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The Wood Gas Stove - A Personal Testimony of Using the Wood Gas Stove

I’ve used a wood gas stove on all of my camping trips for the last 2 ½ years. Prior to that I was using a propane type burner that did satisfy all of my needs, but I didn’t like that I was dependent on how much of the relatively heavy propane I brought with me.

With the wood gas generator all you need is any type of dead biomass (think plant, branch, tree, pine cone, etc.) in your area. This biomass is then burned and the smoke that it creates is mixed with extra air (from a fan on the devise) to make an extremely hot and almost smoke free fuel. It’s much easier to start the devise with some type of starting fuel (think fire starter), unless the material that you will use is dry enough to burn right away (which it almost never is).

The Wood Gas Stove Uses Wood Scraps

However, once the devise is lit you don’t need to worry about it going out. The devise has a small fan with usually AAA batteries that power the fan. The fan will blow extra air (oxygen) into the smoke and will create a large and powerful flame.

This process also helps to conserve the fuel because it can take a reality small amount of brining material and with the oxygen that it force feeds it, creates a very hot and efficient flame. The fuel will eventually burn out and require more biomass material, but you will usually get one full cooking session out of each load (being approx 5 small sticks or a handful of pinecones

The Efficiency of the Wood Gas Stove

I once attempted to boil up too much water (1 gallon) and I had to keep loading in wood for it to reach a boil, but using a smaller container solves the problem. If you are going to be cooking eggs or breakfast food, one load will easily cook your food. Although it isn’t very functional without working AAA batteries (for the fan), I’ve had it 2 ½ years and I’ve only had to change the batteries once. Just keep a 4 pack with it when you buy the devise and it’s a non issue.

The biggest appeal is that outside of the batteries and fire starter, you have an almost endless heat source, if you need to cook your food or just want a very hot fire. Another advantage that this devise has going for it is that its not only much hotter fire than you typically get with wood, but there is almost no smoke.

Its actually quite strange at first to see such a hot flame that you know is coming from wood, but smoke isn’t pouring out. It’s because it’s mixed with extra oxygen and than literally burned up in the process.

Advantages of the Wood Gas Stove

It’s an advantage because people aren’t able to physically see where you are as the smoke is normally a dead giveaway. Also, you’re able to get much closure to the woodgas stove (due to the lack of smoke) and I’ve even had it indoors at my cabin before. Typically it’s a bad idea because the smoke fills the room and gets into eye/lungs, but its doable with this devise.

This devise is almost tailor made for me because I like to use it in camping or nature settings, but using it for tailgating isn’t really practical as you don’t typically have clean things to burn. You really should be burning wood type material for the best results, but if that’s the situation your in, no need to haul any wood with you as you will find anywhere.

The Wood Gas Stove LE

The actual model I use called “Woodgas camping stove LE” and it was given to me as a gift. I know there is a bigger model, but the one I have is just fine for my needs and it fits well in my backpack. It looks similar to a Folgers coffee can that’s metal and just think the top is open with a few grates across for a pan/pot to rest. The fan is under the devise and you take the top off to load the material. It has a strong handle and you just need a small pan to go with it.

I live in Seattle, Washington and that’s where I use the devise. Typically on 2-3 day weekend trips, but I’ve gone over a week with it. I strongly recommend to anyone who doesn’t want to be limited by propane or wet wood and also because it’s a much hotter flame than you can get with typical fire (non gas impregnated that is). Happy camping. To learn more about the Wood Gas Stove, click here. To Purchase the Wood Gas Stove, please visit our online store.

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