newly sawn maple, how to keep bark on some edges

[herron1967]

My neighbor just had a maple tree cut down and I had a sawyer come up with his portable mill to make 5/4 (and a bit of 8/4) boards from the trunk. The operation was pretty successful although it was apparent that the maple had been tapped a number of times.

A few of the small pieces that were sawn off before the 5/4 was sawn have very nice patterns and are surrounded by bark. I do not have plans (or the time) to make anything with bark on it at the moment. However, I can envision a decorative piece that has bark, etc.

I am going to sticker the 5/4 and 8/4 boards and let them dry in my backyard. If I let the small pieces with bark dry as well, will the bark just dry up and fall off? I suspect so but I do not know. Should I seal the bark now, while the wood is freshly sawn? What is the best way to try to preserve some of the bark look?

Thanks, mh

[fredfighter]

It will probably fall off. Between the rough outer bark and the sapwood is a thin layer (the cambriam?) that is where the sap runs and that is the weakest part that dries to something like loose tissue paper.

Your best bet would probably be save the bark as it falls off, then when the wood is cured strip off the loose stuff and glue the bark back on.