Garage Sale Lava Lamp

[Tom Jackson]

I recently purchased a lava lamp at a Garage Sale - looked to be in good shape and although the lamp worked, I couldn't wait the time required to make sure the lava flowed. Anyway, I got it home, cleaned it up, turned it on and after an hour or so, the lava just moved to the very top of the lamp but did nothing else. NAy idea what could be wrong?

[Tom Jackson]

I checked the bulb - its a 120V 25W Type S/11. The label on the inside of the lamp that tells you what bulb to use matches the bulb I have. Any other ideas?

[Tom Jackson]

The lamp is in the shape of a torpedo - looking at the pictures, it looks like the Wizard series. The bulb is a 120V 25W Type S/11 and it matches the sticker on the inside of the base. I noticed 2 bubbles right below the lava sitting at the top - could the bubbles be keeping the lava from flowing down? Right now, I have a cloth over the top of the unit, trying to keep the heat in.

[☆VixenGypsy☆]

Wizards use a 40 watt bulb, so it couldn't be that. Maybe the wattage is too high, as Spencer said. Just cause the sticker says to use a 25, doesn't mean every wax heats the same. If your lamp has been "loved" & ran too much, a lower watt could make it run like new.

[Tom Jackson]

Well, since I bought it at a garage sale, I have no idea how much the lamp has been used. Are you saying that even thought the sticker on the inside of the base says to use a 25W S/11 and that's the bulb I have, that I should try a lower wattage? What would you recommend?

[Tom Jackson]

Some other developments. I've had the lamp on for a couple hours now and I'm noticing that all the lava at the top is liquified and every once in a while a drip will start in the middle of the lava and a small piece of lava will go to the bottom - does that make sense?

[☆VixenGypsy☆]

Yes, try a lower wattage bulb... your lamp is too hot if all the wax is liquid & up top!