What do you do with Purple Heart? - Woodworking Talk

Sawduster · 02-22-2009, 12:57 PM

I just found out that I have a piece of Purple Heart that's about 2" x 3" x 48". I thought it was walnut because of it's purplish cast until I ran it through the jointer. I think anything made of all Purple Heart would be about as pretty as a bucket of angle worms. I really can't think of a use for the stuff. I understand that it turns brown in time.

Tony B · 02-22-2009, 01:19 PM

I have built a lot of furniture with purple heart and oak combined. An office I did in purple heart and oak got me a lot of commissioned work. Lots of people like it.
In your case, the piece is only big enough for accent purposes. Cut it into 1/8" strips. The old addage applies "If you can't hide a joint - accent it".
In the attached photo, I had some padouk left over from a job and it was not wide enough to make a plate. If I joined 2 pieces together it would be noticable. So, I added an oak pinstripe in the middle. It accented the joint, made my piece wider and gave me a not so boring platter.

Rob · 02-22-2009, 01:27 PM

These folks thought it was good looking stuff.

I use it quite often for accent pieces, inlays, handles, etc.

Tony B · 02-22-2009, 01:34 PM

Most people I know get hooked on Purple Heart. I just dont like working with it, but it is beautiful stuff.
For those not familiar with working with purple heart, it is very heavy and tends to give you lots of small splinters. Sometimes it will chip up slightly when planed and sands slowly. But, man, it is beautiful.

Rob · 02-22-2009, 01:40 PM

Nive work Rob
...and to you, sir.
That mantle weighed in at 150 lbs. It is heavy stuff.

b00kemdano · 02-22-2009, 03:02 PM

I love purple heart like I love caramel. It's fantastic in limited quantity and with something else. I wouldn't just eat a big wad of caramel! :P

Likewise, I'm not sure that I would want purple heart furniture, but furniture accented with purple heart would be great! Small jewelry boxes, inlays, etc - love it.

I worked with it once in small quantity, and found that it was very hard. I had a tough time cutting it without getting blade burns. Make sure your tools are sharp. On the plus side - it's so hard that you can sand it to a high shine if you go all the way to 1000 or 2000 grit paper or higher.

Sawduster · 02-22-2009, 03:13 PM

Well I just glued up a 1/2" strip of it between two pieces of mesquite for the top of a jewelry box.

Tony B · 02-22-2009, 03:57 PM

Now you know what to do with it.
LOL
Normally when I have scraps that will be less than 1 1/2" wide, I immediately cut them into 1/8 strips. It gets the small piece out of my wood rack and puts it into a separate bin I have just for pin stripes.

Sawduster · 02-22-2009, 04:09 PM

Great idea! I have two 4 x8 wood racks but it seems like I'm always looking around for a place to stash particularly pretty or interesting pieces of wood. I wonder if anyone has any ideas for a rack for that purpose. What immediately comes to my mind is a trough of 4" pvc.

AZ Termite · 02-22-2009, 04:35 PM

Dave, With PH you will have to let it sit for a couple of days to allow the color to come back after cutting it. Also when you go to finish it I would recommend that you use lacquer. That is all I use when working with it. I have made three memorial boxes out of it for veteran's that have passed on. All three were eligible to receive Purple Hearts from the military and would not take them because they felt they were not worthy to receive them. Each story is a little different but in a nutshell about the same. If you look in my album under projects you will see the latest one that is unfinished. I will post when done. There is all kinds of things that you can do with PH but it is tricky to work with.

steve mackay · 02-22-2009, 06:17 PM

The blocks I found in a dumpster are smaller than your's and I pondered the same question. Seemed a shame for even a small amount to be wasted. Still working out the desgin for a "hot-dog" handle / tote but I've got the block to seat into the body after a week of "fitting".

djonesax · 02-22-2009, 07:26 PM

Ive used it in cutting boards

JMendez035 · 02-22-2009, 09:54 PM

turn a mallet out of it... thats what i did

Rob · 02-22-2009, 10:58 PM

Purpleheart does make a nice gavel. I did this for the local Masons a few months ago.
If memory serves, purpleheart is widespread in Brazil. They use it like we use 2x lumber. It's used for outdoor steps, diving boards and thresholds as it's very rot resistant.
I never found too much problem working with it except it does tend to burn easily on a rip cut and does go back to looking almost like walnut over time.

WayneM · 02-22-2009, 11:22 PM

I just used a piece of purple-heart for an intarsia rose for a wall organizer.
I also made two roses from yellow-heart for it too.
It does get darker with age to a deep purple and is really nice.

Nate1778 · 02-23-2009, 10:41 AM

I am going to start on a couple of these, I have about the same kind of piece and was going to integrate it into the design. I believe the plans were free in "Shopsmith"

http://www.woodcraft.com/EnhancedIma...meCode=149411D

Wood4Fun · 02-23-2009, 12:10 PM

purple heart and maple. looks more brown in the photo that in reality

steve mackay · 02-23-2009, 01:41 PM

Rob : That IS crazy cool ! LOVE the case !

Rob · 02-23-2009, 02:05 PM

Thanks Steve. They wanted this thing to go to and from different lodges, so I made a cheap case to hold it. The lid was faced with some veneer scrap. Purpleheart splines also on the box miters.

horseleft · 02-23-2009, 02:29 PM

Hi Sawduster,
Just making a trinket box (6 X 3 X 1 3/4H) out of a small piece of purple heart. The bottom and lid are wormholed Jesmo.
Love the projects above.
Ian