Lava Stuck!

[SmarCat]

Thanks in advance for your help. I've scoured the boards but have not seen this specific problem. I have a 90's clear liquid/purple Lava brand lamp, black casing, std size. It heats up and works fine for about an hour or so and then everything just falls to the bottom and sits in one big blob. It will expand and contract somewhat but will not release again until next use and the cycle starts all over again. I've replaced the bulb numerous times when needed as recommended (40w, appliance). Nothing else has been altered since it was taken out of the box. Any help would be greatly appreciated.
Thanks!

[LampHead]

Sounds alittle hot, are you using a clear or frosted bulb ?

LampHead

[SmarCat]

Bohdan/Lamp, thanks for getting back to me. I will check the coil tonight and will let you know what I see. Also, I am using a clear bulb but will go out and buy a frosted one to see if that helps.

Thanks again!

[LampHead]

Let us know how it runs on the frosted, it should cool it down some hopefully restoring proper flow.

LampHead

[SmarCat]

Thanks Lamp! I will definitely go out and buy a frosted bulb.

Bohdan, I checked the lava last night and it is in one ball about 2" above the coil (after 1-hour heat up). Do you think the frosted bulb is the answer also?

[Kris]

Is it above the coil NOT touching it? What about when it's cooled? Does the wax seem to cool around it but not inside of it? If it's a good coil, the wax will cool inside of it to the point where you can barely make out the coil. If it's a bad coil, you can see the wax cool around the cool and never inside it. The coil can be seen very clearly.

If it's a bad coil - you will need to replace it. No bulb will fix that. However, if you have not tried a frosted bulb yet, it's worth a shot.

[SmarCat]

Hi Kris,
I think it's a good coil because when it cools the wax falls down and envelops the coil to the point where you can't see it. I still need to grab a frosted bulb but any other ideas are welome.
Thanks!

[SmarCat]

Update. I purchased a frosted 40w bulb and still no improvement. After this frustration, I tried the swirl/spin method to get the heated lava into the coil again. After this, the lamp worked the best it has in years for the rest of the night. Great flow. But the very next day, it was up to it's old tricks (lava stuck 1" above coil in a lump after heating). Should I try a lower wattage? Also, I am using a ceiling fan bulb, not an "appliance bulb". I checked and they are both the exact same size. I could not find an appliance bulb in frosted. Would the ceiling fan bulb be the problem? Please help!

[Kris]

They are the same bulb so you are fine there. You have a bad coil sadly. The key is when it's heated up. If it's sitting just above the coil but not flowing = bad coil. Does not matter when the lamp is cold. Only when it's hot. Replacing the coil is pretty easy. You can try to clean the one you have but what I have seen is it only lasts so long. Replacement is the best alternative.

[SmarCat]

Update. I bought a new coil from HomeDepot and borrowed a bottle capper from a friend who makes his own beer. Success! Best flow it's had in years. Things are a bit cloudy now. Hope it clears up in time.
Thanks everyone!

[Kris]

Good to hear. You can also filter the lamp to remove the cloudiness if it does not clear up on it's own. It should though.