Drying mulberry billets

[LittleBen]

Just acquired 3 billet length pieces of mulberry. Put a coat of wipe on poky onto the end of the logs yesterday, and split is today. There is some checking from before I found it.

What should I put on the ends to stop checking. Wipe on poly does not make a thick coating at all.

Also should I debark? If I debark should I seal tey back.

I'd like to debark them now because the bark seems like it wants to peel right off

[LittleBen]

Can I just spray paint the ends? I have spray paint.

[LESKEN2011]

Ben. I have sprayed shellac on the ends, but the best success I have had was a 50/50 titebond and water mix, dipping the ends several times over a several hour period. I milled an osage tree last year and immediately dipped the ends and after a little over a year, no checking.

[John Scifres]

Don't debark unless you take the sapwood off too.  Shellac is my favorite sealer.

[Bowjunkie]

Yes, shellac in a lidded can, not a spray can. Brush on a second coat after the first dries... about 1/2 hour.

You can drawknife off the bark and sapwood, taking them down to a single ring, and then seal with shellac. They'll be fine.

[Dan Landis]

Ben, If you're not going to remove the bark and sapwood be sure to treat with an insecticide.  I left some in the loft of my garage with the bark on and found it full of borers a year later.