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Clicking any heading in the main data area (at right) will scroll the page back to this top position. Use the following links to jump to the associated section in the main data. Blunting Effect Boring Comments Common Names Common Uses Countries of Distribution Cutting Resistance Distribution Overview Drying Defects Ease of Drying Environmental Profile Family Name Gluing Grain Heartwood Color Kiln Drying Rate Kiln Schedules Luster Mortising Moulding Movement in Service Nailing Natural Durability Numerical Data Odor Planing Polishing Product Sources References Regions of Distribution Resistance to Impregnation Resistance to Splitting Response to Hand Tools Routing & Recessing Sanding Sapwood Color Scientific Name Screwing Staining Steam Bending Strength Properties Synonyms Texture Trade Name Tree Identification Tree Size Turning Varnishing Veneering Qualities Scientific Name Peltogyne paniculata Trade Name Purpleheart Family Name Leguminosae Synonyms Peltogyne paniculata Common Names Algarrobito, Algarrobo, Amarante, Amaranth, Amarantholz, Barabu, Bois bagot, Bois de coeur, Bois pourpre, Bois puorpre, Bois violet, Daba, Dachitan, Ellongrypho, Guarabu, Guarabu branc, Guarabu preto, Guarabu rajado, Guarabu roxo, Guarabussu, Guarado vermelho, Hoepelhout, Koeroeboerelli, Kooroobooelli, Koorooboovelli, Koroboreli, Koroborelli, Kuroburelli, Kuruburelli, Lastan, Legno amaranto, Legno porpora, Legno violetto, Madera purpurea, Malako, Marado, Marako, Marawineroo, Morado, Moriadiana, Mu, Nazareno, Palo concha, Palo morado, Palo violeta, Pao rojo, Pao roxo, Pau ferro, Pau roxo, Pinyaukun, Poerprehati, Pourpre, Puperhart, Purperhart, Purpleheart, Purplewood, Purpuurhart, Rajado, Rarabu, Sacka, Sackaballi, Saka, Sakavalli, Sapater, Simirirang, Tananeo, Tangapaou, Tannaneo, Violet wood, Violetholz, Violetwood, Zapatero, Zeedrat Regions of Distribution Central America, Latin America, Oceania and S.E. Asia Countries of Distribution  [VIEW MAP] Bolivia, Brazil, Colombia, Columbia, French Guiana, Guyana, Mexico, Suriname, Venezuela Common Uses Agricultural implements, Bedroom suites, Billiard-cue butts, Boat building (general), Boat building, Boat building: decking, Boat building: framing, Bridge beams, Bridge construction, Bridge joists, Building construction, Building materials, Cabinetmaking, Canoes, Carvings, Chairs, Construction, Decks, Decorative veneer, Dining-room furniture, Docks, Dockwork, Domestic flooring, Door, Factory construction, Figured veneer, Fine furniture, Flooring, Furniture , Furniture components, Furniture squares or stock, Furniture, Handles, Harbor work, Heavy construction, Interior construction, Joinery (external): ground contact, Joinery, Light construction, Living-room suites, Marine construction, Marquetry, Millwork, Mine timbers, Moldings, Musical instruments, Office furniture, Paneling, Parquet flooring, Piling, Poles, Railroad ties, Shafts/Handles, Shipbuilding, Skis, Sporting Goods, Stair rails, Stairworks, Structural work, Tables , Tables, Tool handles, Turnery, Vats, Vehicle parts, Veneer: decorative, Walking sticks, Wharf construction, Wheel spokes, Wheels Environmental Profile Status within its natural growth range has not been officially assessed Distribution Overview The name Purpleheart is the trade of timber produced by about 20 species in the genus Peltogyne, including P. paniculata, which are found in Central America and tropical South America, from Mexico to southern Brazil. They are most common in the Amazon basin, and also grow in Colombia, Guyana, Surinam, and Venezuela Heartwood Color Brown Black Green/grey Yellow Red Orange Purple Dark brown Brown Greenish to greyish Red The heartwood is dull-brown when freshly cut, but it changes rapidly to the vivid and well known purple color. Prolonged exposure to ultra-violet rays of the sun tones down the color to a medium or dark purple-brown. Recutting is reported to restore the wood to its original color Sapwood Color White Yellow White to yellow Well defined Pale red when freshly cut, but ages to a rich red color Not always clearly differentiated from the heartwood Different than heartwood Becomes bright red, coral pink with dark streaks, purplish-brown, or black with age It is usually about 2 to 4 inches (5 to 10 cm) wide in the mature tree Grain Straight Interlocked Figure Wavy Stripe (figure) Closed Even Distinct (figure) Straight Interlocked Wavy Striped figure Distinct figure The grain is typically straight. Material with slightly irregular grain exhibits a particularly interesting grain pattern on quartersawn surfaces. Texture Medium Fine Fine to medium Fine Medium Fair to medium coarse Luster Lustrous Dull Pronounced Medium Natural Durability Very durable Resistant to termites Resistant to marine borers Susceptible to insect attack Resistant to powder post beetles Very durable Resistant to attack from termites (Isoptera) Durable Susceptible to marine borer attack Moderately resistant to termite (Isoptera) attack Susceptible to attack from termites (Isoptera) Susceptible to attack from powder post (Lyctid & Bostrychid) beetles Highly resistant to decay The timber is prone to blue-stain, has high resistance to acids and is usually used in the untreated condition Odor No specific smell or taste Kiln Schedules Dry at a slow speed UK=E US=T6D2/T3D1 Fr=5 Kiln Drying Rate (in days) is rapid Kiln Drying Rate (in days) is fairly rapid Kiln Drying Rate (in days) is slow Drying Defects Checking Slight surface checking Moderate twist/warp Expect resin/gum exudation Moderate end spitting