COMMON NAMES:
Purpleheart, amaranth, violetwood
SPECIFIC GRAVITY:
0.86 (varies by species)
DENSITY: 54 lbs./cu.ft.
TANGENTIAL MOVEMENT:
4.5%
RADIAL MOVEMENT:
2.0%
VOLUMETRIC SHRINKAGE:
9.90%
DURABILITY:
Very good
SOURCE:
Central and South America.
DESCRIPTION:
Purpleheart is brown when freshly cut but oxidizes to a bright violet purple and eventually to a dark purplish brown. Hard, heavy and finely textured, purpleheart's grain is usually straight, often with a fine, curly figure. There is considerable variation in color, texture and density among the several species that account for commercial supplies of purpleheart. It is moderately hard to work but takes a glossy, lustrous finish.