Lots of people have experimented with just about any type of fuel you can imagine, and many of them have written in the forums here about their experiences. Most alternatives to stick wood require some type of feeder, and there are plenty of variations if you search the forum for a particular fuel.
One blast from the ray gun turned half a town into a guy named ray. Just like this tiny ad:
Contemplate spending the next 20 years building a better world in montana
