Might it be best to just store a whole 2' section of trunk (HEAVY!!!) in the garage for a couple of years, allow whatever checking there's going to be to occur on the cut ends while the rest is held together, then cut a slice from the middle? Or is that just going to release pent-up tension and invite cracking? The local sawmill was no help; they just do lumber. Chris Bobbitt [log in to unmask]