Abstract: Devices and methods of using a burner and/or a protective cap for a melting chamber are disclosed. In particular, the melting chamber includes a chamber wall and a burner. The chamber wall has a longitudinal axis and forms a passage having a passage axis transverse to the longitudinal axis. The chamber wall also has an inner wall surface with an inner wall edge extending about the passage. The burner is positioned in the passage and has a tubular body with a burner end spaced away from the inner wall edge so that a space exists between the burner end and the inner wall edge. The tubular body also has an outer burner diameter, an inner burner diameter, and a central conduit within the inner burner diameter.