Replies

1. 
   Splintie | Jan 31, 2003 11:27am | #1

   Jack, i use solvent-based lacquer finishes almost entirely over purpleheart and the other 30-or-so species i regularly use. Unless your supplier has sold you some purpleheart that keeps pitching out--i've gotten that nasty stuff delivered twice and sent it back--this finish is not a problem at all. If you oil it, it will darken sooner than if lacquered. Solvent-based poly gives good results, too, if you need more wear resistance on your table top. Sorry, i don't use water-based finishes, so if you're set on that, someone else can help. But don't be afraid to use whatever you want as purpleheart isn't finicky.  

1. 
   JackLindsey | Feb 01, 2003 10:09am | #2

   Splintie - thanks for the input. I normally use solvent base poly but was told that this would bleach out the purple color. I don't have a spray booth, and it gets too cold here to open the shop doors during winter to exhaust to fumes. I'll try my normal finish on a piece of scrap.

   Jack

1. 
   Splintie | Feb 01, 2003 10:31pm | #4

   told that this would bleach out the purple color

   Nope, won't happen. After the initial gray you see right after surface prep goes to purple in a few hours of exposure, the only thing PH will do is darken. A poster who shall remain nameless once suggested that after PH darkens, prolonged exposure to light will re-purple it, but that is erroneous as well. The only way to bring back the purple is to re-sand it. For special customers, i'll take a piece back to the shop to rework it to brighten the colors to "new".   

1. 
   JackLindsey | Feb 02, 2003 11:44am | #5

   Splintie and Curt,

   OK, now I'm a little confused. After sanding and exposure to light the wood has taken on a beautiful purple color. Can I preserve that color, and if so, how? Thanks for your time in responding.

   Jack

1. 
   UncleDunc | Feb 02, 2003 12:23pm | #6

   No, you can't. It will eventually turn brown. Some finishes may delay the change. Keeping it out of direct sun will delay the change. Once it turns brown, the only way to restore the purple color is to remove the browned layer, with sandpaper or cutting tools.

2. 
   Splintie | Feb 02, 2003 10:41pm | #7

   What Dunc said, and very well.

3. 
   JackLindsey | Feb 03, 2003 11:54am | #8

   Thanks, guys. Oh well, at least it should match the leather sofa and chair. Guess truth in advertising doesn't apply to the naming of wood. Maybe it should be called "brown heart"

   Jack

4. 
   UncleDunc | Feb 03, 2003 03:06pm | #9

   >> Guess truth in advertising doesn't apply to the naming of wood.

   You're learning. :)

   I don't remember anybody giving a time frame for the change. The purple color could very well last long enough for you to get tired of it.

   A purple table? <smacks forehead> What was I thinking?

2. 
   Upraiser | Feb 01, 2003 05:40pm | #3

   Jack

   I have used water based lacquer, it is very clear when dry. That may be the reason for the advice about solvent based finishes.

   It will darken to a rich brown when exposed to light.  If the light exposure is not the same all over, it will have purple and brown sections.

   The large surface on the table may need to be rotated to keep it even. or keep it out of the direct light.

   It should be a beautiful table.

   Curt