flame cutting tiny holes

Sure it's not just done electrically? I've previously used a copper point, and a capacitor charged to a few dozen volts to cut tiny holes in razor blades.

There's always the Smith Little Torch, the problem with that is that the large surface area sinks away heat faster than the torch can generate it. Is this an existing work that you're trying to emulate or something you've thought of to do? If it's an existing work, are you sure the holes were burned with a torch and not with something else, say an electric arc? Or maybe just punched by some method? Etching with acid and a resist pattern would also be another method.

Stan

You might try Smith Equipment's Little Torch. This torch, I am more than sure, will let you achieve the results you are seeking.

HTH PJ

Could the original shade have been pierced by a plasma cutter? My neighbor has some sheet steel garden decorations that were done this way and resemble O/A torch cuts, just much cleaner. ERS

You could use EDM ( electric discharge machining ) to make tiny holes or a punch or a drill ( if the holes are round ), or etch them if the material is not very thick. Dan

My uncle used to make decorative flowerpot hangars by burning holes and slots into discarded 1 gallon paint cans. I saw him do holes down under

-- Regards, Carl Ijames carl.ijames at verizon.net

I have the victor version of this torch. it's a lot of fun with a tin can....

This sounds like what the holes look like, you can tell they have melted around the edges and they're round but irregular.

Thanks to everyone that replied. Adriaan Gerber -->

I've done exactly that. Made butterflies out of blackplate from 1# tomato cans. Cut the outline with tin snips and made the patterns on the wings with a Smith Little Torch. Brazed it to a piece of piano wire, epoxied in a rock. They bounce above the garden with a slight breeze.

Practice...practice...practice!