Tali Round Logs

Tali Round Logs – A “Backbone” Timber for Heavy-Duty Structures & High-End Interiors – Thanh Lam Wood

Origin
Tali round logs are a valuable natural hardwood from the tropical forests of Central and West Africa, widely distributed in the Democratic Republic of the Congo, Cameroon, Gabon, Nigeria, and others. On the international market, Tali is commonly traded as round logs and sawn timber for flooring, structural components, interior joinery and outdoor construction.

1. Wood Characteristics
Appearance & Color

In round-log form, Tali typically has:

Bark: Grey–brown to dark brown, fairly thick and firmly attached, helping protect the core during transport and storage.

Heartwood: Yellow–brown to deep reddish–brown, with an even tone that becomes darker and richer over time, creating a mature, elegant “aged wood” look.

Sapwood: Lighter in color, with a narrow band that is clearly distinguishable from the heartwood.

Grain: Generally straight or slightly interlocked, with relatively fine texture. Once sawn and finished, it gives a solid, dense surface feel, suitable for applications that require a strong, “substantial” character.

Overall, Tali offers a warm yellow–brown to reddish–brown tone, ideal for structural works, flooring and interiors that emphasize natural and sustainable aesthetics.

Physical & Mechanical Properties

Tali is a heavy, very hard hardwood, with:

Air-dry density: Approximately 0.85–1.0 g/cm³, giving a very solid, heavy feel.

Hardness & load-bearing capacity: Very high, suitable for load–bearing structures, high–wear surfaces and areas subject to frequent use.

Biological durability: Naturally durable, with strong resistance to termites, fungi and decay, especially effective in outdoor or humid environments.

Dimensional stability: When properly kiln–dried and treated, Tali has good stability, with low warping and shrinkage, meeting the demands of demanding export markets.

Because it is both hard and heavy, sawing and processing Tali round logs requires powerful machinery, sharp blades and well–designed procedures to achieve clean cuts and minimize tool wear.

2. Main Applications

From Tali round logs, after sawing, drying and treatment, the timber can be processed into a wide range of technical and high–end products, including:

Construction & heavy structures: Beams, posts, frames and load–bearing components in long–life projects.

Flooring & outdoor use: Indoor flooring, outdoor decking, balcony floors, steps and exterior platforms.

Doors & interiors: Solid wood doors, door frames, handrails, stair components, tables, chairs and interior details requiring high strength and durability.

Infrastructure projects: In some markets, Tali is used for railway sleepers, timber bridges and near-ground structural elements thanks to its excellent load–bearing and decay resistance.

With its hardness, durability and attractive color, Tali is considered one of the “backbone” species for projects and products that demand both technical performance and aesthetic value.