Tell me why I need a raw neck

[Patrick from Davis]

A lot of kinds of wood dust causes allergic reactions.  The doesn't equate to the wood itself causing allergic reactions.  There will always be someone that is an exception, but in general if they sell it, you have an extraordinarily small chance of being allergic to it.

As far as the exotics go, I like Wenge, Rosewood and Bocote.  Have not played my Ziricote neck, parts are still being waited on.  I want to try an Goncalo and a Canary neck as well.  As far as Ebony and Pau Ferro, they are nice, but I have found I like Wenge as a neck wood, and Rosewood and a fretboard material better.  Nothing against Ebony, it ain't my thing, and I would hesitate to call it the best.  That being said it is just my opinion, and that leaves more for the others that do like it.

If you are going for a maple type tone, Canary and Pau Ferro are good choices.  Remember, they won't sound exactly alike, everything has it own subtle flavor to add.
Patrick

 

[chriswest]

A lot of kinds of wood dust causes allergic reactions.  The doesn't equate to the wood itself causing allergic reactions.  There will always be someone that is an exception, but in general if they sell it, you have an extraordinarily small chance of being allergic to it.

Well, maybe I expressed it in a wrong way. I meant that dust from some wood are toxic. They contain toxic gases that common wood don't.
This is said about wenge at Wikipedia:

The dust produced when cutting or sanding wenge can cause dermatitis similar to the effects of poison ivy and is an irritant to the eyes. The dust also can cause respiratory problems and drowsiness

Warmoth also warns about Cocobolo for example.
I guess Canary and Pau Ferro are better in this regard.

 

[chriswest]

I went back.

Why?
I hope it has not to do with your signature.

 

[Super Turbo Deluxe Custom]

Ha!  Maybe something to do with my signature.  It's like saying once you try humbuckers, you won't go back to single coils, or once you try chocolate you won't go back to vanilla.  I like the sound of a maple neck, or I think I do.  While the unfinished does feel better, the finished doesn't feel horrible. I'm not done though.  Maybe some canary in my future.  But while we're on it, opinions aren't necessarily being passed off as facts, but definitely as speaking for most when it comes to raw necks and stainless steel frets.

 

[Patrick from Davis]

A lot of kinds of wood dust causes allergic reactions.  The doesn't equate to the wood itself causing allergic reactions.  There will always be someone that is an exception, but in general if they sell it, you have an extraordinarily small chance of being allergic to it.

Well, maybe I expressed it in a wrong way. I meant that dust from some wood are toxic. They contain toxic gases that common wood don't.
This is said about wenge at Wikipedia:

The dust produced when cutting or sanding wenge can cause dermatitis similar to the effects of poison ivy and is an irritant to the eyes. The dust also can cause respiratory problems and drowsiness

Warmoth also warns about Cocobolo for example.
I guess Canary and Pau Ferro are better in this regard.

I understand about not wanting to get poison ivy like effects, but it is a marginally small chance.  Several common woods also cause allergic responses, which is what all of these conditions are.  You shouldn't need to sand it.  Well, other than to slick sand finish it once, and a dust mask should keep you fine for that.
Patrick

 

[Tipperman]

It's like saying once you try humbuckers, you won't go back to single coils

Can't stand dem humboogsler tones. They're the work of the Flying Spaghetti Monster.

 

[chriswest]

I understand about not wanting to get poison ivy like effects, but it is a marginally small chance.  Several common woods also cause allergic responses, which is what all of these conditions are.  You shouldn't need to sand it.  Well, other than to slick sand finish it once, and a dust mask should keep you fine for that.
Patrick

I want to be able to modify the neck shape, and I will probably want to round the edges. On my standard thin neck the edges around the fretboard are not enough rounded.

 

[Patrick from Davis]

Okay, but I don't believe I have heard of folks on this board having trouble with wenge.  Fernando mentioned that the splinters if you have rough cut wenge were mean, but the dust has never been a point of much concern.  Let me rephrase that, the specific dust of wenge has not been of much concern, wood sanding dust should always be avoided with the proper respiratory safeguard equipment.  Beyond that, the neck itself does not cause allergic reactions on the skin.
Patrick

 

[Cagey]

Right. It's just the dust. If it gets in your lungs/sinuses/eyes, then you might develop a sensitivity to it. But, the wood itself isn't a problem.

 

[tfarny]

Wenge totally rocks by the way. Just wanted to make sure that got noted.