drying slab cut off of hickory log for end grain cutting board

[sadams]

I cut a few 4" thick slabs off of the end of a large hickory log yesterday to use eventually (hopefully) for a few single-piece mondo end-grain cutting boards / table tops. Per your suggestions I made a jig to use my router as a planer to square up the surfaces. Worked great. Alright, my next question has to do with drying these slabs, or not. I know about the need to air-dry rough cut hardwoods for a few years when using it in a traditional fashion. Been there, done that. But what about the need for long-term drying for my application? This tree has been down for 6 months. The end of the log had several 1/16 inch gaps, but nothing greater than that. An inch into the end of the log and no cracks at all - solid. I would like to believe that I could go ahead and make by chopping blocks without further air-drying these 4" slabs, but I am afraid of ending up with cavernous splits in them months or years ahead. What if I just oil the heck out of them (Walnut oil)? Am I fooling myself in thinking I dont have to dry the slabs for at least a year?

[LITLHOF]

Sadams:
Some woodturners soak large turning pieces in denatured alcohol.
I have not tried it myself, but have heard it works well. Look on one of the woodturning sites, and you should find directions there.
Best regards, Litlhof.