"Glow Motion" lamps?

[Kristen]

http://www.edmwi.com/home/edm/search?keywords=glow+motion

This wholesaler sells the "Glow Motion" brand of cheap lava lamp, and there's a store selling some on eBay.  I was interested in buying the 18" Rocket model, because it's inexpensive and looks neat.  I found that model about the time I found this site a week ago.

Just the price alone makes the quality suspicious, but after reading some info on here, I noticed that in every photo of this brand, and in the one youtube video I found, the lava only forms perfectly round spheres, maybe about 4-5 of them at the most.  That's not what I'd consider something interesting to watch in terms of lava movement.

So, anyway, I'd like feedback on this brand from anyone who's seen or bought one before I drop even a dime on one.  Hey, I'm poor and hate having to "fix" brand new stuff.  Though if the cap is easy to get off, and all I have to do is put some liquid through a coffee filter, I'd be ok with that, but nothing more...and that's if the lava flows ok.

I thought I was all set from reading on here what I thought were a couple good reviews of them, but now I'm not sure the posters were talking about the same brand.  Plus, at the link above, they have EIGHTY-THREE "scratch & dent" ones for sale that are cloudy!  Wait, this could be good instead of bad...they're obviously checking them for quality first, so at least a "new" one would be clear?  Well, in that case, the only remaining problem would be to find a US retailer sourcing from them.  :/

Anyway, thanks for any opinions and info,

Kristen

[☆VixenGypsy☆]

I'd suggest checking eBay for them, somethimes you can find them cheaper.

[Jonas Clark-Elliott]

The double-globe models are neat, but if you want good flow, a vintage model off eBay or a new Mathmos is the way to go. They'll cost more, but they'll run better by far. You get what you pay for, except in the case of Lava World/new Lava Lite.

[Kristen]

Yeah, the double-globe ones are my style, but they are neat. They'd go good in a modern-decorated home or office.

I wrote to the distributor and asked what kind of cap is on the globe. I'm hoping it's a screw cap or something, so I can replace the liquid and customize the lava flow characteristics, liquid color, etc. I started out a couple days ago saying I didn't want to mess with something I bought new, but for the extremely cheap price, and to get the awesome-looking base and lava color, I've come around to thinking it might be a fun project to do once.

Really the only hurdle is not having a capper. I read on here that the inexpensive ones can't crimp correctly on certain-shaped globes, and you really need access to a table-mounted style to guarantee results. As I understand, anyway. Well, I guess I'll go to the archive and read more on cappers...

I think I should have posted this in the DIY forum, haha.

[Kristen]

Thanks for the info! But, lol, I Googled and Binged the crap out of varieties of "crimp solid machine cap," and I can't find out exactly what it is. A 26mm pry-off cap like on a beer bottle?

Thanks,

Kristen

[Autumn]

I think this is the type of cap he is referring to. Can I get a confirmation though? If they are like this how to you reseal them?

I want to get a couple of the cloudy ones they are selling and dump the insides and refill them with a goo kit.

[Autumn]

Have you tried to fix yours? If you did were you successful?

[Kristen]

One simple but ingenious (meaning it never occured to me ;) ) way that someone resealed his cap was to tighten a metal hose clamp around the base. I'm pretty sure he didn't have the need to leave it there.

I wanted to do the same thing, but sadly, my car gave up the ghost, and I don't have hardly a single dollar to spend on playthings, so I haven't been hanging around here lately. :(

[Autumn]

Well I got 3 of the cloudy rocket lamps because I got them for a custom project. They all arrived in perfect condition and were cloudy and did not flow. I got them for $5 a piece and bought a goo kit to do them all. As a bonus they all come with a 30 watt bulb which is perfect for the lava louie goo. As for the caps... I destroyed them when I removed them but the good news is that standard bottle caps fit on them and even have a lip for a hand crimper to grab so you can crimp them on easily.