Cookie Monster

[chainspinrunner]

I have been saving some cookies here and there from firewood cutting. I have some really nice Sugar maple that are 24in.diameter and have about 35 tap marks all around(real puurdy when finished).  I cut them off of the log about 2 and 1/2 years ago and they just checked on me last summer. I thought they were good after 2 years, but i guess not... I did not use and special drying techniques, just let them sit in the barn. I have many others and was wondering if anyone has any good techniques for drying cookies without checking, other than a kiln.

[Fla._Deadheader]

 Do a Google search of the forum. There are several threads about drying "Cookies". 

[James P.]

Never dried a cookie or a bowl but have read in the past about using a plastic bag and just turning the bag inside out and back again . Not sure about frequency but it may be a safe guard. you would think after a couple years it would have been good. Did you move them inside or somewhere that humidity level was much lower. I think its a good heads up you posted your experience.

[solidwoods]

Almost all Cookies check just like limbs used for fire wood (non split limbs/pieces).
Puting Cookies in a kiln won't help either.  The geometry in a round is such that the stress from its shrinkage must be relieved somehow, hence a crack.
Things you can do are:
End seal it with Anchor seal.
Dry it as slow as it will allow.
If/when the area where the stress crack begins shows you can cut the Cookie in half continue to dry it, then straighten and glue it back together.
jim

[jim king]

Many times I will bury cookies under sawdust to slow thw drying but if they do crack I fill the cracks with resin and sawdust and insert butterflies.  Most of the time the cracked peices turn out looking nicer than the uncracked.