The Flat-Screen Lava Lamp - Project Page And Update Blog

The Project

Description-

I'm planning to successfully make a wide, shallow, and tall "Lava Flat-Screen" Fixture.

With any luck, I'll be able to set the finished product in any place I choose. The fixture will rest near or against a wall, projecting a wide canvas of waxy luminescence in constant motion. I Plan to have to the fixture gently Black-Lit from multiple areas as well as heated and softly blue-lit from below. The finished product will resemble a glowing, narrow fish tank beset by the non-stop convection-cycle of the "Goo."

This is my first attempt at creating a Lava Fixture, and that's why it's my most ambitious.

Structure Details

Holding Tank

Description

The Holding Tank will be where the Lava Goo and Water Mixture will be placed.

The Design is a slender glass tank with a tall & wide frontal and backward faces for viewing,

and tall and thin side faces that give the tank enough depth for the goo to move freely.

The Glass Tank will be constructed one of three ways:

A: I will have a glass enclosure custom blown to specifications with the lid blown separately.

I will use a heat-resistant sealant or Adhesive to attach the lid after filling and testing the tank.

B: I will use scrap glass or glass from fishtanks that I pick up at junk yards, pawn shops, etc to construct the tank, making sure I use the same kind of glass for the structure. After cutting the glass, I will either use a simple adhesive or a blowtorch to ensure the tank is sealed.

C: I will order Glass sheets to or above specs and cut them down to size. I will then use an adhesive or sealant to connect the sheets and form the tank.

Outer Dimensions-

Length- 50.6250 Inches

Width- 3.50 Inches

Height - 14.5 Inches

Volume - 2569.21875 Cubic Inches

Inner Dimensions-

Length - 50.1250 Inches

Width - 3.25 Inches

Height - 14 Inches

Volume - 2280.6875 Cubic Inches

Inside Volume is Equal To:

37373.7720265 Cubic Centimeters

1.3198423032407 Cubic Feet

1263.7575757576 Fluid Ounces (US) (FL oz)

2527.5151515152 Tablespoons (US)

7582.5454545455 Teaspoons (US)

157.9696969697 Cups (US)

78.984848484848 Pints (US)

39.492424242424 Quarts (US)

9.8731060606061 Gallons (US)

37373.7720265 Milliliters

37.3737720265 Liters

Current Highly Likely Features:

Black lighting

Could use help deciding what kind of fixtures and bulbs I should use to most effectively and consistently heat the tank. I may try and black light from the bottom, using regular 40watt bulbs to heat the tank,.

I may also try to heat from the bottom, and just fit a black light at the top of the tank pointed down to achieve the black lighting.

http://www.blacklight.com/items/GGL60SUV

Other Options:

http://www.blacklight.com/items/DM47818

http://www.blacklight.com/items/CYI4340

((I will likely not be ordering online, I will find these products at better prices.

Help me Decide, Give me Advice, Tips :D

Wax Coloring

Florescent/Black-light Green

Colored Water/Glycol Solution, Deciding Between:

Deep Blue

Bright Orange