purpleheart colouring

[deano]

hi all,

i picked up some purple heart last week for a project and looked nice a bright purple but when i machined the faces its gone to a light brown, i have read in the past there are ways to bring the finished timber to a nice bright purple again

anyone done this and could advise me on the best method of getting the purple back,

thanks

 

[CNC Paul]

Leave it in daylight.

Paul

 

[Richard Findley]

Hi Deano,

As Paul says, a little daylight will bring out the shocking purple. The only problem is that a lot of daylight well eventually turn it brown again, D'Oh!!!

It's not as bad as Padauk though, that looses it's brightness a lot quicker in direct sunlight.

HTH

Richard

 

[Anonymous]

Just wait, the colour will deepen. Don't worry, build whatever you want and then let the colour sort itself out over time.

 

[zambezi]

Sorry to drag this up again...
I have just had the same thing happen to me. I will try and leave it in the daylight to see if it goes back to purple again.
Does it matter what finish you put on it? I have put shellac sanding sealer on it for tonight but was not sure what would be best?

 

[Anonymous]

Daylight makes it go brown, not purple.

The insides of boxes go the deepest purple. Keep it away from direct sunlight where it will go a muddy brown and do keep it in artificial light for the best deep purple colouring.

Been using loads of this wood for last 3 years or so and it is one of my fav woods in boxes, but one of my least fav to work with!!

 

[zambezi]

Thanks Tony. I have been working on a bowl for my other half but I am struggling with tear-out on the end grain! It is hard as nails, I seem to spend most of my time sharpening my chisels! Not a good wood for a beginner, but purple is my girlfriends favourite colour... at the moment the bowl is a lightish brown, hopefully it will turn back to purple soon.

 

[devonwoody]

Hang on to that girlfriend Sam, (my purple morning glory is a real beauty).
I use p/h a fair amount for decorative strips and the colour always returns to its former colour, left in daylight or indoors, perhaps its because I dont put the shellac on before its colour has returned.

 

[John. B]

Zambezi,
having trouble with tearout bowl turning?
Try to have a look at Jimmy Clewes DVD's/Videos. See the type of grind on his bowl gouges and how he shear scrapes, even with dry wood.
It could be your answer. :lol:

John. B

 

[zambezi]

I probably should get some instruction, read a book watch a DVD etc. It is only my second bowl, the first one turned out ok but it was sycamore (which was easy to work with).