Purpleheart finish question

[happycat]

Does anybody have any info or suggestions on finishing purpleheart so that it actually looks purple? Mine seems to change from purple to light brown as I work it. Not sure how to catch it at its best. Any suggestions?
Thanks,
Ed

 

[Kalindras]

It seems like you may be getting it too hot, especially if you're buffing it.

Purpleheart gets darker and darker as it ages, until, in some cases (I have a purpleheart tanto-bokken that is about twelve years old) you get to an almost grape-like purple.

I don't know that there's any artificial way to speed that process. If there is, though, I feel certain that somebody HERE will know it! Good luck!

 

[DC KNIVES]

I use it quite often.Put it outside in the sun or by a window in the sunlight.Leave it all day and it will help make it a darker purple.Dave

 

[Jerry Hossom]

Dave's got it right. Just zap it with some UV light and it will get purple again. The brown is the natural color before it oxidizes.

I refinished someone's handle a few years ago, and as I was working on it, sanding away, I notice the purple was gone! Since it wasn't my knife I was really in a sweat. I stuck it under a fluorescent light overnight and the purple came back - so did my breathing!

 

[happycat]

Thanks guys! I'm breathing easier allready!
Ed

 

[Bruce Evans]

Just watch the dust in teh shop turn everything purple as it is so small it oxidizes faster.
If a man wouldn't have told me that it turned brown when cut then colors with age I would have been sweating my first piece also.
Good Luck,
Bruce