Thread: Drying branches/round pieces

I've got this tree (attached) out the front that is going to come down eventually due to it being half dead, pretty ratty and encroaching on the driveway, and I'd like to use some of the branches for tea light candle holders and the like.

Basically the holders are pieces of the branch between 50mm and 150mm long with a roughtly 20mm deep hole drilled in one end with a forstner bit to hold the candle in its foil/glass tray.

Should I dry the whole branch before cutting or, make the pieces slightly over length for trimming later or, make them exact length, all before drying? And is there a particular way they should be treated, stacked and whatever, to stop the ends splitting while drying and well after the final pieces have been made?

And just out of interest, does anyone know what species the tree is? Just so I can say "these are made from X, isn't that dandy". If it's worth it I might also take some little slabs from the trunk (if it's viable) for some smallish boxes (ie pencil cases).

Cheers