Lava Lamp Newb With ?s

[Jamie]

Hey guys! New member here! Got a couple questions I know will probably be easy answers for some of you...

 

I am in the market for a new lava lamp for my studio apartment (the first of many). I had the lava bug back in the early 90s and had a midnight series, black base, clear liquid and purple wax as my first lamp. Had a few here and there back then but had all but forgotten about them until I started watching re-runs of "That 70s Show", and now I absolutely have to have another one!

Now, Im not the type to just go out and bu the first thing I see at target or walmart, I always research purchases like this, and it is looking like I may have been smart in doing this... Lava Lite seems to have gotten really bad since the 90s by looking at the posts here and in various reviews around the internet.

I have found numerous posts here referring to production being moved back into the US here but the main source of this information was from last year. Has this move happened? Are the Lava Lite lamps sold at target and walmart back up to par with what they should be now? Are the forumlas perfect for good flow again?

Second, I just found out about Mathmos the other day and got all excited. This excitment quickly left me when I found Mathmos's US site with no listing for the Astro that is oh-so-drool worthy... What is going on there? Are they going to produce the Astro for the US market here or what? I would much rather save my pennies for a perfect Mathmos then play the gambling game with a target bought lamp...

 

Thanks in advance! This is a wonderful site and I look forward to this new interest becoming an obsession ;)

Jamie

[Autumn]

The cloudiness won't go away on its own so replacing it is your only option.

[Keith]

Yeah the cloudiness on these lamps may never clear up.  Older ones cleared up OK normally (2002 and earlier)

Jamie said:

i dont mind the break in period but the cloudy water is just really annoying. thankfully i can get to spencers from my office desk in about 10 minutes ;)

[Samantha Gregory]

MIne is great broke in nicely to Mathew had to leave me a few moments to get food and a drink while waiting for the bus. He was worried but i told him if anybody tried to go after me i would hit them really hard with the lamp in the box and if it broke return it saying somebody destroyed it on me which wouldn't be a lie. But the lamps are great when there at there best but Spencer's usually has great quality lamps for a good price

[Jamie]

returned the purple one and got a neon green one yesterday... opened it in store and got a nice clear one...

here it is at hour 4 last night, already flowing WAY better than the purple one did at hour 8! so happy right now! this is just the start of a new obsession i can see quickly taking over my living room ;)

 

[Samantha Gregory]

LOl and we have converted you no? Have fun with your lamp collection and the best of luck to you

[Jamie]

another noob question....

im cool with the "10 runs to break in" time frame... but does the warm up time to get the flow going decrease at all as its broken in? still took about three hours for last nights run to get any lava to "break off" and float to the top...

[Autumn]

yes

Jamie said:

another noob question....

im cool with the "10 runs to break in" time frame... but does the warm up time to get the flow going decrease at all as its broken in? still took about three hours for last nights run to get any lava to "break off" and float to the top...

[Samantha Gregory]

YEah it does mine needs less than an hour now

[Jamie]

The sickness continues. I present lamp #2.

Black 1996 Midnight that I found at a garage sale this morning for $2. Flows like a champ but the water is VERRRY slightly tinted a slight tea color... The bulb was burned out so I am using the one from my Neon in it for the initial testing. The bulb that was in it was a frosted bulb but my neon bulb is a clear one... Does this make a difference at all? Which one should I buy as a replacement?

Ive got a purple liquid / yellow lava Silver Century lined up to be picked up next saturday for $5 and an original 70s starlight based Century with clear liquid / red lava that Ill be picking up sometime this week for $30 :) :) :)

[Keith]

Excellent, excellent!!  You are becoming one with the Goo!  lol

Nice lamp.  The color in the water is probably dye that has leaked from the wax.  I don't know of any way to remove it without replacing the water.  If it doesn't bother you too much it is probably just as well to leave it as is.

As for the bulb I normally use frosted.  The clear bulbs generally run slightly hotter.  Overall not too big of a difference though.  The other two lamps sound like good ones also. ;)

Jamie said:

The sickness continues. I present lamp #2.

Black 1996 Midnight that I found at a garage sale this morning for $2. Flows like a champ but the water is VERRRY slightly tinted a slight tea color... The bulb was burned out so I am using the one from my Neon in it for the initial testing. The bulb that was in it was a frosted bulb but my neon bulb is a clear one... Does this make a difference at all? Which one should I buy as a replacement?

Ive got a purple liquid / yellow lava Silver Century lined up to be picked up next saturday for $5 and an original 70s starlight based Century with clear liquid / red lava that Ill be picking up sometime this week for $30 :) :) :)

[Samantha Gregory]

Sounds like you're finding great deals all over better than i am

[Jamie]

craigslist is amazing. i have it set up to send me text message alerts whenever a new listing that includes the word "lava lamp" comes up... and i also put out a want ad on there

just got an alert that the first lamp i ever had, the clear/purple midnight, is on craigslist for $5... might have to go check it out tomorrow ha! :)