doublegunshop.com - home Forums General Discussion DoubleGun BBS @ doublegunshop.com Walnut dust

I have been working on this black walnut gunstock and I am now down to the finish, fine detail sanding. I don't know how the rest of you do it, but the dust will absolutely wreck my sinuses for about 2 days. I mean, I am sick from it. I did not use a mask, but I will next time I feel well enough to work on it. I would sand an area and then so I could see details of my work, I would use the shop vac to get the dust. I didn't want to blow the fine dust through out the shop, that is why I vacuumed instead of blowing on the wood. I guess next time I should do it outside with the wind behind me. I am just sick from the dust of it.

Walnut dust can be toxic to some people and the shavings are toxic to some animals. There is some kind of "poison" in walnut dust and you should always use a mask. I have been using and cutting walnut for 40 years and always sand outside or have the fan blowing and a mask on. My father never seemed to mind it and would stand there with the dust from his slack belt sander all over the place and never seem to be bothered. I couldn't even come in the shop.

Buy or build a downdraft sanding table. I tried to attach a link to a Shop Fox version, but it won't work - just Google it.

I have the same problem and built my own downdraft table years ago. It keeps the shop nice and clean also (or at least cleaner than it would be with all the sanding dust).

Thanks all, I am headed to the work bench now. Any sanding will be with a mask on and outside. The cold air is better than the way I feel from that dust.

Sanding dust can be very toxic to many people. Use dust collector, a dust mask and protect yourself. If you become sensitive it only gets worse if you do not take a few precautions. I known people to end up in the hospital from a little sanding dust or exposure to CA, (super Glue) fumes. CA is commonly used as a finish on lathe turned pens and poor ventilation can lead to extreme sensitivity problems.

Perhaps a sinus flush may help relieve your current discomfort?

Walnut dust is irratating. The girl across the road was getting wood chips for her horses and the vet happened to be there and told her that walnut shavings can be harmful to horses. Somehow if the walnut dust gets wet they can absorb it through their hooves.

The worse stuff that I have experienced is Paduak, a beautiful orange color.

Years ago, when making white cedar duck decoys, I developed the same sort of allergy to cedar dust and shavings

It's oak dust that will kill you.

We were told by a OSHA safety instructer that wood dust is a carcinagin. That's enough reason to where a mask for me.