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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 Carving Certified Source 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 Texture Toxicity Trade Name Tree Identification Tree Size Turning Veneering Qualities Scientific Name Peltogyne porphyrocardia Trade Name Purpleheart Family Name Leguminosae Common Names Amarante, Amaranth, Barabu, Bois puurpre, Bois violet, Dastan, Ellongrypho, Guarabu, Kooroobooelli, Kooroobovelli, Koroboreli, Koroborelli, Kouburelli, Kuraburelli, Kuruburelli, Lastan, Malako, Marado, Morado, Nazareno, Palo morado, Pao violeta, Pau roxo, Pelo morado, Purperhart, Purpleheart, Rajado, Sacka, Saka, Sakavalli, Sapater, Sapatere, Tananeo, Violet wood, Violetwood, Zapatero Regions of Distribution Central America, Latin America, Oceania and S.E. Asia Countries of Distribution  [VIEW MAP] Brazil, Chile, Costa Rica, French Guiana, Guyana, Haiti, Honduras, Mexico, Panama, Peru, Suriname, Trinidad and Tobago, Venezuela Common Uses Billiard-cue butts, Boat building, Boat building: framing, Bridge construction, Cabinetmaking, Carvings, Construction, Decorative veneer, Dockwork, Fine furniture, Flooring, Furniture, Inlay work, Joinery, Light construction, Marquetry, Millwork, Paneling, Parquet flooring, Piling, Railroad ties, Shafts/Handles, Shipbuilding, Skis, Specialty items, Sporting Goods, Tool handles, Turnery, Vats, Veneer, Veneer: decorative, Wharf construction Environmental Profile Vulnerable Status within its natural growth range has not been officially assessed Distribution Overview The commercial name Purpleheart refers to timber produced by about 20 species, including P. porphyrocardia , which grow in Central America and tropical South America, from Mexico to southern Brazil. They are most common in the Amazon basin, and are also found in Colombia, Guyana, Surinam, and Venezuela. Heartwood Color Brown Yellow Orange Green/grey Purple Black Red Purple Dark brown The heartwood is initially dull brown, but it rapidly changes to a bright, vibrant purple. Prolonged exposure darkens the wood to a dark-purplish brown or dark brown, but the original color can be restored by recutting the wood. Color variation between boards is moderate to high. Presence of minerals in some boards may cause uneven coloration and steaming is reported to affect the color. Peltogyne timbers are reported to vary widely in color between, and probably within, species Sapwood Color White Yellow Brown Red Green/Grey White to yellow Well defined Off-white Creamy white Clearly differentiated from the heartwood The color has also been described as pinkish cinnamon with light brown streaks, and is usually about 2 to 4 inches (5 to 10 cm) wide. Grain Figure Stripe (figure) Straight Interlocked Even Closed Other (figure) Distinct (figure) Striped figure Straight Interlocked Other figure Distinct figure The grain is typically straight, sometimes wavy, roey, or irregular Texture Fine Medium Fine to medium Medium Fine Luster Medium High Pronounced Medium to high Lustrous Natural Durability Very durable Resistant to termites Susceptible to insect attack Resistant to marine borers Durable Resistant to powder post beetles Non-resistant to powder post beetles Very durable Durable Resistant to attack from termites (Isoptera) Very resistant to dry-wood termite attack Susceptible to marine borer attack Slightly resistant to attack by marine borers Resistant to attack from powder post (Lyctid & Bostrychid) beetles Highly resistant to attack by decay fungi The wood is also resistant to chemicals such as acids Odor Has an odor No specific smell or taste Toxicity Some toxic effects Kiln Schedules UK=E US=T6D2/T3D1 Fr=5 Dry at a slow speed Drying Defects Distortion Slight twist/warp Slight surface checking Moderate twist/warp Expect resin/gum exudation Slight end splitting Severe end splitting Ease of Drying Fairly Easy Slowly Variable Little degrade Moderate Difficult Variable results. Difficulty in air-drying varies from easy to moderately