I shook it to death!

[DugaldC]

Hi All. I got a nice big (3L I think) floor standing lava lamp for my Christmas. It was going fine, but one time when it was just warming up I switched it off. It stopped in a wierd position. Anyway, it wouldn't heat up after that. It was stuck. Being a total idiot I shook it a bit to get it started. The saking became compulsive and now I have a big bottle full of microscopic red balls in cloudy water. They are all floating at the top.

Is it beyond saving? I was thinking about cooling it, filtering out all of the blobs, putting them in a pan, heating it up until it all joins together again and then making a salty water mix and putting it all back together again. Is that the worst idea ever? There seems to be a big spring resting at the bottom. Should I just try to replace it as it was? Thanks for any help - I feel like a right numpty.

[Roger Stenstrom]

WOW this is to bad. Can you call Lava Word and see if thay can replace the globe.


Roger

[DugaldC]

Thanks for the replies everyone. Yes - it has a sun on top and a slanted lid. I need to get it sorted somehow... it was my mother's and I asked her to get me one like it for Christmas. When she couldn't find one she gave me hers. Two weeks later and I have broken it! I am going to search for a replacement globe. Otherwise there is no way to reclaim the goo? I have plenty of filtering equipment etc. If it is screwed anyway I might as well give it a go! :s I am in Scotland, and the only place I could find in Europe selling the lamps is here: tops-import in Belgium. I am waiting for a reply on the price for shipping (probably huge).

[DugaldC]

I drained all of the water, leaving the wax in place. I then put the globe in a pot of water and brought it up to the boil. The whole lot (even the big spongy chunk that was floating around at the top) has reunited into a red soup. I am guessing that the wax had somehow mixed with the air and water and had changed composition slightly? I hope that the heat will force the water and air back out of the mixture. I am going to let it cool and maybe reheat it a couple of times to make sure, and will let you know how I get on.

[DugaldC]

IAfter heating and cooling it a few times and skimming the water off the top each time, it was was looking really nice. I cleaned out the globe and decided to put the wax back into after it was dry. To dry it a bit quicker I put it back onto the stand and switched the light on. Just my luck, it then broke because it was empty and too hot. I am kicking myself for not foreseeing that happening. No way can I fix it now - I am not going to find another clear glass bottle of the same size. I am totally gutted!

[Roger Stenstrom]

I will look on ebay if I see one will let you know.


Roger

[DugaldC]

Thanks again guys. I just found one on Ebay with 2 hours to finish. Being in the UK I reckon they prob come up less often than in the US. I got it for £25 inc. postage (just for the globe). Hard to swallow as the original one was £20 new! But anyway, at least I will get it sorted! I have kept my jar of reclaimed wax but think I should throw it out to avoid the temptation to tinker with it. Bad things always happen! :s Dug

[Roger Stenstrom]

I am glad you found one.


Roger

[DugaldC]

My new globe arrived today, so I put it on the stand and switched it on. 20 minutes later I heard a loud noise and when I looked closer the glass had cracked and was leaking fluid down over the lamp. I think it was very cold from being outside or something and the temp. difference stressed the glass. £25 down the drain... not a great way to start the weekend. :(

I am going to keep the base and watch for someone selling a globe at a good price. Or maybe I should just throw it out. I think it is cursed!

[Roger Stenstrom]

Sorry to here this. I hope ther nexed one works good.


Roger

[Waterdrinkingman]

oh boy what a story. but very interesting to me as I succeeded in repairing my (first) old lamp just rihght now. thumbs up I hope you will succeed in fixing yours!
I had similar problems with airy wax on the top of the liquid but it was not so much so I removed it.
Replacing the liquid was quite easy, I will try to add some colour the next days.

lets keep in touch. nighty!