Purple Heart

BOTANIC NAME: Peltogyne pubelcens.

COMMON NAMES: Purpleheart, Amaranth.

ORIGIN: Central America.

DESCRIPTION: Density 880 kg/m3. When freshly cut the heartwood of Purpleheart is a  dull greyish/purplish brown. Upon exposure, the wood becomes a deeper eggplant purple. With further age and exposure to UV light, the wood becomes a dark brown with a hint of purple.

RECOMMENDATIONS: If the wood is heated with dull tools, or if cutter speeds are too high, Purpleheart will exude a gummy resin that can clog tools and complicate the machining process. Depending on the grain orientation, can be difficult to plane without tear out. Purpleheart also has a moderate dulling effect on cutters.

DRYING: Drying speed varies from normal to slow. Risk of deformation

USES: Musical instruments, furniture. It has excellent strength properties, and can be used in applications where strength is important.