Purple Heartwood advice

[TenguWoodwork]

Hey everyone,
I've read through the PH posts throughout the forum and felt my question was unique enough to warrant a new thread.
I'm almost to the finishing step in a Purple Heartwood boken (wood sword for martial arts training) and need some advice. Typically I use Tung Oil (with White Oak) because it provides moisture protection but lacks the "sticky" quality that typical finishes can cause in sweaty hands.
With that in mind, what can I use to minimize the oxidation (purple to brown) but not have the stickiness of finish/lacquer?

As always, thats for your help and advice!

 

[nn4jw]

Clear satin wipe on poly might be a good option. That's what I just used on my Moxon vise and it feels pretty good on the hand screws and should be impervious to sweaty hands. I found the satin to be smooth but not at all sticky.

 

[nn4jw]

I meant to add, the satin wipe on poly isn't slick or slippery either. Something pretty important in your application.

 

[Jeff]

That's kind of a coin toss. If you want the boken to stay purple you'll need several coats of a film finish containing uv inhibitors (like Epifanes marine spar varnish). I don't know how that'll perform in the sticky hands test. ???

http://www.wood-database.com/lumber-identification/hardwoods/purpleheart/

There's a link within the above about preventing discoloration of exotic woods.

 

[mkepke]

Purpleheart changes color in response to both UV and oxidization. Best option is to use a film finish (like lacquer or poly) and keep the piece out of the light.

But I will caution that I have never heard of a way to *completely stop* the browning process, short of resorting to purple stain

-Mark

 

[Berta]

Purpleheart changes color in response to both UV and oxidization. Best option is to use a film finish (like lacquer or poly) and keep the piece out of the light.

But I will caution that I have never heard of a way to *completely stop* the browning process, short of resorting to purple stain

-Mark

This is what I have been told also.

 

[bluedawg76]

i made some small boxes a couple of years ago w/ purple heart that have remained purple so far. I used an oil/varnish blend (blo/poly). However, I don't rub my sweaty hands on them (often), so I can't comment on that effect. For your purposes, I would not want a film finish unless they're just for show, so I'd probably just go w/ the tung oil. FWIW, indoor finishes like poly varnish, lacquer, etc. won't give much UV protection anyways. FWIW, purple heart will weep for a long time w/ an oil finish, much worse than oak or walnut IIRC, so continue to wipe the oil off periodically for the next day or so.

Sam

 

[TenguWoodwork]

Hi everyone. Thanks again for your advice. I looked around a couple of other sources and took a shot with Teak Oil. I did a double coat. It's got the right feel in my opinion, so time will tell on the "preservation factor".

 

[Berta]

Thanks for the update, let us know how quickly it browns, if at all. Didn't notice a PICTURE?