Well Black Walnut isn’t a fast rotter so I assume he’ll have no problem keeping it 8 years. I’m of German heritage and an ex Mason but I’m still not convinced. Then again I never built one so,,,,,,,
I've got a holz hausen made of mostly white pine with some Norway spruce tossed in the center that's been stacked (and top covered) since fall 2020. I keep threatening to, but one of these years I swear I'm going to start burning it The wood still looks fine. I think it's been proven that they slow the drying process compared to conventional row stacking, and in my own experience I've observed the same. The only real benefit are the aesthetics and the fact that you can throw a lot of wood in one without taking up a ton of real estate. Not having a top cover on it is foolhardy IMO though. All that rainwater running through the center of the pile, with very limited airflow... not so great.
Ive heard numerous times how BW heartwood is very rot resistant and IINM you can buy it in standard lumber sizes from specialty mills/yards. I have access to fell a medium sized BW yard tree. I should get after it soon before the guy cuts it down himself and turns it into fireplace lengths. Id still like to build a set of Adirindack chairs from the eight or so (black locust, black walnut, cherry, Eastern red cedar, honey locust, mulberry, sassafras, white oak) rot resistant woods around here. IK keep talking about it and maybe some day before I kick the bucket. Sitting in one at our hotel by the firepit got me thinking about it again.
Ahh but it is. I think it’s listed in the medium category of rot resistence IIRC. Saw a list some years back and was surprised myself to see it listed there. Maybe I shouldn’t be surprised. My doorbell is a mechanical version instead of electric consisting of a series of wooden gears inside the house that actuate a cast iron barn bell. Outside there’s a wheel with an handle,,,,,temporary. I wanted to find one of those old curved spoke cast iron cranks like on an antique coffee grinder for outside. In the mean time I made a solid wheel of western red cedar and the handle of cherry. Just scraps left over from building the house. That was 1993-1994. Both are still out there in the weather. The cherry started breaking down a couple years ago. It was a fragile configuration design with parts less than 1/4” thick to begin with. I’d say it held up quite well. Never bothered looking for that coffee grinder wheel. The doorbell was decommissioned not long after finishing it. It was too much fun for my friends to come over on a Saturday morning and wake the dead. It is frickin loud,,,,too loud. LOL
Based on my observations for the most part. I often see cherry spars, fallen logs where the sapwood is long gone but the heartwood is solid. Yes the heartwood as is the case on oak. Possibly on BW and HL. This copy/pasted from a Google search: Yes, black cherry wood is known for its high resistance to rot and decay, making it suitable for outdoor use and in environments where moisture is present. Characteristics of Black Cherry Wood Black cherry wood has several notable features regarding its durability. Rot Resistance — Black cherry heartwood is rated as very durable and resistant to decay. Moisture Resistance — It remains resistant to rotting even when exposed to moisture for extended periods. Workability — Black cherry is considered one of the best woods for workability, making it popular for furniture and cabinetry. Natural Oils — The wood contains natural oils that contribute to its decay resistance, enhancing its longevity outdoors.
nah, that harkens back to my early teens experimenting with gunpowder in confined spaces and one really bad decision LOL
