I may have used all the oak from Mike’s, but I also brought home a lot of American Beech. I’m pleased with how little it has cracked, given it’s been two months since it fell. As long as I cut my blanks through the pith and along the existing cracks, I think I’ll be okay. I’ve read a lot on forums etc. about beech. One thing I’m learning is that if you read 5 posts, you’ll get 5 different opinions. As is true with anything online, it’s probably best to take it all in, but rely more on your own experience.