Purpleheart????

SamuraiDave

SamuraiDave

Joined
Apr 6, 2001
Messages
2,632
I have heard it is a real pain in the A** to work with. Is there anything else I need to know?

I am planning on ordering a block and making a handle for one of my kukhris (rat tail tang). Any suggestions?
 
Ignorance surely is bliss :) I hadn't heard that, so if I had any trouble with this beautiful wood the one time I used it I didn't notice. The stuff is quite hard. The only drawback I can remember is that it's so porous I had residue from the polishing compound filling the pores. You'd want to seal it (crazy glue?) before final finishing, which will also keep the air from oxidizing it and turning it brown.

Dave
 
I've used about 400 bdft and not had any problems, It's hard and somewhat brittle. It's in the rosewood family so you don't want to breath the dust. It wears well as tool handles, but not as nice as brazilian rosewood. If you use a normal woodworking finish, it it will turn brown eventualy. I thought that it was photo-sensitive, I'll have to try the superglue sugestion.

I've built mostly furniture with it, using the scrap for handles, plane soles, carving mallets, etc. and the only problems I've had were it's dencity, and toughness(and these are good things)and the grain is straight and plain and will split.

the usual care, no big deal.....Eric
 
I have used quite a bit,I think it works and sands well.Put it in sunlight after your done will help it turn a nice purple.Dave:)
 
It burns very easily if you don't use a fresh, sharp belt when shaping it. Also, if you don't wear a dust mask or ventilate your shop well it can cause severe allergic reactions. I got a few nose bleeds before I finally figured it out. I finally ran out of it and don't plan on getting any more. Purple don't look good on my knives anyway. It's much to purty :D
 
I have always had it turn brown when cutting and sanding then turn purple as it aged,does it turn brown again with more age on the handle and loose its purple color again:eek:
When ever i use the stuff nobody ever wants to buy the knife,I still have a bunch left but had quit using it,maybe i will try a show piece with this handle instead of ebony and see how it looks.
Never had any trouble with working it though,Just work it as you would any other exotic wood,slow and easy and you should be just fine.
Bruce
Here is a couple of pictures of a small dagger I did with some curly purple heart with a matching sheath,This was made about 4 years ago,before I started using much Nickel silver.
purpleheartdaggerwsheath.jpg

purpleheartdaggerfilework.jpg
 
Sorry about the big pictures here,Forgot they were so big,They were done before i knew much about working with the different programs and building the web site..
Bruce:eek:
 
I got a large supply available to me in my uncles barn. They are planks out of Freuhauf show trailers. It does burn easily if overheated and if you manhandle it it can crack easily. Very beautiful and I never was sure why everytime I used it a different color came out. I used to make custom pistol grips and I made all my grips ,in my short business time of 4 jobs, out of purpleheart and everyone was happy. I even built a pair for my pistol. Extremely dense. Maybe my supply is already oiled but I have a hell of a time getting them to take thinned down linseed oil. It does not soak in very good. I put a small piece in the oven on warm once and a syrup like substance oozed out of it. It may have been some kind of treatment they received before they became trailer floors. Cory
 
Cory,This wood is very dense and also naturaly oily,that is what causes the color if I am correct.
Thanks guys,I was just showing the wood,it is still purple to this day that is why I was wondering if after a few years it turned brown again,or is it just untreated that turns with age.I have stabilized some and it still turns purple but the pours don't fill in with buffing compound..
YES I have made more than one Ugly Knife Peter (at least in my opinion).
Bruce
 
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