Angy! Wow great reply!

Ok so why does it strain that way, that is the real question. Why does
it shrink on the outside more than the inside?

The reason I think is this. When I look at a round disk of wood, as its
drying, you can see the darkness change as it dries. It dries faster on
the outside of the disk, than the inside. That's why it splits.

Why does it dry faster on the outside of the disk? Because it has more
surfaces through which to evaporate (i.e. the outer surface, where the
bark may be). The inside part of the disk can only evaporate through
the front of back of the disk. Anyway, the disk does look like its
darker on the inside and dry on the edge, when I look at one, its
fairly obvious.

Well, anyway, that's my hypothesis anyway.

Comments?

Dean