Purpleheart finish question

happycat

happycat

Joined
Jun 21, 1999
Messages
752
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
 
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!
 
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:)
 
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! :)
 
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
 
You must log in or register to reply here.
Back
Top