Tamalan Rosewood in Custom Wood and Epoxy Builds
Tamalan Rosewood (Dalbergia oliveri), also referred to simply as tamalan rosewood, is a dense, high-strength Asian timber. Known for its rich dark red heartwood and striking visual presence, it is commonly chosen for luxury cabinetwork, sliced veneer, musical instruments, turned goods, and high-class furniture. For epoxy river tables and hybrid tabletops, understanding the technical physical traits published in the CIRAD Tropix technical sheet is essential for ensuring lasting adhesion and long-term joint integrity.
Appearance and Grain Characteristics
The heartwood of tamalan rosewood displays a deep dark red color, frequently enriched by resinous reddish or dark brown deposits. Its sapwood is clearly demarcated from the heartwood, showing a contrasting greenish white to yellowish grey tone that measures between 3 to 6 cm thick on typical logs of 40 to 70 cm in diameter. The grain is straight or interlocked, with the interlocked grain typically described as slight. Tamalan rosewood features a coarse texture, which the CIRAD Tropix sheet notes needs filling before polishing to achieve a completely smooth, reflective surface next to cured resin.
Density, Hardness, and Mechanical Strength
Tamalan rosewood is exceptionally heavy. At 12% moisture content, it has an average specific gravity of 1.00, which equals roughly 62.4 lb/ft³. In the shop, a 2-inch-thick tabletop slab weighs approximately 10.4 lb per square foot. Table bases, fasteners, and support structures must be planned accordingly to handle this mass.
The wood registers a Monnin hardness of 9.3 at 12% moisture content. The Monnin scale is an established French hardness measurement where a higher number indicates a harder material; it is not interchangeable with the American Janka test and should never be directly converted. Mechanically, the species is remarkably stout, with a crushing strength of 84 MPa (about 12,180 psi), a static bending strength of 210 MPa (about 30,460 psi), and a modulus of elasticity of 18,000 MPa (about 2,611,000 psi).
| Property | CIRAD Tropix value | What it means / US units |
|---|---|---|
| Botanical name(s) | Dalbergia oliveri | |
| Other trade names | Rosewood, tamalan | |
| Colour / texture / grain | Dark red; texture coarse; grain straight or interlocked; interlocked grain slight | |
| Specific gravity (12% MC) | 1.00 | about 62.4 lb/ft³; a 2-inch-thick slab weighs about 10.4 lb per sq ft |
| Monnin hardness (12% MC) | 9.3 | French hardness scale; higher = harder (not a Janka value) |
| Total tangential shrinkage | 6.0 % | green to oven-dry |
| Total radial shrinkage | 3.0 % | green to oven-dry |
| Ratio St/Sr | 2.0 | closer to 1 = less cupping tendency |
| Thermal conductivity | 0.32 W/(m·K) | |
| Crushing strength (12% MC) | 84 MPa | about 12,180 psi |
| Static bending strength (12% MC) | 210 MPa | about 30,460 psi |
| Modulus of elasticity (12% MC) | 18,000 MPa | about 2,611,000 psi |
| Decay (fungi) resistance | Durability class 1 – very durable | |
| Termite resistance | Class D – durable | |
| Dry-wood borer resistance | Class D – durable (sapwood demarcated, risk limited | |
| Heartwood treatability | Class 4 – not permeable | |
| Use class from natural durability | Class 4 – in ground or fresh water contact | |
| Drying | rate slow; distortion: no risk or very slight risk; checking: no risk or very slight risk; collapse: no known specific risk; casehardening: no known specific risk | |
| Suggested kiln program temperatures | 45–65 °C | about 113–149 °F |
| Machining | blunting high; saw teeth: stellite-tipped; cutting tools: tungsten carbide | |
| Nailing and screwing | Good but pre-boring necessary | |
| CITES status | Listed in CITES Appendix II with annotation #15 (all Dalbergia species since 02.01.2017, except Dalbergia nigra, which is in Appendix I), per the BfN CITES tree list, status 05.03.2026. Annotation #15 covers all parts and derivatives except leaves, flowers, pollen, fruit and seeds; finished products up to a maximum of 10 kg of wood of the listed species per shipment; and finished musical instruments, parts and accessories. (The CIRAD sheet says not listed; that note is out of date.) |
Values from the CIRAD Tropix technical sheet (average values for mature wood, 12% moisture content where noted). US-unit conversions are calculated by BigEpoxy (1 MPa = 145.04 psi; density = specific gravity × 62.43 lb/ft³).
