Thread: Purpleheart, Why?

Originally Posted by kmag

I have an escrima stick made out of purpleheart and I can tell you this. It is hard and durable but it doesn't keep it's purple color as it ages. Mine is a nondescript brown color. I don't know if it is from oxidation or sunlight so I don't know what kind of finish might maintain the color.

The short answer is both, the slightly longer answer is that sunlight can activate the oxidation. Any longer will have to wait I'm tired.

I have a couple of wading staffs made from it. I used it for it's properties and I didn't care if they ended up at the bottom of the Yakima river, which is where my third one is currently.

-G

The handle on my chef's knife is made of resin injected purpleheart. Strong as most synthetic materials and absolutely gorgeous. I would dearly love to have a straight in the material.

Originally Posted by kmag

I have an escrima stick made out of purpleheart and I can tell you this. It is hard and durable but it doesn't keep it's purple color as it ages. Mine is a nondescript brown color. I don't know if it is from oxidation or sunlight so I don't know what kind of finish might maintain the color.

Purpleheart requires a finish that has a UV barrier almost like sunscreen in order to maintain its colour.

Brock

Well, purpleheart is very easy to work, unlike say woods like olive.
I like wooden scales, partially because I have the tools to make them but also because I genuinly like wood as a material.
And I like the color purple

I love any scales made of ANY natural material, they just seem to have a type of warmth about them. Purple heart is rather easy to work and IMO it's a good looking wood. I'm personally glad that we don't all like the exact same things. If you want a challenging media, try some black palm...it's gorgeous when you manage a set of scales out of them.