stebblingur Posted December 12, 2011 Share Posted December 12, 2011 Today I decided to try to make my own charcoal, there was a lot of smoke in the process, and after about 2 hours my lower eyelids were really swollen, so i put a cold towel on my face for a few minutes, and they got a bit better. It got a bit annoying working with only half sight so I don't want this happening again. Have any of you guys had this problem? Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
CurlyGeorge Posted December 12, 2011 Share Posted December 12, 2011 I've not had that problem. But my suggestion would be to stand UPwind. :)Sorry, just couldn't resist. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
dablacksmith Posted December 12, 2011 Share Posted December 12, 2011 never figured it worth the time to make my own charcoal .....even with free wood the work is more than what i can buy coke for.... Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
ThomasPowers Posted December 12, 2011 Share Posted December 12, 2011 No my eyes water a lot if exposed to smoke but I have not have problems with them swelling. When I use charcoal I tend to make it in a raised firepit downwind of the forge so I don't have to be around the smoke except for when I move a shovelful of hot coals from the firepit to the forge. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
pete46 Posted December 13, 2011 Share Posted December 13, 2011 Where you use'n scrap lumber? It's often treated W/ some nasty stuff. Be Carefull! Good luck. Pete. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
son_of_bluegrass Posted December 13, 2011 Share Posted December 13, 2011 I wonder if you have (or have developed) an allergy to one of the woods you were charing. Or maybe there was something nasty in the pile (Dad got exposed to poison ivy that way once.) ron Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Drewed Posted December 13, 2011 Share Posted December 13, 2011 I'm no doctor ( although, I play one in my wood shed....) But swollen lower eye lids sounds like clogged tear ducts. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Elemental Metal Creations Posted December 13, 2011 Share Posted December 13, 2011 My wife has this problem when she gets around to much smoke, a good OTC allergy medicine might help. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
pkrankow Posted December 13, 2011 Share Posted December 13, 2011 Got any known allergies? Were any of the wood you were using on that list? If it was raw wood (as opposed to lumber) were there trash materials like poison ivy in there? Best practice is to put poison ivy trash in a mold pile or a hot compost pile until it is unidentifiable dirt. Yes, I have a compost bin full of poison ivy... I expect it to be dirt by spring. Phil Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Don A Posted December 13, 2011 Share Posted December 13, 2011 My daughter got fogged by some poison ivy smoke a couple years ago. Though normally beautiful, she was quite hideous looking for a day or two. Had to take steroids to combat the swelling. Be careful and stay upwind! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
mcostello Posted December 13, 2011 Share Posted December 13, 2011 And some of us just chuck it in the wood stove with no problem. Ultimate revenge! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
tomhw Posted December 14, 2011 Share Posted December 14, 2011 Stebblingur, here are two things may help you avoid smoke: 1. Install a properly functioning chimney. If your forge is outdoors put up a moveable wind brake also. 2. Master fire control technique. Be sure that the charcoal has no uncharred wood. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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