I agree with you, this is a big list of items and for this reason makes the task more exciting! Letting the kiddings aside, the only way of make a good job is using the right set of tools. You know is not possible build or repair all the mechanical stuffs using a hammer and a pair of pliers (even if some people thinks that they can do). For example, I’m electronic engineer and to design and see what is happening in a circuit I need use several kinds of measuring instruments like voltmeter, ampere meter, ohmmeter, signal generator, oscilloscope and so on. So I want apply the same idea to a chemical experiment, especially taking in account that I’m not experienced in this area!
For now I’m waiting the graduated cylinder that I ordered arrive to finally start the experiments.
You re welcome! Share the later story and the results of the future experiments is a pleasure to me. I finally purchased the wax and now I have all the ingredients to start the experiments. In fact you can see these and the measuring glasses that I have at now in my new profile photo. On the back at left you can see the wax block. The first row in front of the wax block shows from the left to right the petroleum jelly, ethylene glycol, perchloroethylne, pure salt. On the second row again from the left to right are the erlymer, blue dye, beaker, red dye and a device to attach on the top of the pipettes allowing suck liquids without needing use the mouth. The last devices from the back to the front are the 25ml pipette, 1ml pipette and a stainless spatula.
I also purchased a 250ml graduated cylinder and break it in a stupid way… This kind graduated cylinder was attached to a plastic base instead of having the traditional disk at the bottom and by this way is somewhat cheaper than the old style. As result, the bottom of the cylinder in this assembly is somewhat fragile. Well, I was storing this cylinder in a shoe box with some of the other measuring glasses and to fit it inside the box I needed to remove the plastic base. The last time I assembled the graduated cylinder I inserted the glass cylinder quickly and slightly tilted inside the base, cracking it on the bottom… No problems, I ordered a new graduated cylinder all glass made this time!
By last, I have two pictures of the lava lamp bottles found on the litter showing the solidified ooze over the coil. I take them after let the bottle cool and with the water poured. If you wish see them, please let me know.
Ok, I will let you know how about my experiments! However according a member of the community called Kjun who made lava lamps using the retro basic formula the whole thing is not too difficult or complex, although some trial-and-error should be employed. I sent a message to him asking for his procedures and he said that if I have some difficult he can help me.
Finally I was able to answer your message. We have few groceries shops here in my city so is easier to find wax to sell in craft shops. I was intending purchase the wax on the last Monday and was not possible do it. The same happened today… Well, let’s see if I will able to purchase this Wednesday!!!
At now I have almost all the ingredients – perchloroethylne, distilled water, pure salt, petroleum jelly and the ethylene glycol excepting the wax and the die! I didn’t purchase until now the easiest to find ingredient! The reason is somewhat funny: the later ingredients I purchase in shops near my house and to purchase the wax I need take a bus to go to a town called “center” in my city and there are shops that sell wax. Yes, you are sure: I’m with a big lazy! But I will get my lazy aside and go to the center town on the next Monday to finally purchase the wax and perform the experiments.
By last, do you want read an interesting story about a lava lamp bottle that I found on the litter of my building?