I was thinking about growing my own balsa, but decided that it was vastly more cost effective to simply purchase it. I've not given up however on the idea of rafting down the Amazon in search of some choice 4# balsa logs...

I would have to surmise that unless you're intending to make tens of thousands of gallons of said "fuel", then the costs and hassle associated with making your own methanol would be ridiculously out of line with the the end results. Not sure your neighbors would enjoy living next door to a refinery either. Yes?

Just buy it.