I'll echo John's comments on the "allergenic" factors of cocobolo. During my "health hiatus" from building, I have eliminate a few items from the shop for just those reasons...and cocobolo was one of them. I know it would occassionally give me a very minor skin irritation, but when I started to get the bronchial problems...well discretion became the better part of valor. I have read accounts where it has been mentioned that upwards of 25% of people will be affected, to some degree, by cocobolo, Therefore, any open surfaced area...fingerboards and bridges...where a hand will come it regular contact could stir up reactions. For the luthier, all phases of building with the wood will introduce both intimate contact and the production of potentially troublesome sanding dust.
So, if you think you may have had incidents involving cocobolo, take care in all future contacts with it...from one who has been there!
