My first attemp with cotton balls gave me erratic results. That's when I noticed they were synthetic "cotton." It still burns, but not nearly as well.

re: wind. Tip the table on edge to serve as a wind break and shelter from the wind. I actually started to feel a bit cold and miserable myself just by reading your post. And you had the safety of your car nearby in case of failure, something that would not be the case in a true emergency.