Get famous!

Lark Books, a publisher of woodworking books, is soliciting photos of bowls or boxes to be included in two books they are developing. The names of the books (oddly enough) are "500 Bowls" and "500 Boxes". There's more detail and entry forms on their web site: www.larkbooks.com

Safety recalls

Hitachi Koki USA. 7¼? Circular Saws Models C7SB2, C7BD2 with serial #?s beginning with C62, C72, C82, C92, C02, CN2. Call 800/706-7337. Lower blade guard can stick in open position.

Sears. Router Model 315.17510 with date codes A0304 or lower. Call 800/932-3188. ON switch could stick open.

Makita USA. Electric Orbit Sanders Model BO5000 and BO5001. Sander pads could break apart.

Reaction to wood dust

• 2 to 5% of all people develop allergic sensitivity to wood.
• Western Red Cedar and Rosewood are especially bothersome.
• Black Locust, Cocobolo, Ebony, Oleander, Satinwood, Sequoia, Yew can cause a rash and are called irritants.
• Sensitizer wood can also cause a rash which looks like a poison ivy rash. They include Cypress, Balsam Fir, Beech, Birch, Elm, Mahogany, Maple, Myrtle, Redwood, Sassafras, Spruce, Walnut, Willow, Western Red Cedar and Teak.
• Then there are molds. A very bad mold called Cryptostroma Corticale lives between bark and sapwood in many hard woods especially favoring Maple and Birch. This is the stuff that spalts wood. One can get a severe respiratory allergy.
• Aspirin that?s not a wood but if you are allergic to aspirin then be wary of Willow and Birch which have high concentrations of salicylic acid which is also in aspirin. Only a whiff can cause a severe reaction.

However, there is hope! Work in a well ventilated area. Use dust collectors at the source of the dust. Wear a dust mask or better yet get a power visor?.or?.take up underwater basket weaving!