Finishing Purpleheart?

I am working on a knife handle now, made from Purpleheart. I have spray "sealer" from Texas knives, but I was wondering if maybe I shoudl be using something else?

As I understand it the purple-ishness of Purpleheart comes from materials in the wood oxidixing, but if I seal it right away it won't be getting much Oxy, and so won't get purple-ish.

Conversely, what about filling a plastic baggy with Oxy and keeping the knife in there to soak, will it improve the coloring? (Assuming I find some way to protect the blade.)

Also, to make sure I have the overall procedure right...

Sand to 800 grit
Seal (In this case after some airing out time)
Buff with a white compund on a buffing wheel? (This is what I'm not too sure about... I can just see gunk in the grain of the wood.)

Thanks,
Troy
 
I have read in several places that purple heart dust is toxic......I stopped using it a LONG time ago because of this.
 
Howdy There....!
I have used superglue to seal the wood after it has aired to the color you want. Use a loose wheel with white compound after the superglue coating, may have to put two or three coat to get it sealed. Will keep compound out of pores of wood.

Good Luck...!"Possum"

------------------
Thomas Clegg
 
Troy,
if you want to bring out the Deep purple color of the purple heart in a hurry heres what you can do.
Get your handle finished out to 600 grit, take a heat gun (you can use a propane torch on the LOWEST setting)
Now very slowly and carefully apply heat to the wood. your not trying to really burn the wood, just bring out the color.
after you have the color you want rubb it down with the really fine steel wool, that should shine it up, then you can seal it with what ever you want.
You have to be really careful not to over heat the wood because it can crack or warp if you do. Having said that I have done a bunch of knives like this and never had a problem.
Try it on a scrap piece of wood first .
heres the pic of handle slabs I did like this.
http://www.ckg.org/Elson/Small_Gent_Folder.jpg
hope this helps

------------------
Eric Elson

<A HREF="http://www.elsonknives.tsx.org" TARGET=_blank>
Banner_Ad_canada_11234.gif
</A><A HREF="http://www.customknifedirectory.com" TARGET=_blank>
HeaderLogo2b.jpg
</A>

[This message has been edited by EricElson (edited 05-24-2001).]

[This message has been edited by EricElson (edited 05-24-2001).]
 
I did not know air caused the purpling in purpleheart. I have tons of this stuff and more available for free. I used to make alot of pistol grips from this. My customers absolutely loved this wood. Tom I heard that the dust is toxic but wear a respirator. I never had any problems from it and when I had my pistol grip business I never wore anything. I wear one now for everything after a bought with some diamondwood dust. Now that stuff is plain nasty!!!! Cory

------------------
"I am a shootist."
Clay Allison
"Does this mean we are bladists?"
McAlpin Blades
http://www.geocities.com/mcalpinblades
 
Corey, I used Rosewood for years. It's my favorite wood. I made my wife a Rosewood table and a few knife handles and a sword sheath in a few days this winter, and developed an allergy to it. (I wore a dust mask not a respirator). I ignored it and kept using it. It kept getting worse and even after I started using a real respirator it seemed to get into my system through my eyes and skin. It came close to killing me. I stopped breathing one night while asleep and woke up with my throat completely closed. After about 30 seconds I forced some air in my lungs but was out of commission for about 2 weeks.

I still love the stuff and if I take a shower after I use it, I can get by with wearing a gas mask to protect my whole face.

Beautiful wood though!
 
McAlpin, I'm not certain that it's air that does it, but a fresh cut is kind of brown-yellow and after a while it gets that purple comming in. Chameleon wood, hehe.

Anyway, I am such a newb, don't count on anything I post being correct. ;-P

Thanks everyone for all the help! This thing is actually becoming a knife. Heheh, now to start on the next one... you bastards, ya'll got me hooked! ;-P

 
You must log in or register to reply here.
Back
Top