A Wind Screen For My Torch

One of the things I knew I would be doing at the recent 18th Century Trades Fair was using an open flame, to 1) heat up a waxing iron to use for applying a molten wax finish, and 2) cooking hot animal hide glue.

I have a couple old alcohol burners but neither would hold up to the least little bit of wind in the open.  So, in order to make these processes part of my presentation I needed a wind screen inside of which the burners could reside while in use.

Browsing my handy supply of scrap metal I found the perfect piece of heavy copper flashing and set to cutting with my hand shears once I made the measurements of the burners.

Since I could not put my hands on my tinsmith’s stake I grabbed a 2-1/2″ maple rod to use as my form for bending the copper sheet and drilling rivet holes and then pounded the copper rivets on my anvil.  The design is quirky and inelegant but works like a charm.  Only after use in battle will I know if I need to punch a few breathing holes to keep the flame lit.

One thing is for sure, a small alcohol lamp (or even candle) can provide a lot of calories and if they can be concentrated can heat up something pretty efficiently.  I had this re-purposed tinsmith iron hot enough for melting and spreading block beeswax in just a few minutes.  Ditto my small double boiler glue pot.

I cut a piece from my metal stock inventory to make a handle, which does get mighty hot after an extended use.  I’ll have to wrap it with some cordage or such to insulate it for handling.