This is Steve Ember with the VOA Special English DevelopmentReport.

Sawdust is what remains after trees and logs are cut up intoboards for building houses and other structures. In many parts ofthe world, sawdust is considered waste. It is thrown away or leftfor the rain to wash away.

Sawdust is not often thought of as a fuel. It is difficult toburn, although fine particles of sawdust can explode if there is afire or spark nearby. Yet it is possible to burn sawdust to provideheat or to cook food. One way is to build a stove from two roundmetal containers, or drums. To build one, place a one hundred literdrum inside a two hundred liter drum. The smaller drum is held inplace by a false floor that connects to the larger drum.

Three metal legs support the large drum. The legs hold thestructure above the ground. Beneath the false floor is a space wherethe sawdust fuel is placed. There are holes in the false floorallowing air to pass through.

As the sawdust burns, smoke passes from the small drum that doesnot have a cover to the larger drum that is covered. Pipes areplaced in the wall of the outside drum to carry smoke outside. Thespace for the fuel and the holes in the pipes can be changed if moreor less heat is desired.

To make the fuel, place the sawdust inside a round, woodencontainer that is about one meter across. Leave a hole in themiddle. Make the sawdust hard by hitting it over and over again witha stick or stone. Then remove the wooden container very carefully.

The sawdust keeps the same shape it had when it was inside thewooden container. Place small pieces of paper into the hole. Whenthe paper is lighted with fire from a match, the sawdust around itbegins to burn. It is important that the sawdust be as dry aspossible. With dry sawdust, this double-drum stove can heat a smallroom for six to eight hours.

During the first two hours of burning, there is enough heat atthe center of the cover on the larger drum to boil water or to cookfood. In addition to sawdust, other kinds of waste from sawmills canbe burned in the stove.

You can get more information about how to make a double-drumstove from the group Volunteers in Technical Assistance. This groupis on the Internet at vita.org. This VOA Special English DevelopmentReport was written by Gary Garriott. This is Steve Ember.