Replies

1. 
   UncleDunc | Dec 06, 2003 01:27am | #1

   Do a search for purpleheart. (Advanced Search button near the top of the left hand frame or retarded Search button near the bottom.) We had this same discussion a few months ago.

2. 
   ChasStanford | Dec 06, 2003 03:30am | #2

   Lacquer.

3. 
   VeniciaL | Dec 06, 2003 05:37am | #3

   Cawood,

   Nothing you do will prevent the wood from eventually turning a rather uniform dark brown/maroon. You can slow down the process with one finish vs another, but ultimately, the color will change.

   Products with additives, advertised to retard the darkening of such woods as padauk and purpleheart appear from time to time. They are snake oil. Like wood movement with mositure change, darkening of these woods can't be prevented.

   The development of the dyes/pigments in woods such as teak and cocobolo when exposed to light and oxygen are a boon. But with others such as padauk and purpleheart, the brilliant color that appears with the freshly-exposed wood is a fleeting beauty.

   VL

4. 
   VeniciaL | Dec 06, 2003 09:26pm | #4

   Cawood,

   Here is something you might do to keep the "fresh" look of the wood. If the piece is in your possession, you could refinish it when necessary. I assume the shallow tray is more ornamental than functional?

   Finish it with just one or two thin applications of a wiping varnish, lacquer or a padding lacquer (which is really blond shellac). Such a finish should look beautiful on the wood. In time, when the color has deepened beyond your liking, remove the finish, using a grade of sandpaper one more coarse than you originally finished with (maybe use alcohol first on the shellac to remove some of that), then end with the finer grade and reapply the finish. Shouldn't take more than a few minutes to do this once every few years - depending on how fast the color darkens.

   VL