How do you keep Cedar purple?

1: minimize its exposure to UV light, mainly sunlight. Freshly cut purpleheart appears brown or gray. Generally after a couple of weeks it will return to the purple color you saw before. Then after a few years more aging it will again turn brown or gray.

How do I get my Purple Heart purple again?

How To Make Purpleheart Very Purple

1. finish sand your piece.
2. wet with acetone thoroughly.
3. set piece in full bright sun.
4. flip piece every 30 min.
5. re-wet with acetone each time you flip.
6. repeat cycle for 3-4 hours.
7. let piece rest indoors for an additional day or more before finishing. ( Oxidation is continuing)

I generally soak small parts in it let them dry and just before glue up wipe down one more time with a damp cloth of alcohol. Some of the woods that have oil are hard to get to glue. I HAVE USED TIGHTBOND 2 AND GORILLA GLUE. BOTH SEEMED TO WORK OK.

Epoxy then exterior poly for UV resistance. Coating them with a spar urethane or marine varnish should help protect them from UV degradation and preserve the natural coloring.

When fully weathered, cedar takes on a light silvery-gray appearance. If you like the weather-beaten look of a seaside cottage or an old barn, cedar can develop that look all on its own. But one aspect of cedar’s weathering process that doesn’t appeal to some homeowners is that it turns gray unevenly.

Use exterior oil-based stain or latex paint, which will seal out moisture, prevent wood rot, limit the amount of weathering and extend the life of the wood. Choose a stain or sealant with a UV inhibitor to help keep the wood from turning gray. Let the wood dry for about a week before applying a stain or sealant.