Timber drying/cutting advice please

98-00

I have a section of oak 10ft long by 2.5ft diameter. I would like make something from the timber.
Is it better to send it to the saw mill then dry it in planks or dry it as a log and cut it down?
It has being out in the weather since it fell over a year ago.

tabby aspreme

Get it sawn into planks first , then stack it out to dry with spacers between the planks, oak needs about a year / inch thickness of plank to air dry , if it dries to quickly it will case harden and will not be suitable for furniture

98-00

Thanks.
Have follow up questions about cutting patterns. My plan is to use part of it to make a Roubo style workbench which requires some large timber, 5-6 inches for the top. The rest would be planks. I'd like to get the best pattern to reduce bending as it dries

tabby aspreme

Get it sawn into 1 and 2 inch planks for drying, then laminate them for final use , a single 6 inch thickness plank would not be stable and impossible to dry , ask the sawmill to quarter saw the log , this will give you the most stable boards.