Comments on: Preventing Color Changes in Exotic Woods

By: Anthony Bertoncini

Anthony Bertoncini — Sat, 22 Feb 2025 18:14:32 +0000

In reply to Ted. Red, pink and brown, most of the red and pinks have gone away

By: Ted

Ted — Wed, 19 Feb 2025 06:46:35 +0000

In reply to Anthony Bertoncini. What color was it freshly sanded? Alot of Jarrah has just a hint of red. Was yours bright red?

By: Anthony Bertoncini

Anthony Bertoncini — Sun, 16 Feb 2025 05:37:07 +0000

In reply to Ted. I used jarra for a clock case. It was settled in when I puchased it and had awesome bees wing figure. It has darkened but the figure gives it interesting appearance.

By: Ryan

Ryan — Sat, 12 Oct 2024 13:08:44 +0000

What about baking wood to enhance/ preserve color? There’s a few videos of this being done with purple heart on YouTube, and it seems to preserve the color for years. I decided to try it with purple heart, yellow heart, and padauk. I did 350°F for 45min.
Only the purple heart and yellow heart really changed color from baking. So far it’s been about 5-6 weeks since baking, and the off cuts of purple heart show a clear difference in purple tone. The baked piece is still vibrant purple; the unbaked piece is almost totally brown. Both off cut pieces are from the same stock and are about 1/8″ thick. I don’t have any off cuts of the yellow heart, but the board all these went into is still very very colorful… though it’s coated in epoxy.

By: Ivan

Ivan — Tue, 03 Sep 2024 14:28:22 +0000

In reply to Jacques Poirier. i know sanding works with osage orange so its worth giving it a try!

By: Dave

Dave — Wed, 08 May 2024 14:58:05 +0000

In reply to Chris. Sikkens has a great outdoor finish that is easier to maintain and has a high level of UV inhibitors. You will need to sand down the wood initially, but after two or three years you just scuff it with a scotchbrite pad and refinish! It will slightly darken the wood when applied, but imho that’s a good thing!

By: Jacques Poirier

Jacques Poirier — Mon, 15 Apr 2024 20:52:37 +0000

i wonder if i sand my cutting board if the purple heart or padauk will get back to it’s colorfull colour !!!

By: chris

chris — Sat, 17 Feb 2024 03:17:35 +0000

In reply to Chris. I don't know if anything can get it looking new again except a resurfacing

By: Greg

Greg — Mon, 16 Oct 2023 22:37:43 +0000

I just milled a box elder log. its quite stunning. I was told that one way to help set the color is to use wood bleach. I have not tried it yet but will. Also, marine grade varnish can help protect it against uv. Still, the varnish yellows. Ive had box elder in my garage without any light, and it has kept its color for about 4 years. My biggest problem with be is that does not smell good to me.

By: John

John — Fri, 30 Jun 2023 02:59:31 +0000

In reply to Jeff S. Beautiful example Jeff

By: Scott

Scott — Fri, 26 May 2023 20:39:44 +0000

In reply to Will Stewart. Does the Redbud keep any of its color? Or just shades of brown?

By: Eric

Eric — Sat, 20 May 2023 10:22:01 +0000

In reply to Jeff S. Purpleheart does the same thing in my experience.

By: Jeff S

Jeff S — Fri, 19 May 2023 18:14:40 +0000

Australian Pink Gidgee, the rare example of a wood that starts out brown & oxidizes purple when placed in the sun. This piece changed color in less than two days while sitting in a kitchen window. Not sure about its staying power but from what I’ve read it tends to remain purple.

By: Chris

Chris — Fri, 17 Mar 2023 14:45:58 +0000

I have tigerwood on my front porch and have used an oil based product . Where the sun and rain hits the deck it has changed to an ugly grey. What should I refinish this with to keep the beautiful colors of the wood

By: Eric

Eric — Sat, 11 Mar 2023 13:29:45 +0000

In reply to Ted.

From the page on jarrah: Heartwood color ranges from a light red or brown to a darker brick red; tends to darken with exposure to light.
https://www.wood-database.com/jarrah/

By: Ted

Ted — Fri, 10 Mar 2023 10:10:04 +0000

Can you describe how Jarrah changes? Most of your answers are helpful but the one for Jarrah doesn’t actually describe anything. I’m trying to choose between a piece of bloodwood and a piece of Jarrah. They both have the same bright red color. Bloodwood is harder but the Jarrah is figured. Though my main problem is how they will age. Which one will look better in the end.

By: Soleil

Soleil — Tue, 21 Feb 2023 17:25:16 +0000

In reply to Susu.

They have special kinds of “crock pots” for heating wax for these purposes. However I agree that “boiling” wax is never a good idea. I suppose that I didn’t take them literally on that, seems really unnecessary and dangerous.

This is the kind we used at school:

https://meyerbees.com/product/wax-melter/

By: Susu

Susu — Sun, 19 Feb 2023 02:42:12 +0000

In reply to Soleil. I would recommend using a thermometer and keeping it well below boiling, unless you have special equipment and do all of your woodworking in a fire station. Overheating any type of wax is extremely dangerous. Another of my hobbies is making candles and I bought single burners after cleaning wax off the burner element and out of the stove one too many times, lol.

By: Soleil

Soleil — Fri, 30 Dec 2022 22:02:09 +0000

In reply to Mihai. Does it have to be boiling or is very hot sufficient? I feel like this would be an option for a smaller wooden sculpture or box but not for furniture…

By: D.K.20

D.K.20 — Fri, 09 Dec 2022 20:29:22 +0000

In reply to Bill.

Great info! Also, see this study:
“The discoloration of the African padauk was mainly because of the photodegradation of lignin and extractives by ultraviolet radiation. Additionally, the inhibitory effect of different concentrations of red iron oxide coating was investigated. The results revealed that the chromatism ?E? was considerably reduced with the protection of iron oxide. However, the inhibition of the discoloration rate of the specimens covered with a film of red iron oxide increased with values reaching approximately 80%. The red iron oxide coating had a strong inhibitory effect on the discoloration of the African padauk.”
https://www.researchgate.net/publication/331496091_Effect_of_Iron_Oxide_on_the_Protective_Photochromism_of_African_Padauk