Jim,

Are you sure Jack had you rive the pegs from "red" oak and not "white" oak? Red oak isn't very good for moisture (rot) resistance as it capilates water through it's open cell structure. White oak is commonly used for trunnels due to its strength and flexibilty, plus its cell structure is full of residual tyloses which stop capilation making it very rot resistant.

In either case it's critical to rive pegs only from the "heartwood" rather than "sapwood". The sapwood is extremely rot prone and much weaker. It can be easily identified in fresh cut oak (best for riving) by its light creamy color. In dryer billets it will often appear dark or mottled due to the beginning of fungal attack. There's usually 1"-2" just beneath the bark.

Once the green pegs are riven, they should be "cross-stacked" or spread out to dry in a shady area. Slow drying is important as is keeping them from growing fungus. A trick the Amish peg makers use is to mist them with kerosene and hang them up to dry cross stacked in wire egg baskets.

If you do decide to rive you own pegs, you are in for a real zen treat. It is good work.

Rudy