Replies

1. 
   Splintie | Jan 15, 2003 12:08am | #1

   Well, the purple in purpleheart is optional, as an upgrade. They didn't tell you that at the lumberyard? ;~)

   If the purple is gone from a board, you can sand or plane it and expose new cells which haven't been affected by oxidation. This new surface needs to be exposed to light to actually turn purple again. However, if exposed to too much light for too long, it goes dark again. Seems weird, huh?

   When i first make a purpleheart box and take it to a show, it won't assume its true color (and be bought!) until it's been displayed for about a day. One way i try to preserve its color is to use a topcoating film (i use lacquer) with UV inhibitors built in. An oil finish, by contrast, hastens the darkening process.

   Also, some areas produce purpleheart with outstanding fleck and bright color (i got some amazing, ribbony stuff i was told came from Venezuela, lighter in weight than usual), while other purpleheart is shot through with white streaks (silica) that customers find unattractive, and some boards are just quite a lot less attractive than others. Without seeing it, i can't tell if you got an ugly board, or you're just impatient. Plane it, set it near the window, and if it doesn't look wonderful in a few hours, it's an ugly board. 

1. 
   Upraiser | Jan 17, 2003 06:51am | #9

   The one thing that was not mentioned about Purple Heart is that it will change back to the brown, like dark Mahognay if exposed to sunlight. ( for a few years ?).

   I have a feature strip on my fireplace hearth out of Purple Heart, the area that is exposed to the sunlight is now a nice rich brown, while the part that is out of the direct sunlight is still a nice purple.

   My advise is to put some warning on the underside of the box to explain what Purple Heart is and to keep out of direct sunlight.

   BTW it has about 6 coats of lacquer (celar water based) on it, did not help at all.

   I just love the wood.

   BTW  Those that told you that it is brown when fresh cut are right, it takes just a few hours to get the purple color up.

   Curt

1. 
   Splintie | Jan 17, 2003 09:53pm | #10

   I mentioned the re-browning part, but only in passing. I have a personal jewelry box of some of the brightest, figured PH i've ever came across, but about 5 years later, even the interior has turned. Still pretty, though... 

   I do better than that with the advertising: with each item i sell, i give a sheet with a list of woods (on which i note what is in their item), other common names, origin, description, a blurb about finishing and care on the back side, and my contact info--i try to make it more interesting than a business card they can toss. I can't print contact info on the item bec some of them go to shops that would prefer not to have a customer make an end run around them. 

2. 
   Wateren | Jan 18, 2003 05:12am | #11

   Hm. Maybe it wasn't lacquer. I'll ask again.

   Does yellowheart behave the same way (colour changes with time)? Not that I know where to get yellowheart.

   Maybe a maintenance item for the work - plane back the surface every few years to a re-purplable depth. Easier on some pieces than others, I guess.

   Best, Chris

1. 
   Splintie | Jan 18, 2003 06:44am | #12

   Yellowheart will change rather quickly from its neon stage to a muddy gold--not so wonderful. I haven't found it to be very attractive to many people, whereas canarywood was quite popular...when i could still get it.

2. 
   jeffn7 | Jan 18, 2003 06:34pm | #13

   is the color stimulated primarily by oxidation or UV?

   Have you tried spar varnish rather than laquer?

   This is a good thread, I have a tansu project I am starting with purpleheart for the casework. I've not worked with this wood as of yet, so I'm very curious about finishing.

1. 
   Splintie | Jan 19, 2003 02:33am | #14

   I'm not sure which causes most of the color changes, but i figure it's a matter of both oxygen and UV light. Right after sanding or planing, you could cover half the gray portion with a piece of cloth, come back in a couple hours and already see the purple developing, so this part of the purpling process seems light-driven. I covered my purpleheart box with a scarf to maintain its color in an area of the room that sees no direct light, but it's considerably darker than when it was made, and since the inside looks as dark as the outside now, i would suspect this browning afterward is more a result of oxidation. No doubt the two effects are not wholly independent, however.

   I haven't tried spar varnish on it.

   Tansu of purpleheart...exotica layered on exotica...mmm

1. 
   jeffn7 | Jan 19, 2003 03:05am | #15

   yeah, that's what I thought. I happened to have a gorgeous piece of quilted maple that I could resaw and use for the drawer fronts and small doors, I've been saving this piece of wood for over a year waiting for the right project to use it on. It seemed that I really couldn't do justice to this piece of natures art without going with something outrageous on the casework. My local supplier has a great selection of purpleheart in wide enough boards that I won't need to do any glueups, a nice bonus. I'll sample a couple of finishing options on scraps of purpleheart, but I'll probably dye and shellac the maple to make the most of the figure.

   another interesting piece of this project is the drawer side... I was going to use alder, but I scored a great deal on some bass wood, so this will be another first for me.

2. 
   UncleDunc | Jan 15, 2003 12:55am | #2

   What evidence do you have that the wood you have is purple heart?

1. 
   MStehelin | Jan 15, 2003 02:30am | #3

   bought it from a wood dealer. It was purple till I planed it.

   Mitt

1. 
   rreeger | Jan 15, 2003 03:48am | #4

   Sounds kinda like that movie, Braveheart.  I have watched it through at least four times and I have yet to see one Indian in it.    :-)

   RR

2. 
   UncleDunc | Jan 15, 2003 03:56am | #5

   If Splintie's suggestion works, you're back in business. If not, I think you got jobbed.

3. 
   Wateren | Jan 17, 2003 05:10am | #6

   Mitt, Don't get stressed. This happened to me yesterday, trimming wedges - shave off with plane or chisel and wood beneath appears brown. Still, definitely purpleheart. Turns purploe with time & light (or maybe oxygen - not sure). The nice people at the hardwood shop here have told me it continues to darken & will fade to black if not stopped. They said, when it reaches the purpleness and depth of colour you want, seal it with lacquer (I think).

   Best,

   Chris

1. 
   Jimma | Jan 17, 2003 05:22am | #7

   Same thing happened to me with canary wood. Now, where did that thing go....

2. 
   Splintie | Jan 17, 2003 06:08am | #8

   I lacquer my stuff even while it's still gray, and it will still turn purple.