Improving flow

Is there any alternatives to improving the flow on my grande other than adding salt (clouds the lamp up after some time) or propylene glycol ? As i understand Propylene glycol is much like Glycerin, and last time i added Glycerin to any of my lamps it made all the wax rise to the top and never fall.. So adding Propylene Glycol would probably do the same as i understand it.

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Permalink Reply by Mr MaGoo on October 3, 2011 at 5:17pm

Da9L, I just did this to a 32 midnight I have had for 20 years. Since I can remember, it would heat up shoot up initial with the stalagmites. Then when fully warmed up would form the light bulb looking shape at the bottom of the lamp. I was lurking for sometime here reading about improving flow. Once I had determined that my flow issue was due to possible evaporation loss over 20 years I made a move. I purchased 1 gallon of Propylene Glycol (PG) and began to add it 1cc at a time. Slowly my "light bulb" began to elongate and lift. After several hours and approx. 25 cc's of PG my lamp was moving back to normal again. Granted while I was adding all this PG I was asking myself..really?, is it going to take this much PG to do this? Once I was satisfied with my flow, I shut it down for the nite but left it capped loosely.

In the morning when I got up I was dumb founded to see that the level had dropped to its original level. Figured it evaporated..but that much over 8 hours. Turned it back on with cap loose and once it heated back up..flowing beautifully the liquid level went back up to where it was when I was working on it the day before. Once I had turned it off..I tightened the cap down and was happy with my flow. From what I have read it decreases the water's density to allow the wax to lift. Read today that it should be put in 1cc at a time, at 1 hour increments..mine personally was a little faster than that, but it worked. If you start putting it in and your lava all rises to the top and stays there..then obviously, it was too much and you counter it by adding more distilled water, if that is what your particular model of lava lamp uses. This will make the water more dense, causing the lava to drop. Sorry so long, hope it helps..it did me. Sure others with more knowledge will chime in! Good luck..would love some much to have a Grande or Colossus one of these days. Again, good luck with your chase for the perfect flow!

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Permalink Reply by Goo Geek on October 6, 2011 at 8:32pm

Instead of making the liquid heavier, I have had luck by making the lava lighter. I have done this by adding candle wax to the lava. For a 52oz Century I add only about 1 Teaspoon of chopped candle wax. I use container candle wax as it has a lower melt point than pillar wax. Pour off the liquid into another container. Put the candle wax into the lamp on top of the lava. Melt the lava in the bottle and stir. Allow Lava to harden and then pour the liquid back in. It is better to underestimate the wax and have to redo the process a few times rather than to overdo the wax and end up with lava that is too light.