About fourteen years ago, two friends of mine and I bought about $300 worth of oak from some guy who sawed it himself. My share is of varying lengths and widths, and is 3/4" thick. It has been sitting down my basement for all this time. I doubt if I will ever use it for anything else. The only problem with it is that it has always had a bit of an unpleasant smell to it.

Am I likely to get cracking or anything else problematical?

Do I need to use an oak filler? If so, what brand is good?