Lava Lamp Scientists

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Comment by StickStoneBone on December 17, 2009 at 8:42pm

Anyone have any luck making Rubbing Alcohol lamps? I've made several, and they are surprisingly easy.If anyone is interested I'm happy to share info.

Comment by Jennifer on December 8, 2009 at 9:48am

I've never made a lamp using glycerin rather than salt. I must try. I use epsom salt always and I do end up adding a lot. I have some homemade wax that I'm trying to get to work in a meditteranean and I'm having 0 luck. I sure wish Spencer's would get some GOOD lamps in for a transplant!

Comment by StickStoneBone on December 6, 2009 at 8:54pm

Technically I guess you could make a lamp with only Polyethylene Glycol, it should flow very well. Maybe that will be my next experiment.

Comment by StickStoneBone on December 6, 2009 at 5:51pm

Try Polyethylene Glycol (Miralax or a generic brand is usually 15 bucks at Walmart, but a little goes a long way). It's a superior Surfactant, it not only changes the surface tension of the water it also increases the gravity.

Comment by Andy Man on December 6, 2009 at 9:49am

Thanks, I ended up just going out and buying the pickling salt. For $2 I figured it was worth it! I used the glycerin solution as well which was keeping the liquid crystal clear and the wax off the glass. But then added DAWN brand soap and got crazy activity and white ppt appeared:( Now I'm trying Miracle Soap added in solution.

Comment by StickStoneBone on December 6, 2009 at 12:05am

I prefer Pickling Salt over Epsom Salt, but both work. Pickling Salt usually give a 'quicker' movement, Epsom Salt seems to be slower, and the goo gobs are usually rounder. You can also try Glycerin, it works FANTASTIC. I've never seen a lamp work better.

Comment by Andy Man on December 3, 2009 at 1:46pm

Has anyone had any luck with Epsom salt? I'm just wondering if it is a good substitute for canning/pickling salts.

Comment by Casey Haldeman on November 19, 2009 at 11:39am

Jennifer, I agree. I think the petroleum jelly is much better, but I don't use equal parts. I use about two parts wax to one part petroleum jelly. My wax was sort of runny, and stuck to the sides easier with that much vaseline. I think it's because the way the vaseline sort of made it "thinner" like it could more easily leave a residue on the glass. With the recipe i use now, the wax gets on the side sometimes, but it comes off on it's own and doesn't leave a residue to stick back to later.

Does anyone know if internal pressure is really necessary in a lamp? I always seal mine when they're hot, so there is very little, and they seem to work fine... I'm only wondering because I have this large rectangular container with a sealing lid, but it's like a big gasket-like thing. It doesn't clamp down, so I couldn't have any pressure in it, but it would make a really cool lamp, so I was curious if anyone knew.

Comment by João Roberto Gabbardo on May 10, 2009 at 4:56pm

Hello Jennifer!

Finally someone in this forum posted a message telling his experiences and I think that talk with you very interesting since I’m almost ready to make my own experiences with lava lamps! At first I want follow the recipe at oozing goo because it seems to be very trustable especially after see a video at YouTube named “How to make a real lava lamp”

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=GAJG8jh2SJA
Please look that and you will agree with me.

Kindest regards,

João Roberto Gabbardo

Comment by Jennifer on May 10, 2009 at 2:00pm

Hi everyone! Is this a new group? I have been making my own lava for a while now. I've done a lot of experimenting and have had some good luck, but I would sure love to hear some other recipes! I originally used the recipe that consisted of equal parts of mineral oil, parrafin wax and perk. I have sense dropped the mineral oil and lessened the perk and added vaseline. I'm having more luck without mineral oil.

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