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.
