Purple Heart – Sawn – Turning – 125 sq × 50mm

Purpleheart (Peltogyne spp.) sawn turning blank for faceplate work. Deep violet colour that darkens with light. Suits small bowls, lidded boxes and contrast work. Ships Australia-wide.

Purpleheart Turning Blank for Faceplate Work

This purpleheart turning blank is sawn square for the faceplate: a solid section of Peltogyne, the South American hardwood famous for going deep violet once it sees light. No stain or dye gets you this colour. The timber does it on its own, and it keeps deepening for years as the piece ages.

Why Purpleheart is a Turner’s Showpiece

Fresh off the saw, purpleheart looks a dull greyish brown. Give it a week in daylight and it shifts to bright purple, then settles into a rich plum that reads almost black in low light. The grain runs fine and mostly straight, so the colour carries the show. That colour shift is the whole appeal of a purpleheart turning blank: nothing else on the rack does it.

Working Properties on the Lathe

• Hardness: Very hard and dense. It rewards patience and punishes blunt steel
• Grain: Fine and even, occasionally wavy. Cuts to a crisp edge with light passes
• Turning: Keep tools freshly sharpened and take shallow cuts; scraped surfaces sand out cleanly
• Finishing: Takes oil, wax and shellac beautifully. We recommend Rustins Danish oil, EEE-Ultra Shine or Shellawax for a soft satin finish
• Stability: Dries stable and stays put once turned

Best Projects for a Purpleheart Turning Blank This Size

• Small bowls and shallow dishes
• Lidded box bases and lids
• Ring dishes, trinket trays and other small faceplate work
• Contrast stock for segmented turning
• Class projects for our woodturning courses

Dimensions & Finish

Each purpleheart turning blank is square-cut, sawn and lathe-ready at the size listed above. Natural colour and figure variation is expected, and fresh faces will darken to full purple with light exposure.

Shipping & Pickup

Each blank ships Australia-wide via Australia Post or Aramex. Pickup welcome from our Mulgrave NSW showroom Mon–Fri 9am–4pm and Sat 9am–12pm. More sizes in our turning blanks range.

Purpleheart comes in when we can get it. Once it goes, the listing closes.

If you require any further information regarding this species, sizing or availability, please don’t hesitate to contact us directly on (02) 4577 5277 or at sales@trendtimbers.com.au and our staff will be happy to help.