Purple heart wood is a rare wood with mechanical properties that fall between those of Greenheart and Oak. Known for its exceptional resistance to impact, it is highly valued by enthusiasts and craftsmen who often use this dense hardwood for small-scale projects.
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What is special about purple heart wood?
Despite being famous for its deep, rich purple tones, Purple heart wood is also one of the toughest woods in the world. It is recognized for its remarkable stiffness and hardness, with an impressive strength-to-weight ratio.
Below are some special identifying characteristics of purple heart wood:
Color/Appearance: When first cut, the heartwood of Purple heart wood appears as a dull grayish or purplish brown. However, after a few days of exposure, the wood transforms into a deeper eggplant purple. Over time and with continued exposure to UV light, the color gradually shifts to a dark brown with a subtle purple hue. To slow down and minimize this color change, applying a UV-inhibiting finish is recommended.
Grain/Texture: Purple heart wood typically has a straight grain, though it can sometimes exhibit a wavy or irregular pattern. The wood features a medium texture and possesses a good natural luster, enhancing its visual appeal.
Rot Resistance: Purple heart wood is highly durable and offers strong resistance to decay and most insect attacks. However, it is susceptible to damage from marine borers, which can be a concern in certain environments.
Workability: Purple heart wood can be challenging to work with due to its tendency to exude a gummy resin when overheated by dull tools or high cutter speeds. This resin can clog tools and complicate the machining process. Additionally, depending on the grain orientation, planing purple heart wood can result in tearout. The wood also has a moderate dulling effect on cutting tools.
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Odor: The odor of purple heart wood varies by species. While most species lack a characteristic smell, some can emit a pungent scent.
Allergies/Toxicity: Though severe reactions are rare, purple heart wood is considered a sensitizer. The most common reactions include eye and skin irritation, as well as nausea. For more detailed information, refer to resources on wood allergies and wood dust safety.
Pricing/Availability: Purple heart wood is widely available as lumber in various widths and thicknesses, with prices ranging from low to medium for an imported hardwood.
Sustainability: Purple heart wood is not listed in the CITES Appendices, but its sustainability can vary due to the grouping of many species under this name. While some commonly harvested species like Peltogyne mexicana, P. paniculata, and P. venosa are not on the IUCN Red List, others like P. chrysopis and P. gracilipes are listed as endangered due to their limited and fragmented habitats.
Common Uses: Purple heart wood is commonly used for inlays, accent pieces, flooring, furniture, boatbuilding, heavy construction, and various specialty wood items.
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What is purple Heart wood used for
Purple heart wood is prized for its use in fine inlay work, particularly in musical instruments and guitar fretboards (though less commonly). It is also favored in woodturning, cabinetry, flooring, and furniture due to its strength, durability, and striking purple color. Purple heart wood wood is valued for its strength, durability, and unique coloration, making it suitable for a variety of applications, including:
- Inlays and Accent Pieces: Its striking purple color makes it popular for decorative inlays, accents, and small specialty items like jewelry boxes, picture frames, and musical instruments.
- Flooring: Due to its hardness and durability, purple heart wood is often used for high-end flooring, providing a unique and vibrant aesthetic.
- Furniture: It is commonly used to craft fine furniture, particularly for pieces where its rich color can be showcased.
- Boatbuilding: The wood's resistance to decay and marine borers makes it suitable for use in boatbuilding, particularly for parts that will be exposed to water.
- Heavy Construction: In regions where it is more readily available, purple heart wood is sometimes used in heavy construction due to its strength and durability.
- Specialty Wood Items: Items like cutting boards, tool handles, and carvings are also made from purple heart wood due to its toughness and visual appeal.
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Why is purple heart wood so expensive?
Purple heart wood wood is expensive for several reasons:
- Source and Availability: Purple heart wood comes from the rainforests of Central and South America. Logging in these regions is often restricted to protect the environment, and sustainable harvesting practices are necessary to prevent over-exploitation. This limited availability drives up the price.
- Transportation Costs: The cost of transporting Purple heart wood from remote rainforest regions to markets around the world is high. This includes the expenses associated with logging, processing, and shipping the wood internationally.
- Workability Challenges: Purple heart wood is known for being difficult to work with due to its hardness and tendency to exude gummy resin when overheated. This makes the machining process more complicated and increases the cost of labor and tools.
- High Demand for Unique Aesthetics: The wood’s distinctive deep purple color and durability make it highly desirable for specialty projects, such as fine furniture, inlays, and flooring. The demand for these unique qualities contributes to its higher price.
These factors combined make Purple heart wood wood more expensive compared to other hardwoods.
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Is purple Heart wood harder than oak?
Purple heart wood wood is indeed harder than oak. It is approximately 36% harder than white oak, making it one of the harder wood species available. This hardness makes it an excellent choice for applications where durability is essential, such as flooring. Purple heart wood is also roughly 2% harder than pecan or hickory, and it ranks close to 84% of santos mahogany's hardness, which is known for its exceptional toughness.
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In this article, Vinawood team aim to help you gain a better understanding of purple heartwood. Vinawood hope that the above article has assisted you in deciding whether purple heart wood is the right choice for your project. Please check our website for the latest Vietnam plywood news. Also, if you are considering purchasing Vietnam plywood, visit Vinawood’s website for more detailed informations.
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