Slight end splitting Slight twist/warp Severe end splitting Warping and twisting may occur during drying. There may also be occasional checking but these close up tightly at the end of kiln-drying. Ease of Drying Fairly Easy Slowly Moderate Difficult Variable results. Easy Both 1-inch and 2-inch (25 and 50 mm) boards are reported to kiln-dry fairly rapidly from the green condition despite very high initial moisture contents (up to 200%). Drying time can be reduced considerably if stock is air-seasoned to 30% moisture content before kilning Kiln Drying Rate Naturally dries slowly Rapid Drying rate is fairly rapid to fast Naturally dries at a moderate speed Fairly rapid (11-17 days for boards under 32 mm, to 31-51 days for boards greater than 63 mm) Very slow (>28 days for boards < 32 mm, to >84 days for boards >= 63 mm) Tree Identification Bole/stem form is buttressed Bole/stem form is not buttressed Tree Size Tree height is 20-30 m Sapwood width is 0-5 cm Trunk diameter is 100-150 cm The trees are tall, attaining heights of 100 to 150 feet (30 to 45 m) and trunk diameters of up to 48 inches (120 cm), but usually between 18 and 36 inches (45 and 90 cm). Product Sources The ITTO reports that timber production from this species is regular. The material is exported at a low but regular rate. Supplies are ample, but the wood is fairly expensive. It costs more than mahogany but less than teak. Although it has not found wide demand, Purpleheart is available on the US market in both the lumber and veneer forms. Limited quantities of Purpleheart in long lengths and wide boards are available on the European market at prices that are comparable to those of medium cost hardwoods. For construction use, Purpleheart is available for shipping in the dry condition only Comments General finishing qualities are rated as good Mechanical properties of the wood are reported to lie somewhere between those of Greenheart (Ocotea ) and Oak (Quercus ). It has exceptional tolerance for shock loading. Purpleheart is highly desired by hobbyists and craftsmen who use the hard heavy wood in small projects. To protect against ultra-violet fading, a coat of Armorall, a car finish product, under a lacqeur application has been suggested. The treatment is reported to hold the color of the wood rather well against fading Blunting Effect High to severe Blunting effect on machining is fairly severe Blunting effect on machining is severe Blunting effect on sawing dry wood is moderate Blunting effect on machining is moderate Blunting effect on sawing dry wood is severe The wood has some blunting effect on cutting tools Boring Fairly easy to very easy Use very sharp cutting edges to prevent grain from tearing Good (75+ pieces out of 100 will yield good to excellent results) Easy Difficult Cutting Resistance Fairly Difficult to Very Difficult to saw Cutting Resistance with dry wood is easy Cutting resistance with dry wood is variable Cutting Resistance with dry wood is difficult Low cutting resistance because of softness Gum in the wood may pose problems. Gluing Fairly Easy to Very Easy Easy to glue Moderate gluing properties Glues well Mortising Fairly Easy to Very Easy Moderately easy to mortise Easy to mortise The wood requires very sharp cutting edges for smoothly machined surfaces Moulding Fairly Easy to Very Easy Very Good to Excellent Results Fair to Good Results Moulding ease is moderate Good finishing results Easy to mould Moulding properties are generally good in straight-grained material, especially if cutters are kept sharp. Wood containing wavy or interlocked grain tends to be difficult to mould Movement in Service Fair to Good Stability - Medium Movement Excellent Stability - Small Movement Medium Nailing Fairly Difficult to Very Difficult Pre-Boring Recommended Easy to nail Pre-Boring is necessary Possible if prebored Holds nails well Planing Fairly Difficult to Very Difficult Fair to Good Results Fairly Easy to Very Easy Very Good to Excellent Results Easy to plane Ease of planing is moderate Planes well, to a good finish Hard, heavy wood dulls cutting edges severely High density and gummy resin content are reported to make Purpleheart less than easy to work in most machining operations. Sharp, high-speed steel knives, as well as 15 degree cutting angles have been recommended. Material with interlocked or wavy grain are especially difficult to plane and mould Resistance to Impregnation Resistant heartwood Resistant sapwood Sapwood is permeable Heartwood is extremely resistant Heartwood is resistant Resistance to Splitting Poor Response to Hand Tools Fairly Difficult to Difficult to Work Moderate working qualities Difficult to machine Variable qualities Responds very well to hand tools Easy to machine Routing & Recessing Routing yields good results Responds well to very sharp cutting tools Moderately easy Sanding Good sanding finish Easy to sand Screwing Easy to screw Turning Fairly Easy to Very Easy Fair to Good Results Very Good to Excellent Results Easy to turn Good results Turning operations are easier with sharp cutters Veneering Qualities Easy to cut Steam Bending Fair to Good Results Steaming can affect the color of the wood Moderate Polishing Fair to Good Results Very Good to Excellent Results Satisfactory results Material takes a high polish Good results Staining Fair to Good Results Finish is generally satisfactory Takes most finishes well Spirit finishes are reported to take away the purple coloring. Wax is the only recommended finish if the rich natural color is to be preserved. Varnishing < Very Good to Excellent Results