Is there any wood that will poison me?

[Scuba Pete]

I was wondering should I avoid particular types of wood when making an eating stick

I am in the UK

Pete

 

[Marts]

Don't use Yew then

 

[led]

...or Laburnum.

 

[Stuart]

dont use Yew, Laburnum or Rhododendron

 

[Nemisis]

Turning this around a little are are there certain woods that suit different foods better than others for flavours they impart etc?
Dave.

 

[torjusg]

Resinous woods like pine should be avoided. It can make your food taste quite bad. Juniper on the other hand can give your food an extra good flavour.

Torjus Gaaren

 

[PhilParry]

dont use Yew, Laburnum or Rhododendron

Is Rhododendron poisoness then?!? :bluThinki

Phil

 

[led]

Sycamore is a good wood as it's pale, doesn't taint and is easy to carve. It was traditionally used for dairy/kitchen goods.

 

[pibbleb]

Someone on here told me not to use Yew so I avoid it as they know best. Having said that one of Ray's books suggests Yew as a wood for making spoons and bowls.

I'm aware parts of the yew are poisonious so I'd probably say best avoided!

I could have said all that in a couple of words oh well!

Pib

 

[Stuart]

Is Rhododendron poisoness then?!? :bluThinki

Phil

yes Rhododendron is poisonous

 

[Cyclingrelf]

There are lots of woods that give a lovely smoke, so flavour meat/fish beautifully:

Alder
Fruit trees such as apple
Juniper
Oak
Hickory

And that's all I can remember off the top of my head...

 

[pteron]

What about Hawthorn?

 

[led]

re Hawthorn: Nice orangey wood, non poisonous, but not the easiest wood to carve from what I recall.

 

[Scuba Pete]

Thanks for the info.

Are there any good websites that I can use to ID the trees? I know the basics but there are many I dont know. A pocket book would be good. Or something for my pda.

Pete

 

[pteron]

re Hawthorn: Nice orangey wood, non poisonous, but not the easiest wood to carve from what I recall.

Thanks for that, we have loads around us, also Blackthorn (great for Sloe in in the Autumn ) - is it safe too?

 

[pibbleb]

There was this thread about tree books, hope it helps.

http://www.bushcraftuk.com/community/showthread.php?t=12687

Pib

 

[typha]

I have been told that some prunus species contain prunasin which converts into hydrocyanic acid in contact with water ,some are said to be hazardous e.g. cherry laurel.
I don't know whether sloe or blackthorn (prunus spinosa) contains enough to be hazardous I would think it's probably safe to use as long as it's seasoned wood.