Sealing end grain before it checks
Moisture leaves a board many times faster through the end grain than through its faces. The ends shrink first, and the surface tears itself into checks while the middle is still wet.
The fix is to slow the ends down to the pace of the rest of the board. That means sealing them as soon as the boards are cut.
What works
- A wax emulsion made for the job, brushed on in two coats.
- Thick paint or old latex, if nothing else is at hand.
- Cutting an extra hand width off each end after drying, and treating it as the price of the method.
Seal the ends the same day the log is sawn. A day in the sun is enough to start a crack, and a crack that has started keeps growing.