[72c20customcamper]

Originally Posted by mr.mud1

today i had a couple stumps sawed up into 2 1/2 inch thick slabs.i plan this winter when i have some spare time,whenever that is???to built some benches for here in the new shop and around the fire pit.

I've milled a lot of wood and in my experience it takes about a year per inch thickness to air dry for most wood some longer .If you rush it after its milled it will develop sever cracks. I made the mistake of making a bench out of ash that had been standing dead for years without proper drying it developed sever cracks .

My drying is usually 2 years and then move the wood into the house and let it acclimate for a few weeks before taking a saw to it . This oak will take at least 3 years to dry ,it was cut down in spring 2000 left in 10 ft log length and milled last month and was still wet. Even sealing the ends it cracked severely on the ends so I had to cut a ft off each end milled then seal it again . It's now stickered and weighted in my barn