How does one fix up a latern lava lamp?

The bottle is in a sad state and I'm not sure whether or not I can refill it myself some how with some mixture of homemade or premade ingredients or if buying a replacement bottle is an option. I'd be willing to buy a nicely made bottle for it, but my best searches get me vague information. The measurements on it are...

~ 4.5 inches width on the fattest part of the bottle
~ 11.5 inches tall
~ 2 inches width at the top of the bottle

I'm not entirely sure how much fluid the bottle holds It looks to be smaller than a 2 liter of soda. The lamp's total height is about 18 inches I guess. I thought maybe it's a 20 oz one, but I think it's a bit bigger than that standard size I see in online shops. Visually it looks a lot like the 52 oz.

Help a newbie out,
Quinton

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Permalink Reply by LampHead on April 23, 2009 at 9:25pm

It is a 52oz lamp, you could try buying a new bottle at Spencers to use as a refil or Ebay would have some too. What is wrong with the lamp ? It does not look bad, it takes about 2 hours for it to run, just make sure it has a 40 watt frosted bulb inside. Sometimes running them will make them act like new.

LampHead

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Permalink Reply by Modulo '70 on April 24, 2009 at 5:18am

Yes, true LampHead, this lovely lamp looks like it is only in the 'spiked' stage of warming up. It's similar to the Astro bottle in size (here in UK) and these can take a goo(d) 3/4 hours to completely warm up and start flowing nicely. Goo(d) luck and i'm sure it will be ok. Just give it plenty of time (given sufficient bulb wattage of 40 watt as suggested).

Peace and lava
Jerome

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Permalink Reply by Quinton Mosley on April 24, 2009 at 6:42am

You'd be right about just turning it on. I had flipped it on to take the picture. It still has the sticker inside that says the 40 watt thing.

It's discolored though and doesn't run as fluidly and the goo is more goopy after it gets running. I've also heard mentioned that it's bad for the stuff to be at the top and solidified after it's been turned off. Is that true? The goo (I'm trying to use appropriate lingo here) likes to stay at the top. The flow just isn't what it used to be. I believe the bottle might actually be leaking moisture into the air. You can see in this picture that the line of fluid in it is below the top cover (and that's as low as it goes).

I've had it since I was a teenager and even then it had a slight blue color to the yellow goo. I've been told it faded over time. I'd like to make it a pretty blue again by getting a new bit of goo and fluid.

Just keep in mind that it's not displaying it's original color (and beauty). It certainly operates like a lava lamp though!

Have you guys known the lava goo stuff to fade over time? Also, when I read the measurements on 52 oz for instance, it says: "Stands 16" tall with a 6 5/8" diameter." The diameter of the bottle at it's widest point just doesn't come close. How is that being measured?

Thanks guys. :-)