Purpleheart

[Daibach]

I'm making a jewellry box for my granddaughter from purpleheart.
It's a little tough to work (especially for a beginner hand-planner) but looks gorgeous.
When I scrape the faces, the wood underneath is brown, not purple.
Does it revert to purple after exposure to the air?
What's the best finish to use on it?

Thanks for the forum's help (again).

[Uncle Cracker]

Purpleheart will usually "purple up" when exposed to sunlight.

[Popeye]

It will return to purple in a day or two. Faster if you put it in direct sunlight, I've even heard it works to bake it but I've never been pressed for time enough to try it. It will eventually turn back from purple to brown if left where it sunlight (UV) rays can get to it. Try and keep the finished piece away from the sun. Waterbased finishes and finishes with UV inhibitors are supposed to prolong the purple color. I used waterbased poly on a piece for my daughter three, maybe four years ago and she's always keep it away from the sun and it's still bright purple. Good luck, Pat

[Pappy]

If you route profiles on the edges, make sure youkeep the router moving and and make light passes. Purpleheart burns easily and it is hard to sand back out.

[Daibach]

Purpleheart

Thanks for the tips; I appreciate the information.

Sorry for the delay in saying so, but I was over in Vancouver getting some essentials from Lee Valley; oh...and visiting some relatives.

[Daibach]

Update on the Purpleheart

Yes, the brown does turn to purple after exposure to sunlight.

And if you leave the pieces randomly piled in front of the window while away making a Lee Valley run, you get some interesting patterns on them!

Hope the colouring evens out before I'm ready to finish the jewellry box or there's more cabinet-scraping practice in my future.