Greetings from Dr. Jeanie

[Jeanie A]

I am so glad to find this group, and very inspired. The info is great, and some of the customs are totally awesome.
My Lava Love affair happened when I was writing my doctoral dissertation. I locked myself into a room with nothing but my research materials and a lava lamp. My best work days were when the lava was really bubbling. So I got another. And then another. And then... well, I have finally found others who understand.

[Brad]

welcome!  i'm working on my dissertation at the moment with the company of 8 lamps.  they help the creative juices flow!

[Keith]

Welcome!!  Not only do we understand, we encourage.  So the next time someone asks "how many lava lamps do you need?",  the correct answer is "more!" ;)

[Jeanie A]

Thanks so much for the welcome reply! I feel like such a newbie, and that I know little to nothing, about these beautiful creations. Truth be told, I am still a "Lava Virgin": I have yet to open one for repair or make one from scratch. That need, however, is what brought me here.
I have a clear with red goo that was very, very cloudy. Goo is also split -when cool it has a decent read at the bottom, but the top is faded and the lower surface is very uneven. I ran it on a timer cycle for two months but :-(. Then I let it sit in the cold for a while. There is a distinctly lovely white precipitate on top of the bottom red goo.
If I have read things right, I need to 1) filter my fluid, taking care to remove the white precipitate; and 2) discard the faded and warped top red goo. i am just trying to brace myself and get up my nerve for my first time :-).

[Jeanie A]

Brad said:

welcome!  i'm working on my dissertation at the moment with the company of 8 lamps.  they help the creative juices flow!

What is your academic area, Keith? And - IN ONE SENTENCE (oh I am evil) - what is your dissertation research?

[Brad]

i'm a 4th year PhD student in neuroscience, and my dissertation is examining the effects of stress (psychophysiological, serotonergic, immunological, and endocriniological) on gastrointestinal disorders in those with autism spectrum disorders.  what is your area?

Jeanie A said:

Brad said:

welcome!  i'm working on my dissertation at the moment with the company of 8 lamps.  they help the creative juices flow!

What is your academic area, Keith? And - IN ONE SENTENCE (oh I am evil) - what is your dissertation research?

[Keith]

Hehe, Brad, Keith, I think you switched us.  I could give you a dissertation on oil field truckers, but I don't use that language.  lol

Jeanie A said:

Brad said:

welcome!  i'm working on my dissertation at the moment with the company of 8 lamps.  they help the creative juices flow!

What is your academic area, Keith? And - IN ONE SENTENCE (oh I am evil) - what is your dissertation research?

[Brad]

lol keith, let's hear it.  $$$

[Keith]

A few pointers on this project; if the wax is separated and doesn't flow right,DO NOT discard the top goo.  It needs to recombine with the "normal" goo.  When the wax separates, the lighter goes up and the heavier goes down (profound, huh?)  Until they get together again flow will be non-existent or very poor.

Since you have been cycling the lamp already you may have to open the globe to recombine the wax.  When you do, siphon off all but about an inch of water (at the same time you can siphon out the participate).  Then put the globe back on the base and heat until the wax is fully melted (an hour and a half to two hours or so) Check to see that the wax is not separated, then let cool until the wax is completely solid and then refill with the water.  If you feel it needs filtered now is the time.  If you don't filter thoroughly, at least filter through a coffee filter to remove the particulate. 

Jeanie A said:

Thanks so much for the welcome reply! I feel like such a newbie, and that I know little to nothing, about these beautiful creations. Truth be told, I am still a "Lava Virgin": I have yet to open one for repair or make one from scratch. That need, however, is what brought me here.
I have a clear with red goo that was very, very cloudy. Goo is also split -when cool it has a decent read at the bottom, but the top is faded and the lower surface is very uneven. I ran it on a timer cycle for two months but :-(. Then I let it sit in the cold for a while. There is a distinctly lovely white precipitate on top of the bottom red goo.
If I have read things right, I need to 1) filter my fluid, taking care to remove the white precipitate; and 2) discard the faded and warped top red goo. i am just trying to brace myself and get up my nerve for my first time :-).

[Dr. WHAT?!]

Dr. ;-)

[Jeanie A]

My first area is reproductive neuroendocriniology (great minds must goo alike). My area of specialization was photoperiod. Studied many subsets - everything from reproductive effects to diabetes. My most recent doctorate was in public policy, and I did my dissertation on how electronic benefit transfer is used for dataveillance and social control as well as its emergence as a major economic privatization shift that is reshaping government-corporate power relationships, again for social control.
That being said, I'm gonna give my degree to Keith, cause he's definitely the brilliant one. Thanks for the heads up about getting my wax together, then cleaning up my act! I had not read that anywhere.

Brad said:

i'm a 4th year PhD student in neuroscience, and my dissertation is examining the effects of stress (psychophysiological, serotonergic, immunological, and endocriniological) on gastrointestinal disorders in those with autism spectrum disorders.  what is your area?

Jeanie A said:

Brad said:

welcome!  i'm working on my dissertation at the moment with the company of 8 lamps.  they help the creative juices flow!

What is your academic area, Keith? And - IN ONE SENTENCE (oh I am evil) - what is your dissertation research?

[Carol]

I just found this comment while rummaging through some of the older threads...........my son just asked me this and now I know what to say....I LUV this answer to the question that non lavaluvers ask!!!  Good one Keith!!!

Keith said:

Welcome!!  Not only do we understand, we encourage.  So the next time someone asks "how many lava lamps do you need?",  the correct answer is "more!" ;)

[Keith]

Some may have mentioned the word "enabler", but as long as housing and food is paid for ain't nuthin wrong with lava lamps 

Of course paying the electric bill helps 

Carol Morrow said:

I just found this comment while rummaging through some of the older threads...........my son just asked me this and now I know what to say....I LUV this answer to the question that non lavaluvers ask!!!  Good one Keith!!!

Keith said:

Welcome!!  Not only do we understand, we encourage.  So the next time someone asks "how many lava lamps do you need?",  the correct answer is "more!" ;)