain active for years in dead plants.

Good luck. This is one you'll just have to wear out...

 

[David Jayne]

Yeah, bad assumption. Urushiol oil can remain active for years in dead plants.

...

Yup, didn't have any idea. Had no clue it was in/on the vines themselves and not just the leaves. Dammit.

 

[slobake]

Sorry to hear this D.J. I hope and pray you both get better soon. My advise is apologize once and let it go. You can be a pest about begging for forgiveness. Then it becomes more about you than the person you have harmed.
BTW how did the lights come out?

 

[David Jayne]

Sorry to hear this D.J. I hope and pray you both get better soon. My advise is apologize once and let it go. You can be a pest about begging for forgiveness. Then it becomes more about you than the person you have harmed.

Oh yeah totally. I've stopped. I'll post a pic later. : D

 

[sissy kathy]

I'm 65 never had a problem with the Ivy or Oak. My mother and sister are extremely sensitive. About 10 years ago I had an incident with Sumac and am now sensitive to all three.

 

[David Jayne]

Terrible pic but you get the idea. The rightmost of the three wrapped trees is the troublemaker. The side facing away from the house has a hairy vine on it. I was on a ladder on the opposite side and didn't see it as I bearhugged the tree to reach around and grab the wire to make each wrap. So my bare forearms brushed the vine over and over again.

 

[samson3382]

Yeah, bad assumption. Urushiol oil can remain active for years in dead plants.

Good luck. This is one you'll just have to wear out...

When I got it at work I had to clean all my tools, boots, hard hat, etc. with this stuff called tecnu? I believe.
Yep here it is. No affiliation.
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Being an oil;
I was wondering, is it similar to some peppers, that get hotter when they dry out?
I wonder if the dried branches were almost letting off a dust..
Or are fresh leaves, (they almost look wet) worse?

 

[David Jayne]

From what I've gathered the leaves are the worst part in summer, but the vines and roots become more potent in winter as the plant concentrates it there to act as antifreeze. The oil can polymerize into a black resin with exposure to air and sunlight and you can sometimes see this hardened blackish substance on older vines. Believe it or not, the oil is harvested and cured to make laquer furniture in asia.. :Invalid Link Removed

 

[David Jayne]

The oil is soluble in alcohol, ether and benzine so you could use rubbing alcohol to clean tools or spray them with a can of starting fluid (careful!). Soap and water for skin.