It started with a clogged carburetor and a pile of slash.
John McGrath, a homesteader in the Appalachian foothills, had spent three days clearing storm-damaged oak from his back forty. The trunk went to the sawmill. The branches—tons of them—went into a smoldering, smoky burn pile. That night, watching the news report on diesel prices hitting $5.50 a gallon, he did the math. He was literally burning energy to get rid of energy. It started with a clogged carburetor and a pile of slash
A gasoline engine expects vaporized liquid fuel. Wood gas is dry and has a different air-to-fuel ratio (about 1.2:1 by volume, compared to gasoline’s 14.7:1). The branches—tons of them—went into a smoldering, smoky
John McGrath’s original “Bible” has now been scanned and shared online. A free PDF version, including dimensional drawings and parts lists for three different gasifier sizes, is available through the Open Gasifier Project. A gasoline engine expects vaporized liquid fuel
Below 20% moisture. How to test? The “crack test.” Hit two pieces together. Dry wood makes a sharp, ringing crack. Wet wood thuds.