Mathmos astro problem

[Branko Covic]

Hi everyone. I come to this forum because I have a problem (which has long avoided).

My astro lamp worked fine several years and then something happened. 

Maybe it was someone shaking, maybe it overheated the wax, I do not know. I was not home when it happened. So I reported on this forum to find out how to fix.

I attached the pictures to see the current state.

Thanks for your help

[Erin]

That is quite odd. Looks like it may have been dropped or shaken while on, but it does seem to have some unusual problems. Unfortunately, aside from filtering it, there's not much you can do. But, if you want to spend the time and money, you can get an MSR filter and filter the liquid and boil down the lava to get it all back together. 

Good luck. 

[wazzer]

Hi, being as it's beyond help try this.
Try and release the screw cap, run it under a hot water tap may help.
Then when it's completely cold pour the liquid down the drain and refill with COLD TAP WATER.
Put the cap back on, but not tightly, and let it run through a cycle of heating up fully and then let it cool down totally and then keep doing it till it's clear.
I did this to mine and it takes a few times to get it clear.
Then when you're happy with it then is the time to add some Epsom salts a little at a time if the wax doesn't rise when it's warmed up.
It's all trial and error but it'll be worth it in the end.
All the best, Wazzer.

[krissyfromswindon]

yes this works but add the salts diluted into a bit of water and wait until the fizz has gone and it is clear,

[Branko Covic]

OK. Thank you, @wazzer I will try today afternoon this solution. If that does not work, it remains to me to buy a bottle of original mathmos :)

[Tim Gill]

As Wazzer said this is the basic Epson salt mix - however there are some other things to note.

I have tried this before on some china globes and the recipe goes something like this:

- First open the globe and drain the water and replace with tap water or ideally DI water (distilled water)and add a drop or 2 of washing up soap - this will brake up the wax.
You should also give the globe a good rinse to get rid of any remaining water.

- Then turn the lamp on and wait for the wax to melt - it wont flow by this point. During this stage mix up a quarter of a tub of Epsom salts to water and heat the water till they completely dissolve.

- Add small amounts of the Epsom salt mix to the lamp until you get the flow right - the more Epsom salts the denser the water becomes.

Alternatively just get a replacement globe and have fantastic Mathmos flow with no messing around.