curing cherry root burls

[david milton]

a neighbor has recently given me permission to make use of a considerably large cherry stump. the stump has five basketball size root burls that are exposed (wondering if there are more beneath the surface). i was wondering if anyone had any insight as of how to propperly cure the entire stump without cracks or checks. i want to use the entire thing to make a glass-top table.

[Richard Coers]

Without cracks and checks? None? Impossible. Too many stresses will develop as the wood shrinks. You might try to boil it, or submerge it in denatured alcohol, or find someone with a vacuum kiln. All ways that woodturners work with bowl blanks, but with that size, I'd say nature will have to take it's course.