How to dry fresh beech wood?

[Mr Rapsod]

I notice that fresh beech wood crack very badly. Is there any method to dry beech wood and avoid cracks? I cut down from big log a small block for japanese dai and it crack tomorrow.

[Tom Sontag]

I do not have experience drying beech but have read that it is difficult to dry. The defect you describe is from drying too quickly. Dry it v e r y slowly. The only risk of going too slow is blue stain fungus or rot. My defense against blue stain is to let each board's surface dry a bit before stickering. Stand it up letting air around it for a few hours or put an oscillating fan on it for a short time before stickering. But then put it deep in a stack with lots of stickers and weight on top and with no heat or wind or sun and hope for the best. Good luck!

[Ken Salisbury]

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