Scored some Nice black Walnut ... Help

[OneFunGuy]

Hey all,

Seems the gun smithing area is dominated by AK stuff.
Perhaps AK gunsmithing should have it's own section?

Anyway, I was given a bunch of black walnut wood.
The tree was just cut down a few weeks ago. It was two foot across.

I want to build two pistol grips and one gurka knife handle.
I have a complete shop, only missing a spindle sander.

I have cut everything down to workable sizes. 7"X12".

I have cut out the cracking portions and white wood.

Do I need to do anything to prevent the "nice wood" from cracking?
I would hate to put a lot of work into raw wood, just to have it crack.

tommy

[swifty]

Typically the ends are coated with Anchorseal, and the wood is allowed to dry.

[Fjold]

It has to dry for a few years. Coat the grain of the cut ends with wax to keep it from splitting and stack it with spacers between the boards to let it dry evenly. It also helps to have it out of the weather in a dry area. The rafters of the garage work well or even your attic.

[sarge1572]

Here's a short article from the University of Missouri.

http://extension.missouri.edu/publications/DisplayPub.aspx?P=G5507

good luck
Jeff