Montserrat Posted March 14, 2016 Report Share Posted March 14, 2016 Bought a piece of purple heart at the hardwood store. 2 feet by 1 foot. Now I am loath to cut into it. It needs to be something spectacular. Any ideas? Suggestions? Maybe a big bowl? Gimme ideas and keep'em coming. Please! Scrolling Steve 1 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
amazingkevin Posted March 14, 2016 Report Share Posted March 14, 2016 Bought a piece of purple heart at the hardwood store. 2 feet by 1 foot. Now I am loath to cut into it. It needs to be something spectacular. Any ideas? Suggestions? Maybe a big bowl? Gimme ideas and keep'em coming. Please! Anything you like! ;) ;) ;) Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Montserrat Posted March 14, 2016 Author Report Share Posted March 14, 2016 Great idea, Kevin! I will take it under advisement. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
dgman Posted March 14, 2016 Report Share Posted March 14, 2016 You didn't say what thickness. Purpleheart is another dense and hard wood. 3/4" will be almost as tough as Wenge, and burn marks will show. Use tape ( blue painters tape or clear packing tape ) on both sides of the board. Use a larger blade size, with a slower saw speed. High tension. Let the blade do the cutting. Try not to apply lateral pressure on the blade. With all these precautions, you should do good on the cutting. As far as what to make, anything you want! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
lawson56 Posted March 14, 2016 Report Share Posted March 14, 2016 Never used Purple Heart.I have heard its a hard wood. Perhaps a Purple Heart plaque,but the choice is yours,there are so many wonderful things to cut. Enjoy Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
DWSUDEKUM Posted March 14, 2016 Report Share Posted March 14, 2016 Purple Heart is a very dense wood and is and will burn easily if your blade is the least bit dull and you do not take the precautions that Dan mentioned. Purple Heart will darken over time when exposed to light and for your design consideration you have to take that into consideration. If you are going to make a bowl perhaps using the purple heart as an accent color with something like say hard maple, another hard dense wood but one light in color. I do not know what tools you have or the size of the piece of wood you have however I have seen things like a 2x4 turned into a ukulele, so you are only limited by your imagination and skills. I am looking forward to seeing what you come up with. DW Scrolling Steve 1 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Bpardue Posted March 14, 2016 Report Share Posted March 14, 2016 I use purple heart all the time in intarsia - works great for added color. But like Dan said it is a dense hardwood that can be difficult to work Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
WayneMahler Posted March 14, 2016 Report Share Posted March 14, 2016 Anytime I use purple heart it is used as an accent. Like stated before, hard, dense and burns easily. As for a project, Try a small box of Maple and use the purple heart to accent it. The colors together look really great once finished. I have also used it in a frame the same way, same outstanding results. Take your time cutting it and follow the other tips above. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Montserrat Posted March 14, 2016 Author Report Share Posted March 14, 2016 Thanks guys! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
bandaideman Posted March 14, 2016 Report Share Posted March 14, 2016 I have used Purple heart and as mentioned dense use slow speed and let the blade cut use the tape and go for it. I used one piece about maybe 6x10 inches for a wedding gift to my youngest daughter and her new husband with names and date with man and women in the cut as well and flowers. I have a smaller piece left from that and I made my father a Purple Heart medal for him on the desk he has 2 of his own earned in WWII. He was pleased and did not know there was that type of wood. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Lucky2 Posted March 15, 2016 Report Share Posted March 15, 2016 Monti, just because you have it, doesn't mean that you need to use it right away. You could save it, for when you have a good use for it. Len Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
orangeman Posted March 15, 2016 Report Share Posted March 15, 2016 The only blade I have found that will cut 3/4" purpleheart into puzzles is the Pegas Modified Geometry blade. I usually use the #5 blade. bb Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Montserrat Posted March 17, 2016 Author Report Share Posted March 17, 2016 that's my favorite blade at the moment.... will try it for sure! Thanks Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Ron Johnson Posted March 17, 2016 Report Share Posted March 17, 2016 I use Purple Heart (¼") thickness mainly for inlayiing and marquetry work. As to what to cut I would give thought. You'll know when the right subject comes to mind. I've attached a couple examples as ideas. Jim Finn and Dave Monk 2 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Montserrat Posted March 17, 2016 Author Report Share Posted March 17, 2016 Wow! So beautiful! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
DeenaKay Posted March 24, 2016 Report Share Posted March 24, 2016 So glad you asked this question. My son-in-law gave me a thick board of purple heart for my birthday. It is beautiful, and these suggestions will help me too. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Montserrat Posted May 6, 2016 Author Report Share Posted May 6, 2016 This was months in the making - but here we are: WigWag Workshop, DeenaKay and Jim Finn 3 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
bandaideman Posted May 6, 2016 Report Share Posted May 6, 2016 That is nice. Having cut Purple heart and understand the time involved. That is quite a bowl and cutting i am sure was difficult without burning problems. Well done WigWag Workshop 1 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
WigWag Workshop Posted May 7, 2016 Report Share Posted May 7, 2016 2016-05-06 16.31.40.jpg2016-05-06 16.32.01.jpg2016-05-06 16.32.45.jpgThis was months in the making - but here we are: Absolutely Beautiful!!! I love the Heart woods, great for Intarsia Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
rjones Posted May 8, 2016 Report Share Posted May 8, 2016 What an awesome use for purple heart your bowl looks great Jim Finn 1 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Montserrat Posted May 9, 2016 Author Report Share Posted May 9, 2016 Thank you guys! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
scrollerpete Posted May 9, 2016 Report Share Posted May 9, 2016 (edited) Here is a pic of the bowl that I made using purple heart. Heart shape for Valentine day Edited May 9, 2016 by scrollerpete Dave Monk and Montserrat 2 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Scrappile Posted May 9, 2016 Report Share Posted May 9, 2016 I made several "Tongue Drum" using Purple heart as the top piece because is created a beautiful sound. Here is a picture of the only one I have left. Made several years ago. I finished it with Tongue Oil and the Purple heart turned a pretty "Cranberry red". Over the years it has faded some, but still a pretty color. DeenaKay 1 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Montserrat Posted May 10, 2016 Author Report Share Posted May 10, 2016 Here is a pic of the bowl that I made using purple heart. Heart shape for Valentine day Gorgeous! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Montserrat Posted May 10, 2016 Author Report Share Posted May 10, 2016 I made several "Tongue Drum" using Purple heart as the top piece because is created a beautiful sound. Here is a picture of the only one I have left. Made several years ago. I finished it with Tongue Oil and the Purple heart turned a pretty "Cranberry red". Over the years it has faded some, but still a pretty color. IMG_2806.jpgIMG_2807.jpg Never heard of a tongue drum, sounds intriguing! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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