Technical help needed! <3

[Lavalicious]

Hey everyone,

This is a bit of an atypical lava lamp question - but i wondered if it was possible to make a functional lava lamp from the form as seen in the photo below? This is a test of the shape I had in mind but I wondered if the lava was able to flow up and down the lamp once I install the bulb and so on - I would appreciate any advice! Thank you :)

[The Lamp Caretaker]

I see no reason why this should not work.  Find yourself a lavalite globe with liquid and wax of your choice and swap it into this lamp coil and all. Glass container would also make an amazing glitter lamp.  Now you have two choices.  Either combination should work fine.  You can also give me the glass and I'll do the experimentation for you.  I think it would make a very nice addition to my collection.  Have it and good luck.  Don't forget to post photos here once you've done the swap.  

[andy ross]

ideally the glass should be borosilicate (pyrex) as it will be taking heat over a fair time

really nice idea, i'd glitter it 

[Autumn]

It will flow. I want to see it too so make sure to post pictures. Is the bottom finished? It looks like it may be glued together and that will not hold under expansion and cooling caused by the heat. Also it does need to be borosilicate like Andy mentioned otherwise it will definitely crack and break eventually.

[Claude J]

agreed

andy ross said:

ideally the glass should be borosilicate (pyrex) as it will be taking heat over a fair time

really nice idea, i'd glitter it 

[Lavalicious]

Thanks for the excellent advice, I'll definitely give it a go and see what happens! I'll keep you posted :)

The Lamp Caretaker said:

I see no reason why this should not work.  Find yourself a lavalite globe with liquid and wax of your choice and swap it into this lamp coil and all. Glass container would also make an amazing glitter lamp.  Now you have two choices.  Either combination should work fine.  You can also give me the glass and I'll do the experimentation for you.  I think it would make a very nice addition to my collection.  Have it and good luck.  Don't forget to post photos here once you've done the swap.  

[Lavalicious]

Ignore the bottom! It was just something I had laying around and wondered if it would function as a lava lamp if I put it together correctly. Thank you for the tip and I'll keep you posted :)

Autumn said:

It will flow. I want to see it too so make sure to post pictures. Is the bottom finished? It looks like it may be glued together and that will not hold under expansion and cooling caused by the heat. Also it does need to be borosilicate like Andy mentioned otherwise it will definitely crack and break eventually.

[Lavalicious]

Perfect, I'll give it a go with that and see what happens. Thanks!

andy ross said:

ideally the glass should be borosilicate (pyrex) as it will be taking heat over a fair time

really nice idea, i'd glitter it 

[Arne]

Someone on this forum made lamps from flourescent tube lamps so I think this should work as well.