Cedar Log For Mantel, Should I Saw It Green, Or Let It Dry

[Woodmonkey]

I cut a cedar tree down today for my daughter's fireplace mantel. Should I go ahead and saw it green, or let it dry (and dry for how long) before sawing it up? It is about 14" in diameter, and she wants it about 3-4 inches thick.

[PC-Urban-Sawyer]

Saw it now, it will dry faster and with less defects.

Saw it oversize (maybe 1 - 2 inches thicker and wider) and resaw it to the final size after it has dried...

I don't know how long it will take to dry but cedar dries faster than most species.

Good Luck!

Herb

[Cedarman]

I would only saw it about 1/4" thicker and wider.  It won't shrink but a smidgeon, but will give you enough to plane to a smooth surface.  Paint or wax the ends and put in a dry place out of sunlight.  Should get down to 12 % in 3 or 4 months.  Air dried cedar is fine for a mantle.

[WDH]

The issue that I have had with cedar (and cherry in spades) left in the log and not sawn soon after felling is that the sapwood will crack and check.  If you saw it soon after felling, it will not be as prone to checking and cracking from the outside in, and your mantle will not have as many checks and cracks on the surface (which is what the eye sees).