watch out with some of the exotic hardwoods. some species are slightly toxic if you inhale the dust, although i don't think that purpleheart is one of them. If you get into hardwoods, here's some tips: Stay away from wenge(wen-gay) it's absurdly dense, and splinters if you drop it. Paudauk(pa-dowk) is a really beautiful redish color, and more easily bendible than purpleheart. Yellowheart is along the same lines as purpleheart, only yellow in color. zebrawood cracks realitively easy, is hard to bend because of that.

be good. .tim

p.s.- I had a lot of experience with these woods when building electric guitars, which they are all good for.