Purple Heart Color

[steve-norrell]

OK, I know that I should know this, but the old brain gets confused when dealing with lots of details. Perhaps some of you who are immune to 'senior moments', or who don't yet experience them, could answer a few questions.

Does purple heart turn purple after being cut, when exposed to daylight or ultra-violet light? Or, should it be purple when cut, turning brown with age or after exposure? (The stuff I have is brown when freshly cut, but I think I was told it should be purple and you have to use a UV-inhibiting finish to prevent, or delay, a color change.)

How long should I expect it to be before I begin to notice a color change?

Does 'butcher block' or 'cutting board' finish containing carnauba wax and beeswax have UV inhibitors that will affect color change?

Thanks for your help, regards, Steve

[Mr__Bill]

Appearance
Generally straight grained, sometimes interlocked, with a fine even texture. Creamy white sapwood and vibrant purple heartwood that turns to dark-purplish brown with exposure to light.

So you may have some purple heart that never was and never will be purple. Bummer. Hope I'm wrong.


Bill,

[LCHIEN]

when first cut its a bright purple but after exposure to light for a while will turn purple-brownish over time.

[phrog]

when first cut its a bright purple but after exposure to light for a while will turn purple-brownish over time.

Can you prevent or lessen this color change in any way?
Richard

[billwmeyer]

Phrog,

I have never used purpleheart (yet), but from what I have been told the only way to lessen it is use a finish with a UV inhibitor and keep it out of direct sunlight.

Bill