Log is Splitting!?

[Clay Kennerk]

I was asked to build a gavel for my fraternity at my college. We used wood from one of our retreats which happened to be Ash. When we cleaned the hammer of the gavel, ash log, with the lathe we noticed how cracked it was. My father remembered that he used to have a wood soak that involved Linseed Oil, and other ingredients, that would expand the wood and make the cracks "disappear." Unfortunately, due to dry Indiana winter weather, the cracks are getting worse and, so far, I cannot find anything on the internet. I would like to find a soak to submerge the log into or another solution that would not make the log look pathetic. This gavel is amazing and my whole fraternity loves it, so the last thing I want to do is ruin the gavel. Thank you for all of your help!!

[Skunkeye]

You can stabilize some cracks with cyanoacrylate glue, bigger ones with epoxy. Pics would be helpful.

[duckkisser]

where are the cracks showing up is it on the outside of the cylinder? on the ends? both? is the wood from off the ground or had it been drying for a while? did it come from a branch or from a log? usualy the cracks start at where the center of the tree is so. too keep wood from cracking i know they usualy cut a slab out of the middle of the tree the holds the very center of the tree. then alot of boards are cut from the parts that they have cut off. from the outside of the very center. im guessing your wood is green and it does what it naturaly does and thats release presure by shrinking as it drys quickly which causes spliting and cracking. your best bet if its green wood is right after rough turning coat in anchor seal so it dries slowly then in a year or two you turn it again and it should be stable by then. sorry and good luck