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Any tips on purpleheart?

B

Bret Hinz

Joined
Feb 17, 2012
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Location
SW Michigan
I was at woodcraft to pick up a couple things during their big sale yesterday (and today, but was there yesterday), and picked up a 6x6x3 block of purple heart. My wife and daughter really liked it when we were there last weekend, so I thought I would turn them a bowl or platter.

I've read it does lose its color sometimes, and tips on getting the color back. I also get the feeling it's not the easiest to turn?

any tips?
 
On the turning part, it is fairly dense and hard, side grain it will cut well with a sharp tool, but will splinter down if forced, end grain, can't tell you
My understanding is there are some 15+ species of Purple Heart, some hold their color, others not. All of them will loose color with long term exposure to sunlight
 
My granddaughter is a purple girl, so I've worked with purpleheart a fair amount. I like turning it. Supposedly, if you expose the darkening, brownish piece to sunlight, it turns purple again. I haven't noticed too much change in the wood sitting in my basement shop for up to a couple years.
 
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