Replies

1. 
   MBerger | Jul 13, 2007 02:11pm | #1

   Hi Thomas.

   Andy Rae recently tackeled a similar question in his expert folder and we made a short article out of his answer. In short, he uses a mixutre of shellac and wood dust.

   http://www.taunton.com/finewoodworking/Community/QADetail.aspx?id=28776

   Alternatively, I've had the best luck filling dings and gaps with shellac burn-in sticks. You can buy these in a multitude of colors, which can be mixed, and they are easy to apply and sand smooth.

   To tell you that truth, I've never had much luck matching colors with wood dust and glue mixtures unless they're standard browns and tans, which is not the case with purpleheart.

   Matt Berger
   Fine Woodworking

2. 
   Bob_Van_Dyke | Jul 14, 2007 04:49am | #2

   Thomas- you might also want to consider using black colored epoxy- See my answer ealier today on epoxy with Claro walnut. I have not tried to make a filler for purpleheart- but I would expect you would have a lot of problems matching because the color of purple heart changes so much as it oxidizes with age. It starts a brilliant purple and then usually mellows to a rich brown- I would not expect any glue/sawdust mixture to oxidize the same as the natural wood. If you look closely at the purple heart I am sure you will see some black spots and streaks here and there. Give it a try on some scrap.
   Bob Van Dyke