Purple Heart Question

Cheez Dawg

Cheez Dawg

Flawed Perfectionist
Silver Member
I noticed that when purple heart is cut, it loses much of the deep purple color. Then after it sits for a while, the color brightens right up.
My question is what causes this, and generally, how long does it take for the color to brighten up after cutting?
Is there anything that can be done to speed up the process?
I appreciate any input I can get.
Thanx!!:D
 
The wood oxidizes when exposed to air for a while. I have cut then finished a couple pieces to see what happens and they turned purple again after a few weeks. I can't tell you if they would hvae ended up darker if I would have waited. I will do a side by side test from the same piece of wood next time I am spraying to see the time diffrence. Chris.
 
Purple Heart Color

Please find below an excerpt from an article on why PH changes color.

"Heat appeared to be a significant factor based on the response of the wood to friction heat. Chemists in the 1930's investigated the extracts of Purpleheart and reported that at 240?C the compound, Peltogynol, decomposed. A color change was noted at 200?C (392?F) as well, but no specifics of chemical identity where given. This preliminary report serves as the starting point for the investigation. Samples of Purpleheart were subjected to temperatures of 350?F, 425?F,450?F, and 500?F for 10 minutes. As the temperatures were raised color change became more rapid and darker. At 500?F (260?C) the wood becomes almost black with purple tones, there is also burning smell generated. At 450?F (232?C) the purple color becomes dark, but no burning smell in observed. This is consistent withthe hypothesis that the colored compound in decomposing above 240?C (464?F) as stated in the old chemical literature. A consistent interpretation of these observations is that the initial compound, peltogynol, undergoes a reaction to become a deep purple compound, which decomposes at temperatures above 240?C (464?F.) The nature of the purple complex is unclear at this point."

If I remember correctly this topic was discussed here a year or so ago.

Bob Flynn/Denali Pool Cues
 
QMAKER said:
If I remember correctly this topic was discussed here a year or so ago.

Bob Flynn/Denali Pool Cues
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You're right Bob. I believe it might have been Brent that said he put some in the oven and achieved some good results.

Gene
 
Cuedog said:
You're right Bob. I believe it might have been Brent that said he put some in the oven and achieved some good results.

Gene
Click to expand...
yes it was me
i did it with some ph rings though
havent tried a whole cue :rolleyes:
just for the hell of it, i have a 2" diameter pc of ph that is a very light purple
i'll sacrifice this piece, put it in the oven and see the change
i'll take some before & after pics
and i'll slice off a chunk to see if it changes color thru out the piece, not just the surface
might be interesting to see how the heat effects the straightness too :eek:
 
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very interesting

this piece of ph was a very light purple
now, it's been hanging for a couple years
it had darkened up quite a bit in that time
but, look at the change now
i cut 2" off the end , to see if it darkened inside as well as the surface
what do you think?
hit me up for the "recipe" ;)
phtest.jpg
 
What was the temp and time used? The info above was indicating that above 464 F the compound breaks down, but at lower temps some more desirable results could be achieved. This one looks extra crispy. :D

and thanks for taking the time to conduct the experiment.
 
Mr Hoppe said:
What was the temp and time used? The info above was indicating that above 464 F the compound breaks down, but at lower temps some more desirable results could be achieved. This one looks extra crispy. :D

and thanks for taking the time to conduct the experiment.
Click to expand...
like they always say, oven temps times may vary :D
400 degrees for one hour
i'd be more inclined to drop to 200-250 degrees for a few hours than what i did here today
i'll almost bet it will be the same result without subjecting the wood to that brutal heat
 
BHQ said:
like they always say, oven temps times may vary :D
400 degrees for one hour
i'd be more inclined to drop to 200-250 degrees for a few hours than what i did here today
i'll almost bet it will be the same result without subjecting the wood to that brutal heat
Click to expand...

AND.... You can put some pre-soaked tips in at the same time

Dale<energy conservationist at large>
 
pdcue said:
AND.... You can put some pre-soaked tips in at the same time

Dale<energy conservationist at large>
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and a meatloaf???? you coming for dinner?
 
Cheez Dawg said:
Thanks for al the replies and a good laugh!!
You guys crack me up!!:D
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us crazy gringos :D
have you got your purpleheart in the oven?
don't forget to set the timer ;)
 
Thanks Brent for the purpleheart 'sacrifice' It will be helpful in the future. Your wife lets you do that kind of stuff? That's cool, my girlfriend went ballistic when she saw a piece of maple burl in the microwave once. Now I only do that stuff when she's gone out.:D
How did the straightness end up?
 
BHQ said:
yes it was me
i did it with some ph rings though
havent tried a whole cue :rolleyes:
just for the hell of it, i have a 2" diameter pc of ph that is a very light purple
i'll sacrifice this piece, put it in the oven and see the change
i'll take some before & after pics
and i'll slice off a chunk to see if it changes color thru out the piece, not just the surface
might be interesting to see how the heat effects the straightness too :eek:
Click to expand...

Fortunately, you didn't burn this like the way you did those pizza. :D
 
Dave38 said:
Thanks Brent for the purpleheart 'sacrifice' It will be helpful in the future. Your wife lets you do that kind of stuff? That's cool, my girlfriend went ballistic when she saw a piece of maple burl in the microwave once. Now I only do that stuff when she's gone out.:D
How did the straightness end up?
Click to expand...
let me??? LOL
i just do, then take the wrath
still straight (as of now)
i'll take a few passes on it to see if color changed deeper below the surface, pretty sure it did, judging by the end i cut off
 
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