Purpleheart

Newly cut heartwood is bright purple, turning a deep purplish-brown on exposure. There may be colour variation between boards, and minerals may cause uneven colour. The grain is usually straight, but can be roey, wavy or irregular, with a medium to fine texture and a high lustre. The off-white sapwood is distinct from the heartwood.

Properties:

It is hard, dense and heavy, with high crushing, stiffness and bending strengths, a moderate steam-bending rating and medium resistance to shock loads. It is difficult to work by hand, andmachining is moderately difficult. The blunting effect on cutters is moderate to severe. Slow feed rates and a reduced cutting angle are advised. Dull cutters will heat the wood and cause resin to exude. It glues, waxes, stains and polishes well, turns very well, but is not easy to sand. Pre-boring is advised for nailing or screwing. Spirit finishes tend to remove the purple colour; lacquer retains it.

Seasoning:

It dries rapidly and is prone to distortion, although this is less of a problem with quartersawn stock. There is medium movement in use.

Durability:

The heartwood is moderately durable and can be attacked by pinhole and marine borers, but is resistant to preservative treatment. The sapwood is vulnerable to the powder-post beetle, and is moderately resistant to preservative treatment.

Typical Uses:

Furniture and cabinetmaking, musical instruments, office furniture, kitchen cabinets, doors, stairs, window frames, boats, flooring and sports goods. Decorative veneer from choice logs is used for marquetry, panelling and cabinetwork. Sapele is also rotary-cut for plywood.

Peltogyne porphyrocardia and related species (Leguminosae)

Also called:

amarante, guarabu, morado, nazareno, pau roxo, saka, tananeo, violetwood

Grows:

West, Central and East Africa

Weight per Board Foot:

4.5 lbs

Typical dry weight:

54lb/ft3 (860kg/m3)

Specific Gravity:

.86

Typical Height:

150ft (45m)

Trunk Diameter:

4-6 ft (1.2-1.8m)