Can you lovely people help me fix this lava lamp please?

[ben james stevens]

I own a few lava lamps already and my friend had one that was sitting idle for about 8 years. It's a Mathmos straight one and i got a new bulb and it all lit up ok but that's all it will do - the wax doesn't grow  and melt like it should, it just melts ( you can move it around) and it won't form bubbles or anything. My friend said it hadn't been on for 8 years but i don't want to just give up without a fight, I have even tried a higher watt bulb.

 

Any ideas of what's wrong or what can be done to fix it? thank you ;)

[Astralav]

Hi,

By "straight one" I guess you mean JET?

What is the bulb power? How long did you wait (It can take few hours before running)

[ben james stevens]

yes, the jet one. The wattage bulb i have tried is 24 watt then a 30 watt bulb. The wax is just melting, not forming shapes then melting.

 

I have left it on for 12 hours, overnight etc

 

:(

[Bridget T]

I you watched it continuously or just turn it on and glance at it occasionally?  I ask b/c I had what I thought was a broken lava lamp, but it just turns out I was missing the very brief time the lamp flowed (15min or so) and then it overheated.

[Astralav]

If it's a plastic Jet, 30watt is correct. If it's an old metal one, it should be a 40w (golf ball bulb)

If it melt but not raise, I'm affraid you'll have to fix it by adding epson salt or else.

[Tim Gill]

Check out the FAQ page on OG which should help http://oozinggoo.ning.com/page/lava-library

What colour combo is the Jet as they are quite commen on Ebay.