Hi Jim_H, welcome to DOW…
It is always good to read in and compare before you start building and i will ad my 2 cents to that…
If you are “dissapointed” with the quality from the Ben Peterson book/build and not quite well knowledgable in different gasifier type’s but you still want to start building your own gasifier; then i suggest you start with the Simple fire from Gary Gilmore and work your way up from that.
Where as i consider a FEMA as a smoking charcoaler unit ( the gas is smelly and tarry ) and where as a Simple fire is a charcoal gasifier that works amazingly well…
Then picture yourself a Mix from a good charcoal burner at the bottom and an excellent fema on top and you get yourself a WK.
(sorry for the poor comparing Wayne, the real WK is much better then my words can describe it )
Jim, the question is: what do you want to achieve ?
A short learning process ? nope, not gonna happen…
Its going to be a learning by doing process where as to learn and understand that your fuel and your gasifier are going to depend on YOUR skills… and then some…
The satisfaction when your engine run’s on woodgas… the lemon craving smile…
priceless… and rewarding…
Think about what YOU want, people on DOW are going to help you with their knowhow…
I have the WK book, its worth it..
I have all documents from Ben Peterson, worth it…
I have all books you can imagine about gasifiers… its worth it…
And still, i learn every day and still i build my own designs and learn from my mistakes…
The most i learn however , is from the encouragements from the members here on DOW
again: Priceless and worth it any given moment…