Drying timber properly? Sealing the ends?

[slowlearner]

My parents have had a liquid amber growing in their back yard as long as I could remember, however lately it's been dying. It was felled the other day and I asked my mum to keep the bottom of the trunk for me. I'm hoping to use it for some tops or bodies for electric bass.

What I'm wondering is how to let it dry properly?
Should I re-saw the log now?
What should I put on the ends to allow it dry evenly?

Thoughts?

[nnickusa]

Pete, if it was me, I'd cut it or split it into oversize billets and paint the ends with something. I've heard the blue plumbers glue is good, also water based paint. Smaller chunks will be usable MUCH sooner than a log....

[demonx]

Good advice above.

I had a similar thing with ash from the house I grew up. Saved the bottom section but took too many years to get it cut in slabs so now it's all cracked and mostly useless for anything other than a conversation piece.

IE: learn from my mistake and get it cut into slabs quickly, then seal the ends with pretty much anything that will slow the moisture escape and fingers crossed you'll be right.

Good luck and post some pics!

[TKAY]

Pete
I have found it very helpful to saw/split logs into quarters or at least halves ASAP. Apart from minimising end splitting it is MUCH lighter!!! I paint the ends with whatever is at hand ,any paint, acrylic will do at a pinch with a thick coat but I prefer an oil base. It seems to work with Silky Oak. WA Mallets English Oak and English Ash.
The advantage of primary breaking down is it gives you a bit of breathing space to work out whether it is just firewood!!
Cheers Tom

[slowlearner]

Cheers guys.

[slowlearner]

Here's the log. It's about 2 feet long and not quite 1 foot across



Now to resaw it...

[peter.coombe]

Cut it into quarters NOW, and seal the ends. Then you have time to think about what you are going to do next. Leave it as a log and even if you seal the ends it will still split.

[slowlearner]

Finally got a chance to mill it tonight...

I cut it roughly into quarter boards. First one was ok...



What came next was a LOT nicer...



I'll seal it later on tonight.