Wood drying question

[Hengelo_77]

I've been given a three logs of Common Laburnum (aburnum anagyroides)
with nice dark wood.
They're about a month old and are round with the bark still on them

I want to dry them properly.
So sealing the ends with paint.
Will any paint do?
Do I need to remove the bark to improve drying?

Any other tips?
They are app. 5"to 8" diameter, how long will it take before the wood can be used?

 

[Atlas Knife Company]

It will take a couple years to dry. A friend cut some walnut into boards then stacked 1" apart and left alone, untreated for 3 years. Turned out very nice.

 

[John L]

If you can cut them to thickness this will sped up drying and checking in unwanted locations. If you want to dry "in the round" or "boule" then remove bark as critters love bark, make one lengthwise cut in log to center and most of the subsequent splitting or movement will occur here at your cut. Paint ends...most any paint will do and good luck......am not familiar with labernum....but almost all logs will improve from above process.

 

[PB Wilson]

Like John L said, get rid of the bark and make that cut if you're not sawing it into boards or blocks.

What I'd do is check the yellow pages for local bandsaw mills. They can make short work of the logs, cut them the way you want and it'll make drying easier and quicker.

Good luck.