What do these lamp scenarios mean, exactly?

[David Lincoln Brooks]

Hey gang,    so nice to meet you.   I am a Lava Lamp fan in Central Texas,     age 53.   My first lamp was in 1973,   when I was 10.

I am new to the art and science of re-furbishing lava lamps.  

Just to get me started,    can you tell me what these two scenarios mean,   vis-a-vis the water chemistry:

• After 2 hrs, Wax melts,  rises to the top,  and stays there,   never to dive again.
  
  
• After 2 hrs, Wax melts,   but stays collected at the bottom of the bottle,  never to rise.

I do own some perc,    some paraffin,    distilled water,  pickling salt,   clear dish soap.     I am SO-O-O not a chemist,   so go easy on me,  won't you? 

Best to you,   Dave

[Claude J]

both senarios have to do with the specific gravity of the fluid.

senario 1-too light

solution-change out fluid

start with distilled water, l;et l;amp reach 125deg F, and then add propelyne glycol until results are achieved

senario-2 - too haevy

solution-add diluted solution of pickeling salt or prolplelyne glycol to change specific gravity

Perc and parrafin are the component of the original formula for the wax, the perc makes the wax pliable

dish soap changes the properties of the wax, more will make it stringy as opposed to bubbles of lava

Check out the formula tabs at the bottom of the home page for more details