Hi Victoria, For small oval jump rings I carve my own mandrels from
hard maple, usually starting with a dowel from the lumber yard. For
bigger ovals I carve the sticks which run in the bottom of roller
blinds - they tend to be oak, but it works as well. On your alcohol
question: we can buy 200 proof ethanol at the liquor store for about
$25 per quart. I would guess that you local liquor laws would
determine whether this is an option for you. What do you use your lamp
for? If it is melting jewelers wax to mount pieces for working,
perhaps you could use a lapidary dopwax heater: that’s what I do.
Jim Small from SMALL WONDERS