Wax sticking

[Brad]

I'm having some problems with Goo Kit wax sticking to a 32oz globe.  I thoroughly washed the inside of the globe with dawn and water, then put in the dishwasher, then cleaned out with dawn and water again.  I coated the inside of the globe with surfactant, then added the wax and water.  When I heat the globe, wax flows up the side of the globe and hangs at the top.  This is with a 30w appliance bulb.  Is there something wrong with this wax, or am I doing something terribly wrong?  This is the second time I've had this issue with the same batch of wax.

[TomK]

Hi Brad, just to clarify, are you letting the wax completely harden before starting a flow cycle? Also, are you using distilled water? I've had some trouble occasionally with globes that have a fine film on the inside where rinsing isn't removing it all. I had to get a wooden salad spoon with a Dawn soaked napkin around the tip so I could manually scrub all the inner surfaces of the globe to remove the scum and make it flow right. A good long handled brush may work too, but be careful it doesn't scratch your glass.

[Brad]

Yes, I let it harden completely and I use DI water.  I like the idea of using a dawn-soaked napkin and wooden spoon.  It just seems like there is a problem with the wax since it hangs at the top and sticks to the sides.

[TomK]

Even though you are using a 30W bulb, overheating is still possible. This makes lava do very strange things. If the outside of your globe is too hot to hold in your hand then it is probably running too hot. Have you used any dimmers? I swear by them because with the variable nature of lava lamps, you can use dimmers to custom tune the heat level to match each lamp to get it's maximum effect. This being said Brad, you are not the first member I've seen talk about getting a bad batch of goo. Since you said this is the second time with this batch, you may be right. Was your other attempt using a different globe?

[Brad]

I can hold the globe in my bare hands, no problem.  No dimmer, but I've used 25w and 30w bulbs.

[Jus]

I had the same thing happen to me, Brad.  In my opinion it is faulty goo.  I'm betting if you let the lamp run for any number of days, when you check it there will be no change and you will be able to tell that some of the goo is in a liquid state, and some of it is still in a solid state.  Betcha money...

[Brad]

It's strange.  I've contacted MT about it, so hopefully they will reply.  This weekend I'm going to clean the globe with paint thinner, then wipe it down with dawn.

[Dr. WHAT?!]

Yeah me too they sent me a replacement gookit and after I cleaned the globe throughly even with WD-40 it still sticks some. I'll tell Lizette to read this thread maybe we can get some answers.

[Deb]

That's just great...just when I decide to try a goo kit for the first time, the product is flawed.

[Brad]

Well, we don't know for sure.  Lots of other people are having great success with the kits.  I have no idea if the globe is dirty or if the wax is bad.  I heard back from MT today and they want me to call them, but I think I am going to clean the globe with paint thinner first, then run the lamp to see if it continues to stick.  then I will know for sure if the wax is bad or if it's a dirty globe.

Thanks Dr. WHAT - much appreciated.  I'm recently purchased another kit and want to be sure i'm doing this right before i waste an entire quart of wax making a grande.

[Lizette Hotinger]

The goo batch has been very good.  Unfortunately, sometimes other elements cause problems.  You can call Kim at [phone]

[Dr. WHAT?!]

Thank you Lizette for the response. I know you guys had quality control issues so hopefully those have been worked out.

[Kim Hotinger]

Generally why wax sticks to the glass is the water is not warn enough!!!!!! The water temp should be between 115 and 120 degrees, if you maintain it at that it won't stick. Also you must make sure you use the right amount of surfactant. Contamination can also cause wax to stick your glass must be free of any other soap, wax, oil, salts and or anything other than a clean rinse of Distilled Water. We manufacture the wax and surfactant for Goo Kits.com feel free to get a hold of us and we will help you understand that these lamps work on a very slim window just like a pool or fish tank there is a window that you have to operate in.