Anyone with info on Surian Cedar

[Mal Buchanan]

Hi,

I have been using surian cedar (kalantas cedar, limpaga, New Guinea Cedar) - botanical name is Toona calantas syn. - for wood turning. I am tring to find out some information regarding the safe use of this timber, in regards to how dangerous is the dust if inhaled.
Regards,

Mal

[bitingmidge]

Mal,

I've used it a bit as trim in boats and things, and it doesn't appear to be too nasty from a user perspective, BUT I treat all wood dust as toxic.

I always wear a respirator when turning, and always have the dusty running very close to the object when I'm sanding on the lathe.

Breathing even the most innocuous wood dust isn't smart!

Nice to see someone from "up the hill"!

Cheers,

P

[Alastair]

Australian Cedar, (Toona Australis), is one of the few timbers I find difficult to work with, so I would certainly proceed with caition. There was a thread recently about Mackay Cedar, which went into some detail.

[Jedo_03]

Hi
here... all the info - EXCEPT toxicity...
http://www2.dpi.qld.gov.au/hardwoodsqld/13219.html
cheers
Jedo

[Tony Hunt]

Bootle (Wood in Australia) also has nothing to say about toxicity. However, since it's in the same botanical genus (Toona) it would be reasonable (although not necessarily right!) to assume it has similar toxic properties to Australian red cedar Toona australis. In other words, be careful because inhaling the dust may cause a variety of both temporary and permanent health effects, including things like allergies and asthma, in some people (people seem to vary in their sensitivity).

[Jedo_03]

western red cedar is mentioned here in a bit detail...
and some others too
as well as detailed precautions re timber toxicity...
http://oak.arch.utas.edu.au/tbia/vie...?articleID=316
Jedo

[Caliban]

I'm the one who started that post on Mackay cedar. I will never use it again. I still have irritated airways after about a month. Now if I cut red cedar it upsets me whereas it never did before I used the mackay cedar. I suppose I'm sensitised to the Toonis family now. I call it Toonis Carcinogenis cause that's how I feel.
I Don't know if this irritation is permanent but I certainly hope not.
Be very careful.