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Ideas for how I can keep this slab from cracking?

2K views 5 replies 6 participants last post by  DocSavage45 
#1 · (Edited by Moderator)
Due to all the ice storms lately, I obtained this Y-shaped section of a neighbor's downed tree. Due to a characteristic of the tree (I haven't yet figured out what kind of tree it is) or possibly some onset of disease, it has some really interested dark streaks throughout the heartwood. My plan is to make two 2" slabs from it and use them as a table top for an entranceway table.

About 6 days passed from the time it went down to the time I sawed it in half this past weekend, so it was still a very wet (green) piece of wood. I have already sealed all the ends with melted wax. My question is this: what else should I do to control cracking on the exposed surface as it dries? For instance, should I leave it as it is (two curved halves) or go ahead and cut the outer side of each slab to bring them down to the approximate final thickness of 2 inches? If I do, it will dry faster, but is that going to be a good thing? I figure that the outer sections will shrink more than the inner sides, due to the higher shrinking in the tangential direction, so that's why I also am considering leaving it as is, so that the bark will control the moisture loss on the outer sides and even out the shrinking. So, any thoughts?

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#2 ·
From my experience wood dries ~1" per year. I would place it inside, and as you said wax the ends. I would try to saw it to rough thickness before drying or you will have to wait quite some time before it is ready to work.

Looks a bit like poplar due to the green but I cant be sure. If so that is natural.
 
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