Getting bubbles out of lava? Removing screw-on cap?

[Jonas Clark-Elliott]

Got me a red/yellow Century from a thrift store. The cap is stuck on, and I want to unscrew it so I can remove the lava stuck up in the air gap (and check the date). Also: the lava is full of BIG air bubbles. How do I end these? Anyone know...?

 

Probably will trade this rather than keep it, but only once it's spiffed up.

[Erin]

To get the cap off, you need something with a good grip. Do you have any gardening gloves with those little rubber nubbies on them? Or dishwashing gloves? That will be your best bet. Something with rubber that will help grip and turn. 

 

So far, no one has any idea how to fix the air bubbles. I know people have tried poking them with a skewer (I tried, didn't work), boiling the lava and spinning the globe when the lava is cooling down (but still warm).

Good luck Jonas! 

[tweavs]

There was a discussion on here about removing these cap. O thought it said some thing about using a jar lid opener, ya know one of those rubber ones, to put equal pressure around the entire cap. Also said something about making sure you tried to unscrew it while  down on a carpeted floor so if it slipped it didn't brake, which makes sence. I can try to do a search to see if I find the post.

[tweavs]

I can't find what I thought I read but the picture I have is what I thought was what the post was recommending. It give even pressure but can allow you a bit more torque than maybe your hand can provide. I would use what Erin recomends about the gloves to hold the bottle. If you use this type of device be sure not to squeeze too tight so you don't break the cap.

 

BTW, this pic is from Amazon and I have not tried what I wrote.

 

Hope it works and keep use posted on how you got the cap off.

 

[Tim Gill]

I have opened sealed screw cap lamps using a pipe wrench

dealing with the wax - basickly super heat - check this topic out http://oozinggoo.ning.com/page/chunky-wax

I have opened sealed screw cap lamps using a pipe wrench.

Dealing with the wax - basically super heat - check this topic out.

[Bill Smith]

I remove screw-on Mathmos caps by using a hair dryer. I hold the hair dryer in one hand and slowly rotate the bottle with the other for about ten minutes or so with the hot air focused on the side of the cap. This is done on a flat kitchen surface so it is easy to rotate the bottle. Then I use a rigger glove on one hand while holding the bottle with the other and slowly unscrew the cap; the hot air melts the old glue and the cap comes off with out damaging it. Just watch that none of the old glue drops in to the bottle when removing the cap completely.  

[Jonas Clark-Elliott]

Thanks, got the cap off! The lava would not clear - in fact, it got worse. Much worse. I'm gonna find me some 32oz. globes and refill, or maybe glitter. I'll be putting it on a worn-out Century base, which I plan to refinish depending on the lava color I find, which is up in the air as it's basically 'whatever the thrift stores have'.

[James Ko]

Hi, I just saw this post from awhile back about taking a screw cap off the lava lamp.  I need to do this too because the coil in the lamp is shaped like a figure 8 and it is affecting its performance.  I noticed that when you took the screw cap off, you said it got much worse.  Could you let me know if this was from taking the cap off or was it from some other reason?  I am worried about taking the cap off and messing something up!

Thanks for the info! Jim

Jonas Clark-Elliott said:

Thanks, got the cap off! The lava would not clear - in fact, it got worse. Much worse. I'm gonna find me some 32oz. globes and refill, or maybe glitter. I'll be putting it on a worn-out Century base, which I plan to refinish depending on the lava color I find, which is up in the air as it's basically 'whatever the thrift stores have'.