First Time Creating Lamp From Scratch. Wax/coil issues

[Dee Pocha]

Hey guys and gals, I’ve set out to make my own lava lamp from scratch. I believe I have all the right stuff, but it’s bizarre: the wax does NOT like the coil. I took it out and washed it with degreaser a few times, but it still does this. Is it an issue with my wax? I’m using paraffin, liquid paraffin, perc, a pinch of microcrystalline wax, and solid candle dye.

First attempt: added coil during surf coat step before wax.

Second: washed coil and added it AFTER wax.

Third: washed coil EXTRA HARD with boiling water and degreaser. It’s STILL doing this.

One of these attempts I knew I would have to start over so I added WAY too much surf, and that didn’t do anything, I just have two or three blobs just floating past each other and not fusing.