Just be patient and heat it up naturally (on a base). Someone died back in 2004 from heating his lamp directly on the stove. No need to risk life or lava lamp just for a faster result.
Thanks Scott. No it was not capped and only to melt the wax to pour it out. I should have known better I was in a hurry. Will go much slower and use a plate next one. It takes some time to melt the wax down, I'll be more patient!
I've had this happen once, to jimbo's globe, but that was because the globe was sitting in the car so it was cold. Normally if you place the globe in the water before it boils, then it should be okay.
It's the cool down that killed it.. It was so hot and when I lifted it out the air was too cool and it cracked. It has to slowly heat, pour the wax, and slowly cool.
Luckily for you it was just a 32oz globe and not something large like a colossus globe. 32oz globes are so common I threw away 5 empty ones earlier this month. Your globe broke because of thermal stress. When glass heats up or cools down to quickly from one extreme to another it has a tendency to crack. When I boil lamps I use a plate and put the globe in the pot before I turn the heat on. After I am done I usually leave it in until the water cools down a bit. There are only 3 reasons I boil globes. One reason is to clean them, the second is to join separated wax, and the third is to increase the heat of the wax to a point that causes a consistent blend if the wax has become chunky.
Autumn, I'm actually curious about this joining separated wax thing. How can you tell if that happens? And what do you do, just heat the wax at high temp? My globe was a 52 oz. I'm looking for more 52 oz. globes.
When wax refuses to sink and mix back with the rest of the wax in the lamp is what I mean. I have experience with mixing lamps together if you want information on that.
Deb
Ouch! This is why I prefer heating my goo on it's base. May take longer but no cracking. Sorry that happened. :(
Mar 5, 2013
Metallica Man Trevor
Mar 5, 2013
Metallica Man Trevor
Mar 5, 2013
Jus
I'm embarrassed to say how many times that has happened to me. LOL
I heat in the microwave now, so far works great.
sorry about your globe...
Mar 5, 2013
Brad
doh!
Mar 5, 2013
Vince
yeah... it was a learning experience for me! Wont do that again.
Mar 6, 2013
SCOTT13A
Just be patient and heat it up naturally (on a base). Someone died back in 2004 from heating his lamp directly on the stove. No need to risk life or lava lamp just for a faster result.
Mar 10, 2013
SCOTT13A
I don't know how to edit the previous comment to tell you that it was Philip Quinn back in November 2004.
Mar 10, 2013
Vince
Thanks Scott. No it was not capped and only to melt the wax to pour it out. I should have known better I was in a hurry. Will go much slower and use a plate next one. It takes some time to melt the wax down, I'll be more patient!
Mar 10, 2013
Dr. WHAT?!
I've had this happen once, to jimbo's globe, but that was because the globe was sitting in the car so it was cold. Normally if you place the globe in the water before it boils, then it should be okay.
Mar 11, 2013
Vince
It's the cool down that killed it.. It was so hot and when I lifted it out the air was too cool and it cracked. It has to slowly heat, pour the wax, and slowly cool.
Mar 11, 2013
Dr. WHAT?!
ummm that's strange, it looks like the globe has a lot of condensation in it from being cold.
Mar 11, 2013
Autumn
Luckily for you it was just a 32oz globe and not something large like a colossus globe. 32oz globes are so common I threw away 5 empty ones earlier this month. Your globe broke because of thermal stress. When glass heats up or cools down to quickly from one extreme to another it has a tendency to crack. When I boil lamps I use a plate and put the globe in the pot before I turn the heat on. After I am done I usually leave it in until the water cools down a bit. There are only 3 reasons I boil globes. One reason is to clean them, the second is to join separated wax, and the third is to increase the heat of the wax to a point that causes a consistent blend if the wax has become chunky.
Mar 11, 2013
Vince
Autumn, I'm actually curious about this joining separated wax thing. How can you tell if that happens? And what do you do, just heat the wax at high temp? My globe was a 52 oz. I'm looking for more 52 oz. globes.
Mar 11, 2013
Vince
Dr What, that's actually a coating of the wax inside, thing was a mess afterwards.. icky.
Mar 11, 2013
Autumn
When wax refuses to sink and mix back with the rest of the wax in the lamp is what I mean. I have experience with mixing lamps together if you want information on that.
Mar 11, 2013