I know I haven't been here in a while, been busy with a motorcycle restore and restoring four blades...

So I cut down a tree a few weeks ago, forget what type, but its a relatively hard wood with beautiful lines and decided I should use it for my first attempt at scales. Cut a block out of a branch, planed the sides, and getting ready to start carving and cutting. Any special things I should do to the wood to get it ready? It seems relatively dry, but should I pop it in the oven for a few hours? Any suggestions on what I should do? Thanks a lot!