I have been given about 12 lengths of a walnut tree,light coloured wood approximately 600 mm long and about 400 to 500 mm in diameter.
It’s been on the ground for at least 6 months.
Question should I cut it into slabs now or leave it in Logs?
My milling will be via a very sharp chainsaw blade.
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My understanding is you’ll want to slab it sooner rather than later to minimize checking.
See Chapter 8 of:
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You want to get that pith out as soon as possible or it will split and then put some end grain sealer on the ends to help it dry evently (use like a latex paint or something it is cost effective). Then you sticker it up OFF THE GROUND. no cement floors, not grass, no dirt. Off the ground in under 40% humitity if you can manage it.
If you are not going to proccess it right away or cant put the time in now just seal the ends and bag it up the best you can. You dont want it to dry in rounds.
Also I am not sure if you are saying the walnut is a light color or not but walnut darkens some as it dries (the non sap part)
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slab them now and put end sealer on them.
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Slab them now and put end sealer on them. strap them down to something stiff and straight. Put stickers between the boards. If you can find someone with a mobile bandsaw mill I would recommend having them cut it for you it will be much better.
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AH Yes, i forgot to mention that you want to strap them on at least the ends and the middle. It for sure wont stop all movement but it will help it dry more flat.
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Thanks everyone for your help,I will free hand them into slabs on Monday,I need to get a new chainsaw blade when the shops open.Will also strap them
Finding a local sawmill might be worth the effort.
Cutting a log length wise is a chore.
Getting it relatively flat is another chore.