How to finish purple heart wood. Before applying the finish put your project in the sun for a few hours. Ive come to the conclusion that the type of finish probably doesnt matter as much as the amount of sunlight exp. Can de difficult to work with. Ive googled til i cant google anymore.
The best way to keep the color from what i understand is to use lacquer finish and keep it out of direct sunlight. It could well be uv that causes this but for sure it is some sort of oxidation that takes place in some cases it can be caused by exposure to air. Woodcraft of spokane 14764 views. Lacquer based finished will preserve purplehearts purple color.
Colin replied the topic. Purpleheart must be run very slowly through the machines. As for the oxidation issues of the purple heart you can apply hals hindered amine light stabilizers to the bare wood which will greatly help the oxidation of the purple chromaphores naturally found in fresh worked purple heart or other exotics. Tip for finishing purple heart.
Yes its a very hard and durable wood so youll see it in virtually any kind of project. Cutters must be very sharp or they can burn the wood. This color change takes much longer than the change to purple so consider uv blockers in your finish or just keep it out of direct sunlight and the color should stay stable for a long time. The wood is purple which darkens in time through oxidation.
This will make the color more intense. Dont use waterbase finishes to finish purpleheart. Best finish for purple heart purple heart like most woods darken over time. The bold vivid and natural color of purple heart wood is always a favorite among woodworkers.
Over time the wood does darken some to a dark brown and others just to a darker purple. 50 videos play all mix purpleheart wood shellac polishing to a mirror like finish tongue drum part 3 of 3 youtube rejuvinating purpleheart duration. The colorant that turns purple is highly sensitive to ph and waterbase finishes are bases. Color changes to a rich brown as the wood matures.
Purple heart is an exotic and imported hardwood that is strong and resilient and has a uniform fine to medium texture. Tends to blunt cutters. And ive found many different opinions on the best way to finish purple heart in order to maintain the purple color for the longest period of time. The grain is usually straight but can be irregular.