SUCCESS!!

I did 4 things differently, and got a rolling boil at 10 min 30 sec.

1: opened the top of the double-wall for air flow through that space, in hopes of improving air flow into the secondary combustion area.
2: made sure no wood was bigger than a pencil, and mixed in quite a bit of smaller. all dry.
3: stopped loading at the low edge of the four secondary venturis. I had loaded up to the top before, an additional 1.5".
4. measured the quart of water, 32 oz. I had been using a bigger pot, and probably more like 2 quarts.

I got the boil without using a lid.

Had some smokiness from 5-8 minutes.
Went into charcoal burning, no flames, at 15 min. Temp 206
temp 206 at 20 min. The fire burned non-stop. (It had gone out several times each testing before today.)

Next time, I'll load predominantly pencil size sticks (1-2" long), with small ones at the top.
I'll also use a lid on the pot. And I'll stick around after 20 min to record temps, etc. I had to go walk before it got dark today.

Tomorrow I will also buy a taller 4" diameter can at the grocery store, for testing with a bigger batch of wood (same diameters though).

Anybody have the perfect wood-burning stove, home-made?