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Thread: Mackay cedar

  1. #1
    Join Date
    Oct 2003
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    Kempsey NSW
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    Default Mackay cedar

    Today I turned two chisel handles from mackay cedar and now my lungs are burning a little.
    I've not used it before and have had no trouble before with any other timbers.
    Does anyone know if this is a common result of using this timber? I knew black bean is nasty but was unaware that mckay cedar was as well.
    Cheers
    Jim

    "I see dumb peope!"

  2. #2
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    Apr 2006
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    I helped the Brother in law make a bar out of it a couple of years ago, horrible stuff it was.

    Made our noses run and throat sore, sore eyes. I dont care if I never use it again.

  3. #3
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    Yep, much the same as blackbean, pretty rough on nose and throat.
    Andy Mac
    Change is inevitable, growth is optional.

  4. #4
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    Aug 2003
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    Brisbane - South
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    16

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    AKA Pencil Cedar

    Contains carcinogens & irritants that affect most people in some way.
    I've seen a bloke who was working on a cabinet with a profile router end up bleeding form his nose & eyes.

    I've only used a bit, making panel gauges out of it, & it didn't affect me much
    Cheers

    Major Panic

  5. #5
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    May 2006
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    Cowra - Central West NSW
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    yep,
    it's the only timber that i've found that makes my nose really itchy!!!


    It's like cutting onions, lots of air flow! dusty, and mask to boot!
    Steven Thomas


  6. #6
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    Sep 2002
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    Minbun, FNQ, Australia
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    Quote Originally Posted by Caliban View Post
    Today I turned two chisel handles from mackay cedar and now .....
    I chucked a couple of slabs of it on the floor & left them there in the sawdust for a while.
    Termites (Whiteants) came into my shed, ate there way through everything except the Mackay cedar, they used it like a hot tin roof... tunneled under it in the sawdust & preferred to stay next to the concrete rather than the Mackay cedar.

    The moral of this story is.... Try turning some concrete without a good dust mask.
    Cliff.
    If you find a post of mine that is missing a pic that you'd like to see, let me know & I'll see if I can find a copy.

  7. #7
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    Mount Colah, Sydney
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    I have been turning some Australian Cedar, and have also found that this is quite irritating. I have a bit of Mackay as well, but haven't got around to turning it yet, so will feed back then.

    One for TTIT, are the species related?

    regards
    Alastair

  8. #8
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    Canberra
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    I built a boat which had some western red cedar. The guy who cut it to size had worked with small bits of it, on and off, for years. About two years after building he realised that it was affecting him badly and he couldn't work with it anymore. It got to the stage that even entering the room with some, even in rough dressed form that had been sitting for years, he immediately started reacting to whatever it was putting into the air. The idea of actually cutting some up left him shaking. Same problem, I understand, with Australian red cedar. Answer - effective dust collection, room air filter or outside, and personal respirator. IMHO, if you haven't got all three, then leave cedar alone.

    Rob
    (who has 3 cube of it waiting for time and projects. Got the DC and respirator, but I'll probably work outside and away from the house when I get to cutting)

  9. #9
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    Quote Originally Posted by Alastair View Post
    One for TTIT, are the species related?

    regards
    Not sure without hitting the books but I don't think they are related at all - 'cedar' gets thrown around pretty badly as a timber name. I read somewhere that Mackay Cedar (AKA Red Sirus - albizia toona) allegedly has the highest incidence of allergic reaction of any aussie timber. Cos' I've never reacted to any timber at all, I haven't tackled any Mackay (yet!) - no point ruining a flawless record (but if somebody was to offer me some..... )
    .
    Updated 8th of February 2024

  10. #10
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    Mackay Cedar Albizia toona ARF
    Mackay Cedar Paraserianthes toona QUT

    Red Cedar Toona australis WIA
    Also classified Toona Ciliata

    Stopped being lazy, and went and did some Googling.

    Would not seem to be related botanically, except for irritant nature, and similarity in name.

    regards
    Alastair

  11. #11
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    So the bottom line is I'm going to die from yesterday's episode, but not for a few years and probably slowly and painfully.
    Cheers
    Jim

    "I see dumb peope!"

  12. #12
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    Quote Originally Posted by Caliban View Post
    So the bottom line is I'm going to die from yesterday's episode, but not for a few years and probably slowly and painfully.
    Love to see a bloke with a positive attitude
    .
    Updated 8th of February 2024

  13. #13
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    Minbun, FNQ, Australia
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    Quote Originally Posted by mcarthur View Post
    I built a boat which had some western red cedar. .....)
    Quote Originally Posted by Alastair View Post
    Mackay Cedar Albizia toona ARF
    Mackay Cedar Paraserianthes toona QUT

    Red Cedar Toona australis WIA
    Also classified Toona Ciliata

    Stopped being lazy, and went and did some Googling.

    Would not seem to be related botanically, except for irritant nature, and similarity in name.

    regards
    Just in case somebody gets confused..... western red cedar & Red Cedar Toona australis are not the same.
    Cliff.
    If you find a post of mine that is missing a pic that you'd like to see, let me know & I'll see if I can find a copy.

  14. #14
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    Dec 2004
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    Toowoomba Q 4350
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    Default

    Yeah, Western red cedar and I don't get along at all, but I'm hoping Aussie red cedar will be different, I'm just still a tad shy of working with it yet

  15. #15
    Join Date
    Jan 2004
    Location
    Mackay Qld
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    11

    Default Mackay Cedar health hazard

    Hi guys
    A few years back I met an old chap who worked a saw mill that cut mostly Mackay Cedar.
    The old bloke said he ran the mill with three of his brothers.

    He told me that they are all dead of cancer and he had it too when I met him. We were waiting for our respective appointments with the doctor and it came out in the conversation.

    If the burning like pepper does not tell you something maybe the above story might.

    I refuse to have anything to do with it, and neither will many locals.

    Grahame

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