How to: fusion reactor

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Mr. Sanns, 51 years old, is part of a small subculture of gearheads, amateur physicists and science-fiction fans who are trying to build fusion reactors in their basements, backyards and home laboratories.
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Many of these hobbyists call themselves "fusioneers," and have formed a loosely knit community that numbers more than 100 world-wide. Getting into their elite "Neutron Club" requires building a tabletop reactor that successfully fuses hydrogen isotopes and glows like a miniature star. Only 42 have qualified; some have T-shirts that read "Fusion -- been there...done that."
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Mr. Hull started on his fusion path in late 1997, when science-fiction author and electrical-engineering technologist Tom Ligon visited Mr. Hull's home for the amateur-science event. Mr. Ligon brought with him a model of a fusor that he called "Dog and Pony Show I." Only a demo, the device didn't actually fuse atoms, but it did light up like a neon light in a plastic chamber -- and Mr. Hull was hooked. He built his own fusor in "literally 31 days," he says, and is now preparing to build his fifth.
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Articles: here and here.

And the really cool site: the open source fusor research consortium (here).