Lava Lamp Scientists

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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.

Comment by João Roberto Gabbardo on May 10, 2009 at 12:38pm

Now I'm almost ready to start own lava lamp! The perchloroethylene is in my hands!!!! I need some other components like the pure salt - it was ordered and probably will arrive this next monday - and the wax. I'm really filled of expectancy.

Comment by João Roberto Gabbardo on April 26, 2009 at 4:50pm

Well, I’m a bit (perhaps very disappointed) with this group! No one replied or even commented my last post! It seems like I’m the only crazy guy to propose make a lava lamp in a group that is called Lava Lamp Scientists!!!!! Well I will not quit the idea to make my own lava lamp and to do it I ordered the perchloroetylene, purchased the ethylene glycol, 2 rules and a square - this last was intended to cut and get a small clear plastic sheet - but it looked so pretty and I decide not destroy it! Fortunately I found 2 pieces of a plastic like Plexiglas measuring about 4 x 10 cm close to the dimensions suggested on an article translated from Portuguese to English by me entitled “Making a didactic densimeter”. As you can imagine, the rules are also used on the device. I need purchase some other pieces to build the device and want do it this week. Also I need purchase the wax and the die. Anyway, the day where I will start the experiments is coming soon!

Kindest regards,

João Roberto Gabbardo

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