Official Luthiers Forum!

Greetings all. My first post here. I've been an amateur luthier for about 10 years, finally at a point in my life where I can dedicate the time and resources (not to mention patience) to the task at hand.

I'm building my first project (solidbody mandolin) out of purpleheart, and wondering if anybody has any tips on finishing. I've never worked with it before, but I'm gaining an appreciation for its weight and machinability...

Any tips would be appreciated. Thanks, I hope to learn a lot here.

-BPP

If you want to maintain the color, finish it with a good surface building finish like nitrocellulous lacquer. Don't use a penetrating finish like danish oil or tung oil as that will turn the color to brown. Also, minimize exposure of the instrument to direct sunlight, as UV will also darken the color.

Also, as others have pointed out, this is a very heavy material. Think of ways to lighten it up.

Mike

Thanks for the tips, Barry and Mike. Would you recommend any grain filler or sanding sealer in particular (or at all)? The grain is so dense in this stuff that it's hard to imagine what I'd use as a filler.

I have been trying to lighten it up as much as possible by chambering the body a bit, but the design has made it difficult. I'm compensating by adding some Dunlop Straploks and going to the gym more often...this thing will probably end up weighing as much as a standard electric.

I've also noticed that cut surface doesnt' have a purple color to it, but that this develops over a few days after exposure to light. Any ideas how long I should let it sit before finishing in order to maximize color?

The color reaches it maximum after a couple of days or so. A week should be more than enough time.

I would recommend that you chamber the heck out of the body. Leave about 1/2" around the perimeter, and a central area to support the bridge/pickups/neck.

Also, you don't need to fill purple heart. It usually does not have open pores.

Please post a pick when it turns purple again. It does take a couple of days.