Uploaded June 2019 | Updated September 2026, 11 hours ago
Memorial Cross From Pink Ivory and Purpleheart Wood
This is a Memorial Cross that one of our community members has asked us to make. Unfortunately we are so busy these days that we can rarely take on outside projects, but whenever someone from our Kings Fine Woodworking Community asks, we do whatever we can.
This project is made from Purpleheart wood and Pink Ivory wood. We thought that together these would make a really beautiful combination.
Purpleheart is a wood that comes from any one of 23 different species of trees in the Peltogyne genus. It is a giant flowering tree that can reach 160 feet in height. It is found in parts of Central and South America, but the majority of what we use comes from the Amazon Basin. It has extraordinary strength and density. But it is known for it’s unique organic chemistry and the oxidation reactions that it undergoes to become a deep royal purple color.
Nearly every woodworker is familiar with the species, but not everyone knows how to get the most purple out of it you can and how to keep it purple forever. Here is an article I wrote for our community:
kingsfinewoodworking.com/blogs/news/how-to-make-purpleheart-very-purple
Pink Ivory is also incredibly special. It comes from a small region in Africa where it is so rare that only 1 in 100,000 trees there are Pink Ivory. It used to be the Royal Wood of the Zulu People. And only a royal could possess it. In fact the penalty for a non-royal found with it, was death. Fortunately today it is being managed by the government of Zimbabwe, and is becoming a sustainable product. So, if you are lucky enough, you can find it for sale from time to time.
This project was suited to the CNC machine since the customer needed it engraved. Therefore, I thought we could go ahead and cut the cross shape out on the CNC as well. Although, you could certainly use a bandsaw or a jigsaw.
Things we used for this project:
Tools:
Rockler Hold Down Clamp amzn.to/3IUGOQZ
Microjig Grr-Ripper Table Saw Pushblock - amzn.to/3XQ7I1y
Festool Kapex Sliding Miter Saw - amzn.to/3DvoCdC
Push Block Set - amzn.to/3DvgyJX
Grizzly Jointer - amzn.to/3j09TAk
Hand Sanding Block - amzn.to/3Rnsx1F
Festool Random Orbit Sander - amzn.to/3jjpqv8
Grizzly Bandsaw - amzn.to/3XUUobR
Porter-Cable Router - amzn.to/3Dvx7pb
Freud Chamfer Bit Set - amzn.to/3l8VT8e
Materials:
Titebond III Glue - amzn.to/3wvDDIh
As an Amazon Associate I earn from qualifying purchases.
Link to the KFW Community Woodworking group. Share pictures of your work & get help if needed. Join our Community Page. Woodworkers helping other woodworkers. Share advice, get project ideas. Free tips. Insider information. Get the best deals on lumber & tools: facebook.com/groups/KingsFineWoodworkingCommunity
Help support us through Patreon: patreon.com/KingsFineWoodworking
Purchase plans on our website: kingsfinewoodworking.com/collections/project-plans-for-sale
Please like and share our videos. Thank You!
We love teaching the world to do woodworking.
Memorial Cross From Pink Ivory and Purpleheart Wood
This is a Memorial Cross that one of our community members has asked us to make. Unfortunately we are so busy these days that we can rarely take on outside projects, but whenever someone from our Kings Fine Woodworking Community asks, we do whatever we can.
This project is made from Purpleheart wood and Pink Ivory wood. We thought that together these would make a really beautiful combination.
Purpleheart is a wood that comes from any one of 23 different species of trees in the Peltogyne genus. It is a giant flowering tree that can reach 160 feet in height. It is found in parts of Central and South America, but the majority of what we use comes from the Amazon Basin. It has extraordinary strength and density. But it is known for it’s unique organic chemistry and the oxidation reactions that it undergoes to become a deep royal purple color.
Nearly every woodworker is familiar with the species, but not everyone knows how to get the most purple out of it you can and how to keep it purple forever. Here is an article I wrote for our community:
kingsfinewoodworking.com/blogs/news/how-to-make-purpleheart-very-purple
Pink Ivory is also incredibly special. It comes from a small region in Africa where it is so rare that only 1 in 100,000 trees there are Pink Ivory. It used to be the Royal Wood of the Zulu People. And only a royal could possess it. In fact the penalty for a non-royal found with it, was death. Fortunately today it is being managed by the government of Zimbabwe, and is becoming a sustainable product. So, if you are lucky enough, you can find it for sale from time to time.
This project was suited to the CNC machine since the customer needed it engraved. Therefore, I thought we could go ahead and cut the cross shape out on the CNC as well. Although, you could certainly use a bandsaw or a jigsaw.
Things we used for this project:
Tools:
Rockler Hold Down Clamp amzn.to/3IUGOQZ
Microjig Grr-Ripper Table Saw Pushblock - amzn.to/3XQ7I1y
Festool Kapex Sliding Miter Saw - amzn.to/3DvoCdC
Push Block Set - amzn.to/3DvgyJX
Grizzly Jointer - amzn.to/3j09TAk
Hand Sanding Block - amzn.to/3Rnsx1F
Festool Random Orbit Sander - amzn.to/3jjpqv8
Grizzly Bandsaw - amzn.to/3XUUobR
Porter-Cable Router - amzn.to/3Dvx7pb
Freud Chamfer Bit Set - amzn.to/3l8VT8e
Materials:
Titebond III Glue - amzn.to/3wvDDIh
As an Amazon Associate I earn from qualifying purchases.
Link to the KFW Community Woodworking group. Share pictures of your work & get help if needed. Join our Community Page. Woodworkers helping other woodworkers. Share advice, get project ideas. Free tips. Insider information. Get the best deals on lumber & tools: facebook.com/groups/KingsFineWoodworkingCommunity
Help support us through Patreon: patreon.com/KingsFineWoodworking
Purchase plans on our website: kingsfinewoodworking.com/collections/project-plans-for-sale
Please like and share our videos. Thank You!
We love teaching the world to do woodworking.
