Closed Container

If one heats wood in a closed container you get water coming off first, then wood gas, and ultimately your left with charcoal in the container. Wood gas is highly flammable vapor. For those that have the appropriate items, try this out:

• Take an old 5-20 gallon spray paint pot (the bigger the better). You know the ones used to paint houses, and barns. They have a pressure regulator on top and a rubber gasket under the top that clamps down. Air is pumped in and paint is forced up a pipe in the center.
• Take the regulator off and plug all holes except for one, for the gas to come out. Adapt a hose to run to a propane gas carburetor on a car, truck, and/or generator.
• Put wood chips or branches in the bottom of the pot. Build a fire under the pot. Vent off the water until you can get the gas vapor to burn. Then close off the vent and build up pressure until able to be regulated and you can attempt to start your engine.
• Be sure to leave the pop off valve in the pot or install one if it doesn't have one. This is encase the pressure builds up too high to fast.
• If the rubber seal gets too hot it will decompose. This can be replaced with silicon rubber which will withstand much higher temperatures. There may be better high temperature pressure pots that can be used.

The downside to all this is - once the wood is changed into charcoal you need to stop and open the pot and put more wood in - close it and go through the cycle again of heating it getting rid of the water vapor, etc. Also once you are out of wood - you will need to wait until something grows.

Offered by Mike.