Not my week... Orange Lava Lite with semi-goo-ey blob stuck at top

[Erin]

This thing got tossed around in shipping, I'm sure, so I know it's cloudy. However, it's been 3 hours now and that chunk at the top won't drop. It's half goo, half solid. I can't dislodge it for anything. I am trying a 60w bulb now to see if I can get it to melt, but so far, a no go.

Any thoughts?

[Autumn]

When I have a problem like this I drain the liquid into another container and put the globe in boiling water and force the wax to form a single mass. You may have luck with a 60 watt if the lava at the bottom rises. Most of the time when I get a lamp that has separated wax it wont flow so I have to boil it.

[Erin]

Nothing rises from the bottom, either. It just sits there, motionless.

THIS may be the globe I crack into! I was so excited about this one, too. :(

 Thanks again Autumn. You've been so helpful. I appreciate it!

[Keith]

Try running the lamp with a towel over the top half of the globe. This will allow the top to get hotter than normal and melt the stuck wax. I have also used aluminum foil for stubborn globes. Check after 2 or 3 hours, maybe more. Sometimes it may need a very light circular motion to get the wax to unstick. Don't forget to check the lamp, because it can get too hot and pop the cap if left for several hours.

[Erin]

Well this morning, the chunk was on the bottom of the lamp. I'll try running it again tonight and see what happens. I really want this one to work - I was so excited about the color combo!

[Erin]

Oh and thanks for the tip! :)

[Keith]

Yes, sometimes when the wax cools it comes down. That's why I prefer the classic lava globe with the taper at the top, it allows the cooled wax to fall. Some globe designed "trap" the wax at the top.

[Erin]

Well the wax chunk fell to the bottom by this morning, but I've got the lamp on again and it's still a mess. This is after an hour:

I'm going to try the foil/towel thing.

What's weird is that the base of the lamp doesn't feel that hot whereas my other lamps do. I'm perplexed as to why this chunk keeps rising to the top.

[bluecastlesky]

I wish you luck! It is always frustrating when you have a problem lamp. The time and aggravation working with it drives me crazy. Sometimes I have to give up and just get a new lamp. I've had lamps that no matter what tricks I've tried they just will not work, well there is always straining or new solution.
My 32 ounce orange/white flows beautiful and clear, I love it!!!

[Erin]

Absolutely! I am so saddened by this one as this was a lamp I was really excited to get. This one, if it's fixable at all, will have to be opened up.

I wonder if it's worth trying to plead my case with the USPS since my package was marked as damaged.

[Erin]

^^^ Thanks for that link. I'd really like to save this lamp!

As of today, there are flakes of stuff all over in the globe. I think when I tried to get the two to mix together, I got shit everywhere. Looks like dead skin is floating all over the inside of this lamp.

This weekend: PUR water pitcher!!!

[Erin]

Here's where I am today. I got the two pieces to melt together tonight on a 60w bulb. We'll see what happens tomorrow. When the wax is hot it's kind of a gooey mess. I'll add some more liquid tomorrow. There's all kinds of flaky stuff I filtered out.

[Erin]

LOOK! We have flowing lava! I am SO grateful to everyone for their help! Thank you so much!

Now I have a few more questions:

1) I want to put the original cap on. Do I put it on when the lamp is warm or cold?
2) I need to top off the liquid just a tad. What can I use? Distilled water?

I'm going to run the liquid through a Brita water pitcher soon as it's still pretty cloudy.

I'm stoked!