difficult, and drying rate ranges from slow to fairly rapid. Moisture extraction from center of thicker stock is rather difficult Kiln Drying Rate Naturally dries slowly Slow Drying rate is slow Tree Identification Bole/stem form is buttressed Tree Size Sapwood width is 0-5 cm Trunk diameter is 100-150 cm Tree height is 30-40 m Trunk diameter is 150-200 cm Tree height is 20-30 m Trunk diameter is 200-250 cm Mature Purpleheart trees are usually tall and attain a height of about 100 to 150 feet (30 to 45 m), and a diameter of up to 48 inches (120 cm), 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. Certified Source Certified Source Comments General finishing qualities are rated as good Treatment against the effects of ultra-violet rays has been suggested to maintain the original color of the wood. A treatment with Armorall, the car finish product, under lacquer is reported to hold the color well Working the wood with dull cutting tools may cause gum exudation Blunting Effect Moderate Blunting effect on sawing dry wood is moderate Blunting is rated as moderate to severe Blunting effect on machining is fairly severe Cutting tools may be gummed up if they are not very sharp Boring Fairly easy to very easy Fair to good results Easy Carving Fair to Good Results Fairly Easy to Very Easy Cutting Resistance Easy to saw Cutting resistance with dry wood is variable Tools usually require frequent sharpening Slow feed rates and specially tipped cutters are suggested Moderate to fairly difficult to saw Gluing Fairly Easy to Very Easy Fair to Good Results Easy to glue Mortising Fair to Good Results Fairly Easy to Very Easy Moulding Fair to Good Results Fairly Easy to Very Easy Movement in Service Excellent Stability - Small Movement Small Dimensionally stable Nailing Fairly Difficult to Very Difficult Fair to Good Results Pre-Boring Recommended Pre-boring recommended Holds nails well Planing Fairly Easy to Very Easy Fairly Difficult to Very Difficult Fair to Good Results Ease of planing is moderate Respond poorly to ordinary tools Moderately difficult to work in most machining operations Working with dull cutters may cause the wood to heat up and exude resin, which can considerably increase machining difficulty. Slower feed rates and specially tipped cutters, or sharp, high-speed steel knives are suggested. A reduced cutting angle of 15 degrees has also been recommended, especially when planing and moulding material with interlocked or wavy grain. Resistance to Impregnation Resistant heartwood Resistant sapwood Permeable sapwood Heartwood is extremely resistant Sapwood is permeable Resistance to Splitting Very Poor Response to Hand Tools Easy to Work Responds Readily Moderate working qualities Response to hand tools is fair Difficult to machine Routing & Recessing Fair to Good Results Sanding Fair to Good Results Fairly Easy to Very Easy Good sanding finish Easy to sand The material is fairly difficult to sand Screwing Fair to Good Results Fairly Easy to Very Easy Turning Fairly Easy to Very Easy Fair to Good Results Very Good to Excellent Results Easy to turn Good results Veneering Qualities Veneers moderately easy Difficult to veneer Veneers easily Suitable for peeling Steam Bending Fair to Good Results Fairly Difficult to Very Difficult Fairly well defined Polishing Fair to Good Results Very Good to Excellent Results Fairly Easy to Very Easy Satisfactory results Polishing properties are rather good Good results Staining Fair to Good Results Fairly Easy to Very Easy Finish is generally satisfactory Takes finishes rather well There is a tendency for some finishes to bleed, but reports indicate that water-based finishes hold color better. The use of spirit finishes are reported to remove the purple coloring in the wood Strength Properties Bending strength (MOR) = very high Modulus of Elasticity (stiffness) = very high Max. crushing strength = very high Weight = very heavy Shrinkage, Tangential = small Shrinkage, Tangential = moderate Shrinkage, Radial = small Shrinkage, Radial = moderate