silly question about Wenge

[Randyt]

Hey guys, I apologize for the juvenillle question...but here it is... i have heard reference to Wenge (wood) necks that some people have had allergic reactions, Is this primarily for dust and raw products of the Wenge wood or have you heard of an individual having an allergic reaction to a completed neck?

Thanks again

Any input would be great.

 

[Jazzdogg]

Wood sensitivites shouldn't be taken lightly; although I've seen students whose reactions to various wood species were severe enough to require emergency medical treatment and hospitalization, wenge hasn't been among them (yet).

It is possible for someone to be so sensitive to unfinished wenge lumber that exposure could require medical treatment. However, wenge lumber isn't as likely to be a sensitizer as wenge sawdust.

http://www.cs.rochester.edu/u/roche/rec.wood.misc/wood.toxic

 

[bruce bennett]

I'd like to add that Wenge also has the nasty habit of splintering in rather long/large splinters, that once in your hand, they tend to cause a festering wound.. good idea to keep plenty of acohol, neosporin and bandaids 'round the shop.

 

[Jazzdogg]

I'd like to add that Wenge also has the nasty habit of splintering in rather long/large splinters, that once in your hand, they tend to cause a festering wound.. good idea to keep plenty of acohol, neosporin and bandaids 'round the shop.

+ 1

I can't imagine working wenge without a supply of CA glue (and bandaids) on hand. When routing wenge, expect splintering - even when climb-cutting.

 

[Kael]

Just curious. Have you noticed a tendency to splintering by Wenge in finished pieces? ie: After making a wenge neck, would the end user playing the instrument find splintering a problem?

 

[Nalte]

Just curious. Have you noticed a tendency to splintering by Wenge in finished pieces? ie: After making a wenge neck, would the end user playing the instrument find splintering a problem?

Ow, that would hurt! Try to slide and end up with a chunk of wood in your hand!

I doubt that would happen if the instrument were made properly.

 

[Dirk Diggler]

I will also vouch for the more painful aspects of one of my favorite woods, the splinters truly suck. And I could see the dust causing issues I always wear my mask when sanding it too.
The thing I've noticed is that Wenge really seals nicely with oil finishes, and I would imagine any protection coating would also protect the player too. I've never gotten a splinter once the oil finish is on.

Wood allergies appear to be on a person by person basis, there are some that I can feel messing with me when sanding and handling, but so far I haven't found a wood that I would consider toxic for me. As I said though most sanding I am pretty good at wearing my mask, especially when using the drum sander.

By the way your question is far from juvenile compared to some I have seen and even commented in.

Good luck,
Dirk

 

[Jazzdogg]

Just curious. Have you noticed a tendency to splintering by Wenge in finished pieces? ie: After making a wenge neck, would the end user playing the instrument find splintering a problem?

My splintering concerns don't diminish until after the pores have been filled, and the wood sealed.

It's easy to catch an edge and dislodge a splinter when machining, scraping, planing, and even when sanding.

I usually fill the pores and apply sealer after carving, sculpting, and contouring; right before final sanding.

But, if I'm working an ornery piece, whether wenge, spalted maple, crumbly burl, or mahogany with lots of interlocking grain, I'll fill the pores and seal the wood immediately after general shaping, and again before final sanding; the redundancy is time consuming, but can limit tear-out and splintering.

 

[bolophonic]

I don't know anything about wenge, but I am deathly allergic to african mahogany. I hope to heaven that I never come near any mahogany dust. I am certain it would kill me if there was enough of it. Wood allergies are no joke.

 

[IncX]

Just curious. Have you noticed a tendency to splintering by Wenge in finished pieces? ie: After making a wenge neck, would the end user playing the instrument find splintering a problem?

yes, i experienced it with my warwick darklord once.

it's a habit that i slide my bass from the neck and catch it (like cocking a shotgun or something) ... and i ended up with one of the splinters deep in my skin.

i dont do it anymore lol lesson learned

 

[Rickett Customs]

Worst case so far for me, is Cocobolo, makes me itch.....

Wenge makes me want to smoke a cigarette, due to that tobacco smell.... (I quit smoking more than 2 years ago)

 

[tjclem]

I am very lucky no wood allergies so far. Thought i had a problem once but it turned out to be a reaction to a new sunscreen.

 

[FBB Custom]

Splinters should not be a problem on a well made finished instrument. Not sure why the Warwick produced one but wenge has interlocked grain and it can lift up on planers, jointers, routers. If it lifts but does not chip out, I suppose it could remain sitting in the neck, waiting to bite you.

+1 on all the warnings. The only thing I will add is that reaction to sensitizers, if you are susceptible, will get worse with each exposure. If you get a reaction, find a way to get along without that wood.

 

[hover]

6 years with my unfinished Wenge Warmoth neck, no splinters / splintering. I love this freaking neck. I love Wenge.

 

[Yvarg]

I've done a bit of work with Wenge (mostly because it's some of what I have available lying around the shop); even made a solid, one-piece body out of it, but luckily no allergies yet for me. I've never even had the "festering splinter wound" problem; but I am very careful about getting splinters and always remove them immediately.

 

[Jazzdogg]

<SNIP>

reaction to sensitizers, if you are susceptible, will get worse with each exposure. If you get a reaction, find a way to get along without that wood.

+1

I have several friends who can no longer work with certain species (mostly dalbergias) because repeated exposure heightened their sensitivity to intolerable levels. One friend had no reaction himself, but his wife became ill after handling his clothing, which was covered with cocobolo dust.

Another friend put down a thick layer of walnut planer shavings in his horse's stall, and his horse became sick; his vet said walnut shavings are known to cause health problems in horses.

 

[Rodent]

Wenge - personally, I absolutely hate (I'm being kind in my wording choice here) working with it. I consider it worse to work with than installing unwrapped fiberglass insulation blankets in your attic and/or crawl space while wearing only a pair of speedos (note that this is purely speculative in my example)

IME Wenge is much like working with carbon fiber composite materials and is nothing more than a dedicated splinter factory, all of those splinters are brittle and shatter when you try to remove the hordes of them, and every splinter will be a pussy infection before week's end.

I prefer not to have the stuff in my shop ...

all the best,

R

 

[Jazzdogg]

C'mon, don't hold back; tell us how you really feel.

 

[Rodent]

Wenge was a big disappointment for me. I definitely wanted to work with it, but it simply would not cooperate.

maybe things will work out differently once I migrate all my neck rough shaping over to the CNC, and maybe Wenge will remain banished from my workshop. I'll at least try it on a neck or two before passing a second judgement

all the best,

R

 

[tjclem]

I have tried 2 one piece Wenge necks and failed both times. i now only use it for stringers.