Strange Personality

They say every lava lamp has its own personality. This one has a really strange personality, which is due to the massive quantity of epsom salts I added-just to make it act right! I've never had one cycle between really active to downright dull then back to active again, but that's what this one does, over and over. Definitely finished tinkering with it this time.

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Comment by Jus on January 19, 2015 at 8:38pm: Tim, don't give up yet! There is a very knowledgeable guy at MagmaTower. Let me figure out his name, and I'll get back with you...

Comment by Jus on March 24, 2015 at 1:58am: Update for this lamp: When this lamp began staying more in the single-column stage rather than making blobs that move up and down, I went to tinkering AGAIN. Just want to report that this is what I found at Dollar General and used for surfactant:

I did use epsom salts again. There has been no clouding, streaks or sticking whatsoever, even after allowing the lamp to completely cool down and heat up again (which is sometimes when clouding presents itself). I promise to report back any negative developments. Here is a current photo of the lamp:

Comment by Jus on June 12, 2015 at 3:36pm: It's been 5 months since I did this Grand gookit, plus epsom salts, plus bubble solution. I run my lamp 24/7---I never turn it off. Just noticed this week a very faint film is beginning to adhere to the inside of the glass. I'll run maintenance to remove the film, but here's how the lamp currently looks:

I'm going to turn it off so the wax will stay at the bottom, then I'll use a soft piece of foam skewered on a hanger to wipe the film from the inside of the glass. Will post after shots when that's done...

Comment by Jus on June 12, 2015 at 4:49pm: The lamp after I wiped the inside of the glass. Without (2 pics w/o flash) and With flash:

Comment by Jus on June 12, 2015 at 4:51pm: I'll let yall know how long it takes for the film to return...

Comment by Carol on June 15, 2015 at 3:16pm: Jus, I get that dreaded film also on just about every single one of my kits!!!!! I use everything that comes with the goo kit. The MT goo, their very own surfactant and distilled water!!! I clean my globes, have used acetone, brakleen, did an overnight vinegar soak and still they continue to get the film. I have removed mine by taking the whole flippen lamp down and doing a total redo. What kind fo foam did you use to wipe the film out. I tried to do that b4 but ended up just getting lint all inside the glass. What kind of maintenance do you do to remove the film? I called MT goo and they said it was from the lamp getting too hot. I don't believe that for a minute because after I redid a few, I did an experiment where I never ran them more then 8 to 9 hours at a time and kept the dimmer down to where they just started to flow and they still filmed up. That puts MT's theory to a no go. So my 2 questions:

1. What maintenance do you do to remove the film;

2. What exactly did you use to wipe the inside of the globe without disturbing the goo???

Thnx!!!!

Comment by Jus on June 16, 2015 at 1:47am: The maintenance to remove the film is easy, because it just wipes right off. I use a soft piece of foam which I obtain from (of all places) the packing inside a box of Braum's Waffle Cones. lol The same kind of foam as that of women's foam hair rollers, or those dishwashing foam on a stick things that reach down inside glasses and narrow bottles and such. I'm trying to think of other places I've seen the foam, but let me know if you don't get what I'm talking about and I'll post some pics for ya.

Oh for pete's sake, I'm so lazy. I'll be back with some pics to help anyway!

I wonder how often a "cloudy" globe is actually just a film on the inside of the glass? Because unless you really analyze closely, they both can look the same. I know there are tons of lamps with actual cloudy liquid, otherwise the filtering wouldn't help. But for minor issues, sometimes a finger swipe to the inside of the glass might help determine the extent of necessary repair.

Comment by Jus on June 16, 2015 at 4:12am: I'm back with photos to show an example of the foam I use, and the actual tool I made to get rid of that pesky film. The foam is the same type found in these kitchen scrubbers:

As I mentioned before, I obtain the foam from inside a box of Braum's Waffle cones. There's normally a perfect little cylindrical-shaped core of foam for me to use, but sadly has been missing from the last 2 boxes. But I still have the piece I've been using, which is skewered on a coat hanger to form this tool:

So, there you have it...my foam film removal tool! lol Hope this helps...

Comment by Carol on June 16, 2015 at 8:08pm: I tried a piece of sponge and it clouded up my fluid so bad i had to change it tonight. So i buy a bottle of distilled. I use the sponge inside again to wipe all sides off, rinse carefully so as to not disturb the wax with distilled a few rinses, add clean distilled, more surf and it still is all streaky. I think maybe worse then b4. I think my film is more of a wax residue and this is why it is not really coming off with the sponge but smearing. I think when the cooler temps come i will take this lamp down and redo. Too hot to be in a kitchen with boiling water and wax!!!