Hey AuG,
I finally got 2 AA batteries into my little "woodgas" campstove and tried it out (making my camp coffee for the last several weeks). That lil' fucker is pretty damn nifty!
It only took about 2 elapsed minutes to bring 2 cups of water to a boil (approximately natural gas times from what I recall, and a damn sight quicker than an electric range).
Strangely, the best fuel I found were the old twigs that I trimmed and snapped off the old lilac bushes nearby (hardwoods like juniper/cedar, cherry, etc. should be excellent). The bigger stuff that I split with my camp axe and charcoal didn't work quite as well, but it still worked. Kinda cool to gather your own "fuel" from anywhere without using tools (but I did use a good pair of gloves), aside from the 2 AA battery thing for the fan. I'm already planning on getting a PV solar car battery charger adapted, and modifying the fan circuit to get more than 2 speeds [damn engineers anyway ;) ]. Plus, you don't have that stinking, messy liquid fuel or heavy, clanking, low-altitude (often empty) propane bottle thing.
It is a little tricky to figure out cooking on the hydrogen/carbon monoxide "woodgas" flame at first, but it burns damn hot (hotter than a propane stove, I'd say, and we have a problem getting propane to ignite above 8,000 feet out this way). I was only at about 5300 feet AMSL though when I tried it, so I can't attest to it's high-altitude performance (although these stoves are made in CO)- I'll try that out in the next few months though (I know a spot about 11,000 feet that I frequent). There is nearly NO smoke when you get it dialed in right, unless you choke out the flame (easily fixed with a match or lighter when it smokes)- this usually occured when adding fuel too quickly.
My old Mom is sold on them and wants me to order her one (she's internet-challenged). The new ones are stainless steel, but I kinda like my apparently "old school" kelly green model too.
Give it a look- now they apparently have 2 sizes.
http://www.woodgascampstove.com/
