I believe wood turners (using burls) keep the wood packed in sawdust to keep the wood from drying too quickly.
I am getting ready to build a large clock to put in my gun shop using a crosscut section from one of our Maples which needed to go to accommodate the new sugarhouse. The tree was dropped in early June with many of the branches left on in case that helps remove some of the sap from the trunk. The roots are exposed as I dug it out and pulled it over vs cutting it and then digging the stump out.
I plan to put a 28" bar on my chainsaw and start cutting as close to the stump as I can to get a larger clock face and look for staining. I am not sure how high I will have to go....but I plan to take the final slab and wrap it with a steel band that is nearly as thick as the slab. I plan to use one or two bolt point (12 and 6 o'clock) to allow for adjustment to keep the band tight.
As I just typed that paragraph as thought crawled into my head...check out the band-it system. We started using it last year for our fittings and it worked great. This system is the one used to hold signs on posts on he highway. It is also used for larger pipe fittings (light pump hose). I think you could try this out and continually tighten as needed when the wood changes size. Some extra work, but it may be worth it.
Mike
Tapping since 1985 (four generations back to early to mid 1900s). 200-250 taps on buckets and then tubing in the mid 90s. 2013- 275 taps w/sap puller 25 gal. 2014-295 taps w/sap puller 55 ga. (re-tapped to vacuum theory) 2015-330 taps full vac. 65 gal, 2016-400 taps 105 gal, 2017-400 taps 95 gal. 2018-additional 800' mainline and maybe 400 new taps for a total near 800 taps. 2x6 Leader WSE (last year on it) supported by a 250 gph RO.