Stave Sealing?

[Roadking71865]

How soon after cutting the stave do you need to seal the ends.  If it takes a week or so will it be OK?

[Roy from Pa]

I seal them as soon as I put the chainsaw down. After a week you can expect checks. If your log is over 6 feet long, like maybe 7 or 8 feet, the checks might not hurt as you can cut the ends off again, then seal the ends right away. Either way you will get some stave's out of it.

[scrub-buster]

I cut mostly osage and I do like Roy does.  Once the tree hits the ground I cut it to length and then seal the ends right there in the woods.  Once I get the logs out and back to my shop, I'll seal them again.  And when I remove the bark and sapwood, I'll seal them again while sealing the back.  I'd rather waste a little shellac than waste bow wood.