The small and mighty Ranger was just what we needed for a fun night on our small patio. With only fallen sticks gathered up from around the yard and a couple small logs, we had a fire that lasted several hours. It roasted marshmallows super quick and I was pleasantly surprised with the heat it gave off. There was very little smoke, except for a damp log I used that smoked some. Having the base to place the stove on was nice, so I didn't have to worry about the concrete underneath scorching or discoloring. The stove itself was hot to the touch on the sides, but not hot enough to immediately cause a burn if someone were to brush up against it. After all the wood was burned, I used oven mitts and moved it under cover so it wouldn't be rained on during the night as it cooled. The next morning I simply dumped the ashes in the trash. Easy! I love it and this little stove will be getting put to good use for a long time!