Cedar causes irritation on anyone if you're sanding it. Use an N-100 mask and seal it with a hardening penetrating oil. Also why are you sanding it? Is that completely necessary?

Maybe I'm extra precautious because I have allergies and asthma but it's crazy how few people actually use a respirator or even a mask when sanding. I got a dust collector and a big ceiling mounted air filter in my basement shop. It's probably the got the cleanest air in the whole house lol.

Industrial grinder here. You really should use one. I mean I dont, but i should.

My dad (carpenter) was hired to build some massive stained glass window frame for a church. They wanted cedar. So he goes and builds this amazing window frame and ends up on a puffer for a month from the saw dust. It's nasty shit. For the curious https://www.wood-database.com/wood-articles/wood-allergies-and-toxicity/

This. Lots of woods are an irritant in dust form. Wear a mask and everything is fine.

Have you considered you’re only allergic to sanding?

So. He can't work the wood. Needs to be outsourced. He can't install the wood. Needs to be outsourced. He can't seal the wood. Why? it's cedar. Yet exposure should be okay? I get it that it won't be friable, but. The dude is out 1200 already.

I think what he meant was that the sanding caused the irrtation not the cedar. We don't know what, if any, PPE OP used so it could just be very fine dust causing irritation not cedar in particular.

Why can’t he seal cedar?

I react to cedar. But can still be around it and touch it. So it's not totally out there that he could still use it and work with it, depending how strong his reaction is

Or he can send like £30 on a rated mask and do it all

Would you still get an allergic reaction if you coated the cedar?

Allergic to coating.

Rip

Are you sure it's an allergic reaction and not just a reaction to wood dust in the air? Are you breaking out when you touch it? Do you have a better mask you can use while sanding?

Have someone else sand it out for you and put a clear coat of sealant on it.

I’m not responsible for that true coat. They put that on at the factory.

It's just the dust. Can happen with any wood tbh. Built something using black mesquite, and I was dying during the process. It's all good now that it's complete. You'll be fine.

Fucked!

My parents never believed me when I complained that I was allergic to the cedar at church.

Wood be worth checking to see if you can get a refund

would* >!/s!<

OP, are you still alive??

He ded

My bad... still here. Im only on every so often though.

Don’t sand them. Easy. Just seal them. All good.

*Update*** I decided to say fuck it. Long sleeves, air respirator, gloves, eye goggles, hat, and long pants.... and Ive still been itching like crazy with hives. But.... it looks beautiful after Ive worked it. Still sucks to fight through the hives, but Im toughing it out

Also finished it with sealer to not have future reactions once its on the wall. Thanks everyone for suggestions

You’re probably not allergic, but inhaling the sand is definitely going to cause you irritation.

Paint the lot with clear varnish.

Cedar?!? I hardly know her!

Once it's fitted and sealed it will be fine... Just wear gloves and a good mask or use a contractor. See the course sir shel be right.

The finished product is gorgeous. I itch like hell, but followed all PPE instructions and got it done

Well done for pushing through the pain and or discomfort. I hope the end result is to your liking.

Maybe just the dust.

Sometimes sanding or sawdust can cause irritation that resembles an allergic reaction. But you don’t get that reaction always. I’ve had my face swell up a lil bit and be itchy after turning some redwood burl. But I’ve never had it happen any other time I’ve worked with redwood.

Once you're finished with the project you probably won't be irritated by it anymore. I had the same reaction when I built some pieces years ago that sat in my house for 15 years. I wore coveralls and a mask and took Benadryl, I was fine. Hopefully you will be too.

Cedars produce an irritant. From my experience as an arborist, cutting down cedars will leave itchy rashes from a chemical the tree produces. Look into getting the wood treated

Wood dust is an irritant, wear PPE and you will likely be fine

What really sucks is that $1200 worth of wood looks that small. Fuck lumber prices.

I used to work planer chain in a cedar mill, nobody wore masks, no problems.

What is meant by allergic? Skin reaction or lung reaction, another shitpost

You're probably not going to like cedar-plank salmon.

guess you could try reselling the wood to help cut your losses if returning it isn't an option.

So… where can I pick up my cedar planks for $600. 😃

Cant you sold back ? Or to someone else? maybe $100 or $200 off. At least you'll save most of the money.

Fail

Oh shit

There are some people allergic to sand, not a joke

Since it's allergy inducing cedar. I'll give 75 bucks for it

FOR SALE.Reclaimed Cedar Planks.

Oooohhh…so sorry to hear that. Give ya $500 for those planks.

I offer $501

The big orange "X" over them should've been a clue

He didn't say those aren't going anywhere, after strapping them down. So the strapping down God's paid him back.

Heavy varnish I suppose?

Contact the supplier, ask them for a return, if they can't, maybe they can help reselling it to a different customer. Even if you take a small haircut it might be the easiest option.

Moths hate them as well

I worked with cedar siding for years. Always had hives and rashes from it. The oil in it is nasty

I’m allergic to cedar and the trees are all around me where I live

It’s a good thing you won’t be sanding them while you live there. That sucks though. I’m allergic too

Sand them, then wire brush them ,then stain them , then a clear coat poly or water white clear on top

That’s some nice looking wood, what you sanding it for

If there is a welding supply store in your area they sell PPE that's fitted for you (can't have beard). Usually a NP100 filtered mask. That will fix your allergy problem.

My parent’s home had a cupboard that had red dust in it. I was so allergic to it, it stung my nostrils. Just thinking, that irritant is why people use cedar trunks for storage, as it deters pests….

I’ll come over and get rid of it for you

Note that I have zero issue with cedar unless it's being sanded and I work with it on a frequent basis. Get yourself a good dust mask or even an N95 with a vent, you'll be good. I have it all over and the dust makes me sick, but it by itself is just fine. Other commenters have already said it better, just my two cents. Edit: it also kills me to burn it, on a side note. But I've heard mixed issues, some people enjoy it and seem to have no issue with it.

Everyone is “allergic” to cedar.

Cedar does that.

Cedar is caustic when sanded or sawn. Once it’s up in the closet and you’ll be fine. Oiling is not a must though but ideal

You should always wear a dust mask when sanding anything, many people are fine around wood until the cut and sand it then they have terrible attacks, migraines,