How to color clear glitter lamps orange?

[John]

Hello, fellow goo heads. I'm wondering if anyone out there has experience changing clear glitter lamps from clear to orange in color? Twice now I have used McCormick red and yellow food coloring to change a 20 ounce lava lite brand glitter lamp from clear to orange but both times, after about 20 10-hour-each run or so, the orange changes to yellow. I believe it is the heat from the incandescent bulbs that is doing this but I'm not sure. Any suggestions? I really want an orange glitter lamp! Thanks!

[Dr. WHAT?!]

Food coloring is water based most glitter lamps are oil based. If you go to hobby lobby they sell a soap dye that oil based that will work for glitter lamps.

[John]

thanks, dr. what.  the lamp i'm try to color is a chinese-made one that i think is water-based so i'm not sure if that's going to work but i certainly give it a try!  thanks for the tip!

[Loren]

See, I custom modify glitter and lava lamps. I have both glitters and lavas with orange liquids that I colored with food color, and they've been running for months...they haven't turned yellow. The only thing I can think is that something in the lavalite glitter fluid is chemically messing with the pigments in the food color, breaking them down over time. Add heat and stir, and it probably just speeds the process up.

All I know is that, in my Chinese lamps, the orange is holding fast so far *knocks on wood*.

[John]

Hey, Loren. Can I ask what brand food coloring you're using? I'm having trouble with McCormick.

[Loren]

That is what I also have been using. I have run this glitter well over 100 hours at this point, and it's still just as vivid orange as it ever was. ??? I'm not sure why, other than maybe the chemicals in lavalite glitter juice!

[John]

And are yours Chinese-made lamps as well?

[Loren]

Yes, but I'm not sure if my lavalite glitters are from the same facrtory. These lamps use larger, highly reflective mylar glitter, and the lavalite glitters use actual, tiny, real glitter. I know the fluids are very different, also.

[John]

Ok, we'll, thanks all for the tips. I think I'll be trying the oil-based coloring next. I'll report back whether or not that works. Thanks again!

[Dr. WHAT?!]

Just telling you what has worked for me

http://shop.hobbylobby.com/products/red-blue-and-yellow-soap-dye-37...

John said:

thanks, dr. what.  the lamp i'm try to color is a chinese-made one that i think is water-based so i'm not sure if that's going to work but i certainly give it a try!  thanks for the tip!

[Deb]

I'm thinking this may work to dye my extra USA yellow glitter to green.

Dr. WHAT?! said:

Just telling you what has worked for me

http://shop.hobbylobby.com/products/red-blue-and-yellow-soap-dye-37...

John said:

thanks, dr. what.  the lamp i'm try to color is a chinese-made one that i think is water-based so i'm not sure if that's going to work but i certainly give it a try!  thanks for the tip!

[Loren]

If water-based pigments mix with the glitter fluid you're using, then I really would not try oil-based ones, because they likely won't.

[John]

Hey, guys.  I was finally able to make the orange color stick in my glitter lamp (i.e. the one that kept changing from orange to yellow using McCormick food coloring--see above for specifics) by using Loretta brand red food coloring instead.  I bought it at Bulk Barn here in Toronto, Canada.  I'm assuming that my original theory was correct regarding the heat from the incandescent bulb somehow breaking down the McCormick red food coloring.  If anyone else is having trouble with their orange glitter changing from orange to yellow over time, here's your fix!  By the way, the Loretta food coloring came in a large bottle so if you can't buy it in the states (or elsewhere) and need some, let me know and I'll be happy to mail you some.  All it takes is a drop or two.  And, also, thanks for all the suggestions!