Shrinkage, Stability, and the Epoxy River Interface
Managing wood movement is the central challenge when bonding solid wood to a rigid epoxy pour. Tamalan rosewood shows favorable dimensional stability for its density:
- Total tangential shrinkage: 6.0 %
- Total radial shrinkage: 3.0 %
- Shrinkage ratio (St/Sr): 2.0
While a shrinkage ratio of 2.0 indicates standard differential movement between tangential and radial dimensions, the overall shrinkage values are moderate. Furthermore, technical evaluations indicate no risk or very slight risk of distortion and no risk or very slight risk of checking during seasoning. Collapse and casehardening also present no known specific risks. Drying occurs at a slow rate, and air drying prior to kiln drying is recommended. Suggested kiln temperatures range from 45 to 65 °C (about 113 to 149 °F).
Machining, Tool Wear, and Gluing Considerations
Tamalan rosewood exerts a high blunting effect on cutters, with significant tool dulling caused by natural resin within the fibers. Cutting tools should feature tungsten carbide edges, and saw teeth should be stellite-tipped. In addition, machining and sanding dust may cause physical irritation, requiring robust dust collection and protective gear. Pre-boring is mandatory for screwing and nailing.
When preparing the live edge or glue face for epoxy contact, the wood’s extractives require strict care. CIRAD Tropix notes that due to its very high specific gravity and high extracts content, gluing must be performed in strict compliance with the code of practice. Natural resinous deposits can act as a bond breaker. Cleaning the contact surfaces to remove surface oils immediately prior to applying resin primer or seal coats is vital for preventing edge delamination along the river boundary.
Natural Durability and CITES Regulations
Tamalan rosewood heartwood exhibits outstanding resistance to decay, rated as Durability class 1 (very durable) against wood-rotting fungi. It is rated Class D (durable) against termites and dry-wood borers (with borer risk limited to the demarcated sapwood). The heartwood is classified as Class 4 (not permeable), ensuring natural durability suited to ground or fresh water contact (Class 4). Preservative treatments are not required.
Regarding legal trade, Dalbergia oliveri is protected under CITES Appendix II with annotation #15 (covering all Dalbergia species since 02.01.2017, except Dalbergia nigra which is in Appendix I), as documented in the BfN CITES tree list (status 05.03.2026). While older CIRAD technical literature listed the species as exempt, current international regulations cover all commercial logs, slabs, and timber derivatives, with exceptions for finished items up to 10 kg of the species per shipment.
Pre-Pour Checklist for Tamalan Rosewood Slabs
- Confirm the slab has completed slow seasoning, reaching shop equilibrium moisture content after prior air drying and controlled kiln drying.
- Verify CITES Appendix II documentation is in order for your lumber lot.
- Dress the boards using sharp tungsten carbide cutters to minimize grain tearout from slight interlocked grain.
- Remove loose sapwood or ensure the 3 to 6 cm sapwood border is completely sound before forming your mold.
- Pre-drill all structural hardware holes rather than driving screws directly into the dense timber.
- Wipe the river-facing edge thoroughly to clear resinous extractives and prevent bonding failures.
- Apply an epoxy seal coat to the coarse-textured edges to seal open pores and lock in natural wood deposits.
- Pour deep casting resin following the epoxy manufacturer’s thickness and cure guidelines.
- Apply grain filler across the wood surface prior to final polishing to level the coarse pores.
Sources
- CIRAD Tropix 7 technical sheet: Tamalan Rosewood
- CIRAD Tropix 7 technical sheets (index)
- German Federal Agency for Nature Conservation (BfN): List of tree species protected under CITES and Regulation (EC) 338/97, status 05.03.2026
Published October 30, 2026. Sources are linked in the text.
Header image: original graphic by BigEpoxy.com.
Staff note: Tamalan rosewood has a thermal conductivity rating of 0.32 W/(m·K), meaning heat moves through this dense hardwood more readily than through lighter tabletop species, so keep hot items off uninsulated areas near the epoxy interface. (Source: CIRAD Tropix 7 technical sheet: Tamalan Rosewood.)