I have been tossing around the idea of a medieval tiki torch - something that looks like a Torch, but the use of a Tiki...

Anyway, I found that the Dollar Tree is selling Tiki Torches for a Dollar each. They come in striking colors like Red, White, and Blue... yeah, not all that medieval. But! they do come with a torch canister and a screw top that already has a wick in it and the price is absolutely right.



This is the initial mock up of it. What I intend upon doing with it is cut strips of 14ga sheet metal to make up the 'basket' and attach that to 1.25" x 1.25" pieces of wood. I will eventually put up a tutorial for this.

I bring all this up because I will be making more that just a couple of them and will be selling them at Rag. Also, I bring it up as there may be a couple of you that may also want to make them as well. For the price of materials I am looking at about $3 each, selling them for about $10 or so. Might not be a bad way to make a bit of income...

Looks good. The only thing I would do differently is add another cuff around the bottom/wood part and drill a few holes in that (so that people could screw them on to the wood).

Will you be making them for general camp use, as well?

Good call. Yeah, I was thinking about another ring on the bottom, but using screws to attach the head would work just as well. I was thinking about just nailing it in (making the nail heads look appropriate of course), but a discreet screw or two would work pretty well.

As far as making them for camp... I can, but, I would like a bit of assistance in that arena. It all costs money and I don't have a lot of disposable income. I can afford a couple for camp... but, if the rest of you want me to make a number of them for camp, I can do that too. So, I guess a good solid number on how many we want and the funds to build them, all at cost of course.

I was thinking of both the ring and the screws. The ring would add asthetics and the screws would help secure it down.

I don't have money to contribute, but I do have a bunch of bar stock laying around, if that would help you. What would "at cost" be for us (is that the $3 that you quoted?). Also, I might be able to get into the smithy to make a couple (so if you could get the pattern up in a couple weeks, that would be awesome).

$2 for the head, $3 for a completed set... so, like if we would want to put them onto the tops of the camp wall and there already being a supply of wall poles, then I wouldn't charge for the poles.

Yeah, I will get the patterns up in the next week or so where you would be able to make some on your own.

Oh hell, I have that much in change lying on the ground next to my desk. I'll take 2 heads pls.

Well... after doing some work and research... The heads from the Dollar Tree are about half the size of that of a standard Tiki Torch. Also, after having made one, while they are simple enough to do, not simple enough to mass produce them for general sale.

I will still get a tutorial up so that you can make your own. (unfortunately the site having heartburn has taken a bit of my time getting that worked out and it still isn't done... *sigh*)

What else that I have found is that WalMart sells tiki's for $3 each. I picked a couple of up and will get a tutorial made for them as well.

So, here is the new deal. I will make some for camp provided I know that people will pay for them at Rag (Those in HM).

Complete:
Small @ $4
Large @ $6

Head (Tiki Container & Basket)
Small @ $3
Large @ $5

Basket Only @ $2 (Both Sizes)

This will be just enough to cover my expenses in making them.

I just realized I had containers sitting outside from past tikis. If I could get 3 large baskets instead, that would be cool. Obviously, I will donate them for camp use (as long as I have one of these outside my tent).