# @caleb.kford on Instagram

- **Type:** Image
- **Original URL:** https://www.instagram.com/p/CLMnPo6gxBx
- **Gondola URL:** https://gondola.cc/posts/19239935-calebkford-instagram
- **Thumbnail:** https://img.gondola.cc/tr:w-,h-,fo-auto/postThumbnails/legacy-do/6ae2b4ef4bc0a1f4330d364132ba706c4577d14c664559afd06163a7524a6229.jpg
- **Posted:** 2021-02-12T15:24:37.000+00:00
- **Account Owner:** Caleb Ford (@Caleb.kford) — https://gondola.cc/Caleb.kford

## Caption

I always love to challenge myself and learn something new. Today I decided to make myself some palm torches. This project involved using the wood lathe, metalworking (specifically dishing and tapping), welding, and fabric work. I will post a video of their first flame in a few days. 

This project definitely taught me a couple things, and I have some hindsight I wish I thought of. Nothing dangerous, just things i would have done slightly different. I guess that just means I'll have to make another more improved one in the future. 😆 I'd also like to thank muirheaddan and northern.armour for some helpful advise and idea sharing. 

The dish is actually a galvanized vent cap. Using my lathe, I made a dishing mold out of a 4x4 post and peened the cap until it had the cupped shape I wanted. 

Then onto the mig welder, first I removed as much of the galvanized as I could with a wire wheel, then welded the steel cable to the concave side and a 10-32 bolt to the other side to act as the finger grip. I welded the top of the steel cable so it wouldn't fray. At this point I had a snag and snapped the bolt, so I had to re-weld that. 

After that it was clean up, which I could have spent a bit more time on, then off to sewing. I used 6 inches of 3 inch wide Kevlar cloth, folded in half to make a 1.5 inch wick. 

Attaching the cloth was something I had to figure out. What I ended up doing (and I wish I got picture of it) was opening the cable up in the middle and stitching the Kevlar through. Ideally on the next set, I add a small bolt or something to make a more solid fixture but I think this will hold fine for palm torches. Then, the Kevlar was tightly wrapped around the cable, twisted until I couldn't twist anymore, the end was folded over and it was stitched closed.

In the future I will print some finger grips, the bolt and nut work great but it's not the most comfortable thing. Having something shaped to fingers will help with extended periods of wearing. 

If you've made it to the end of this, I hope you enjoyed. I certainly did! Thank you 😊

#madeathing #maker #palmtorches #fire #fireprop #iliketomakestuff #welding #metalworking #dishing #kevlar #dayproject

## Stats

- **Views:** 0
- **Likes:** 44
- **Shares:** 0
- **Comments:** 4

## Tags

welding, metalworking, fire, maker, dayproject, dishing, palmtorches, madeathing, iliketomakestuff, fireprop, kevlar

---
Copyright (c) Gondola