re: Wood working question- Update: Finished pics on page 3

This is something I would not do.

I worke din a saw mill/ lumber yard for quite a while. When you start getting into the board, you will start seeing splits and stuff that are going to make you regret this. SAnding is going to be too much work if it doesnt rip the wood apart. If I were you I would go have tounge and groove made out of it or Philly strips. You can have that run through a planer and the size will be uniform and ready to glue and tack down.