Nathan Forsythe Posted August 11, 2014 Report Share Posted August 11, 2014 I recently turned a Purple Heart bowl and don't know how I should finish it. I want to keep the deep purple color I have right now but I also like what it looks like with no finish. So is there an option that will save the color but keep that close to the wood feel? Thanks in advance. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
..Kev Posted August 11, 2014 Report Share Posted August 11, 2014 Lots of options here I'm afraid. Judging from your description, I would try General Finishes Salad Bowl Finish.. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Nathan Forsythe Posted August 11, 2014 Author Report Share Posted August 11, 2014 This bowl isn't going to be used and from using that product in the past I'm not a huge fan. What I mean is that the bowl already has a sheen to it and every project I've used salad bowl finish on has turned out with a sort of "satiny" look to it. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
..Kev Posted August 11, 2014 Report Share Posted August 11, 2014 Nearly any finish you put on it is going to effect the look. To me, that finish leaves the wood the most unchanged which is the look you said you were trying for. With all that said, purple heart with darken and brown over time. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
wdwerker Posted August 11, 2014 Report Share Posted August 11, 2014 If all you want to do is protect it and make the color last, providing you don't use it for food, try Armor-All car tire spray. It has UV inhibitors to slow down the purple oxidizing to a dark brown. If you work out a way to be able to put it back on the lathe in the future you can re-sand and bring the color back. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest Posted August 12, 2014 Report Share Posted August 12, 2014 I made a picture frame out of purpleheart about a year ago and sprayed it with lacquer from a rattle can. I am assuming it is nitro lacquer but the labels are not very clear on those cans. In any case, it did not change the look much when I sprayed it, just made it a little more vibrant and it has not darkened much, if at all, over the past year. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
wtnhighlander Posted August 12, 2014 Report Share Posted August 12, 2014 The speed at which it darkens depends a lot on UV exposure, but probably a bit on oxidation as well. Sealing with lacquer would help slow the oxidation, maybe it blocks UV also? Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
phinds Posted August 12, 2014 Report Share Posted August 12, 2014 Wax finishes will have the least affect on the current color but will do nothing to inhibit color change due to UV exposure. Actually, over the very long run, NOTHING will inhibit that change (other than hiding it in a dark closet). Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
wdwerker Posted August 12, 2014 Report Share Posted August 12, 2014 Anyone planning on investing a lot of time and effort into a project using purpleheart should visit " phinds" hobbithouse wood page ! He has some great info, documentation and good photographs of what will happen to the color. I made a box out of purpleheart years ago and the mitered corners came out terribly gapped so it has sat on the shelf unfinished and darkened considerably. It's still a dark rich purple but take the enevitable change in consideration when you use purpleheart. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
weithman5 Posted August 12, 2014 Report Share Posted August 12, 2014 i don't know about anyone else, but o phinds site, the turned purple heart "buttons" looked awesome at 9 years. i love that color. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
phinds Posted August 12, 2014 Report Share Posted August 12, 2014 Here's my own favorite purpleheart project. I made this as a gift for a Jewish friend quite a few years ago. I'd love to know what the purpleheart looks like now but he and I lost track of each other so I'll likely never know. I hope it hasn't darkened as much as the "buttons" on my purpleheart page since unlike weithman5 I don't care for the really dark color. 1 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Nathan Forsythe Posted August 12, 2014 Author Report Share Posted August 12, 2014 So it seems like the color is going to change at some point whether it's 1 year or 10 years so if I'm happy with it now maybe I'll leave it unfinished and let it age how it chooses. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
..Kev Posted August 12, 2014 Report Share Posted August 12, 2014 So it seems like the color is going to change at some point whether it's 1 year or 10 years so if I'm happy with it now maybe I'll leave it unfinished and let it age how it chooses. That would certainly be an option. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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