The 32oz red Clearview. My review

[Autumn]

Okay so Target is supposed to release these lamps on the 28th of this month, but for some reason mine put them out earlier so I picked one up for review.

The good.

The lamps base and cap are amazing. The finish is even better than my blue wizard. It has that brushed metal finish to it, but it is highly polished with an almost iridescent shine to it. This is true of the red lamps, but I think the yellow and purple lamps have a typical glossy finish to them. I am not sure, so I will confirm this later. The lamp had a few scratches in the metal that were painted over, but you really have to look to see them. The clear ring that holds the lamp in place is made of plastic, but it is a nice plastic. It is 100% crystal clear. This lamp is powered by a 25 watt reflector bulb, which I get the feeling will allow for lamps to run for way more than 8 hours. It takes a bit longer to get the lamp to the full temperature, but once it gets there the lamp flows great. I put a USA globe on the lamp to show the potential flow of this lamp.

The bad.

The formula in most of these lamps is, just like in the past, not correct. The lamp I bought was cloudy out of the box, but the wax had shown a lot of improvement. Instead of having that crystalized urinal cake look to it, the wax was smooth and buttery when cold. There were a lot of small bits floating around, which I thought would settle and cause the lamp to clear up. They are completely gone now, but the lamp remains cloudy. It did clear up a lot from the time I bought it, but every time I run the lamp it gets cloudy again. Despite the cloudiness the lamp flowed amazingly. That is until about the fifth run when the wax had a sudden change of heart. Now the wax sits at the bottom of the lamp in a lifeless lump. After about 4 hours the lamp will begin to flow, but it is the slow round china flow that just isn't very exciting. I talked to Dale and he told me what I have heard before. The manufacturers are screwing with the lamps again. Right now the odds of getting a 90's formula clearview are fairly slim, but they are out there. Some batches are coming out right.

The verdict.

Do buy this lamp if you want the base and cap. I know this has been said over and over and it is frustrating, but it is what it is. The base and cap are really nice, and they fit in well with the rest of the lamp designs. 

Don't buy this lamp if you want a clear properly flowing globe. Sure you can get lucky and get an amazing globe, but the odds are not in your favor. If you do happen to run across a good globe, buy everything you want at that location at that time. Later on down the road they may have a bad batch at that location.

Here is the clearview when I first opened it.

Here is what it looked like when it did flow.

Here is the clear cone and 25 watt bulb.

Here is a photo of the cone. It shows the finish of the lamp quite nicely.

The scratches in this video look worse than they are because of the camera flash. In reality they are hardly noticeable.

And finally this photo shows a USA clear/yellow flowing on the clearview base and the clear/red China globe on an enchantress base.

[MattMJB0188]

Hoping Dale still visits these forums.  ;)

[Tim Gill]

It has the potenchal to be a fantastic lamp (the US globe running on it shows just that). Its a shame that the manufacturing process has let it down again, I want to get one but only when LL have moved back to the US and the manufacturing process has be sorted out.

Unfortunately its no surprise that its like this if the process is still the same.

[Erin]

The base and cap seem nice. I'm interested from that aspect, esp knowing another 32oz. could be put on there. Good writeup Autumn. I like the shot of the Clearview next to the regular Enchantress. 

Sadly, I had a feeling all was not well with the formula. Wonder why it was good for a few runs and then went to crap. 

[lava luva ~ Tiffany]

i think im still gonna get one and give it a try. if i get a sucky one (im shure i will) i just return it or save it till i have an extra 32oz to put on it. the base and top are really nice looking and it does look amazing with that US globe on it.

[Stephanie]

I agree with Tiffany. I also enjoy how they use less energy but allow more light. Thanks a lot for the review Autumn, I'll be anticipating them in my target!

[Dr. WHAT?!]

Just got back from target with a red clear view :) So far not bad at all. The base and cap are a nice finish for sure. The globe, not as cloudy as Autumn's, if at all cloudy, looks pretty clear to me. Have to see how it flows next and if it overheats. But so far not bad, I had worse expectations honestly.

[Erin]

DANGIT, I WANT ONE.

[Dr. WHAT?!]

One thing I did see that I just think it'll go away is that there's some wax stuck to the side of the glass. Maybe just from transportation.

Erin, you know I would check again or call them about it because they didn't keep these by where they normally kept the lava lamps at the store i was at. It was on a end cap in the back so it wasn't out in the open either you may have over looked it?

[Erin]

When I was there, their website said they had the lamps in stock at that location. I will have to go back and look elsewhere. They weren't stocked on the end cap where they have been before. What department/area did you find them in?

[Dr. WHAT?!]

Well I could've overlooked them when I went the first time to see if they had them in stock lol.I didn't even think to check a end cap I just saw their old stock of lamps and assumed they be by those but they weren't. But the website said they are in stock so I went back today and they were a isle and half over on the end cap. Call them save yourself the trip if they dont.

[Erin]

They are supposed to be in task lighting but I didn't see them there. I'll call tonight. 

[Dr. WHAT?!]

yup by the table lamps and stuff is where it was at. It that the color your getting?