OK, folks, I have decided that a special friend of our family deserves a special gift. Next month she will celebrate her Bat Mitzvah, so I have chosen to make her a treasure box. I have selected a piece of the fallen spalted silver maple as the lower portion. I have preformed the diameter which is about 10", and it'll be about 5" thick when I am done. I check moisture with HF moisture meter, and on the fresh cut ends it's about 10%. I've since placed it in a plastic bag with dry sawdust to try to help it get to an even 8% MC. I plan to add a rim of kiln dried walnut, and a lid of the walnut with a finial of ebonized walnut. I will also make a sterling silver horse to make a removable inlay to be worn as a pendant.
I will post some pictures as I proceed. But, will the silver maple at 8% be stable with no pith? If I add the rim of kiln dried walnut, with that help to minimize movement, or cause it to act worse?
If all else fails, the pendant will be a treasure gift, because she's an avid equestrian.
What thinks y'all (Nashville-speak)?