Camphor Wood

[William Rogers]

I bought a 2x5x5 piece of camphor wood 2 years ago at the KC Symposium. Sealed in wax. Decided to make a small ring holder today. Cut it and rough turned it. The whole shop now smells like camphor. Will this odor soak into other woods in my shop? Will the smell go away in the turned piece? About ready to put it outside.

 

[John Torchick]

Good question. Don't how it will react with other woods. Others?

 

[Paul M. Kaplowitz]

The smell will go away. I turned Camphor once and that was enough. Almost choked.

 

[Ed Davidson]

The smell should not migrate to other woods in your shop. I like to use Camphor for boxes, leaving the inside unfinished...open the box and get a nose full. The pictured Australian Camphor box was turned about 10 years ago, and still has a strong smell when the lid is popped open. Now if you're looking for a wood that will really stink up the shop, your house and the entire neighborhood, try Port Orford Cedar.

 

[hockenbery]

I turn a fair amount of camphor. It won’t affect other woods.
The smell will lesson but never go away unless the wood is finished.
Several coats of Waterlox or lacquer will seal the smell in.

I like camphor great turning and carving.

 

[Emiliano Achaval]

I hate it, can't stand the smell of it.

 

[Mike Johnson]

Piss Elm comes to mind as one of the woods in our region that definitely has the funk factor going for it. Depending on the soil these trees grow in some of these Elm trees will give off a definite hog barn odor while turning the green wood on the lathe. Nice looking wood grain but unpleasant odor when it is turned green.

 

[Bernie Hrytzak]

Piss Elm comes to mind as one of the woods in our region that definitely has the funk factor going for it. Depending on the soil these trees grow in some of these Elm trees will give off a definite hog barn odor while turning the green wood on the lathe. Nice looking wood grain but unpleasant odor when it is turned green.

Turned green elm in my early days, smell was definitely barn yard!
Several years ago, met a couple of new woodturners who invited me to visit at their new spacious shop set-up which was in a converted hog barn. I had to leave after 30 minutes due to headache. Smell was awful, but they seemed to like their environment.

 

[Brian Horais]

I turned a lidded Camphor jar over 1 1/2 years ago. I threaded the lid and did not finish the inside. Every now and then I take the lid off and get a 'hit' of the camphor aroma. It seems to be as strong as the day I turned the jar. I kind of like the smell (in small doses). It reminds me of Vicks Vapo-Rub.

 

[Charles Cadenhead]

Turned green elm in my early days, smell was definitely barn yard!
Several years ago, met a couple of new woodturners who invited me to visit at their new spacious shop set-up which was in a converted hog barn. I had to leave after 30 minutes due to headache. Smell was awful, but they seemed to like their environment.

Cedar elm stinks to high heaven. I had to pull out the respirator to cut blanks.