I cut up wood for my furnace, and sometimes I get some nice looking
cross sections that my wife wants to be made into coffee tables and the
like. Imagine: 24" diameter and around 2-4 inches thick, cross cut from
a maple or oak tree.

Now I know that if I leave them to dry they will split. How can I stop
this? I plan to plane and sand the top side, do I need to oil the wood
or wax it or do something else to it, so that it won't split?
Thanks all!

-Dean