Gookitted Lamp Bulb Question

[Carol]

Ok, I am happy to report that I am VERY pleased with the way my first goo kit turned out.  Vid is up on my page.  However, when I used my normal 40 white clear appliance bulb the goo spiked but soon fell to the bottom and just danced like jello not wanting to shoot up.  Instead of panicking and adding more surf, I used my OG member knowledge and put a 60 watt frosted garage door opener bulb in. (don't ask, it was all I had available).  Now I'm happy to report I'm getting very active flow.  Now, do I definitely need to add a dimmer if it doesn't overheat?  If it seems ok, should I just leave well enough alone?  So far it's not showing signs of overheating.  Does anyone run their gookitted 52 oz lamps on a frosted 60 without a dimmer? 

[Carol]

So, I guess with this goo you kind of have to "jump" start it because the 60 watt bulb without a dimmer made the flow VERY active, but without a dimmer it did start to get pretty hot.  I popped the 40 watt clear back in, and it seems to be flowing nicely now.  So I answered my own question, lol!!!

[Tim Gill]

Guess you have, dimmer would be the most convent solution (don't have to keep swapping out bulbs) but if it works for you like this then happy days.

[Todd Miller]

Here's my input from making GooKits, I've done several 32/52oz lamps.

On the 52oz GooKit, a 40W bulb doesn't seem to cut it....

It's weird because MT says their wax is more 'efficient' and requires a smaller bulb.

I don't think so.  I use a 60w bulb with an inline dimmer.  If you let it run too long

with the 60w bulb it will over heat.  Using the dimmer, I control the heat.  Crank it

up for an hour or so until it flows.  Your warm up time will vary considering the room

temps.  Then gradually turn the dimmer down,  maybe an 1/8 turn (after it's flowing)

and wait 30 mins or so. You do this when the wax seems to collect at the top or is

too fast flowing. It takes time for the lamp to cool a bit, you have to be patient. After

a while you will figure out, after spending hours playing with the dimmer, to get a

nice flow.

I made a custom lamp for a friend and I made marks on the dimmer dial with

a sharpie.  Warm Up (turned all the way up) and marks for 'run times' of 

1,2,3,& 4 hours.  They simply turn it on; and dial it down as it runs.

[Carol]

Todd, I run my vintage lamps on dimmers and I'm getting to the point where I know exactly when to slide it down some.  At first I was all over the place, up, down, up a little more, too much, down some, OMG, now i'm getting better control.  I'm running out Friday when I get paid for a dimmer.  In the meantime, I'll just deal with the 40 watt.  I don't want to have it overheat and something bad happen.  But you're right about the 40 not cutting it.  I thought the same thing when I read that the MT goo requires less heat.  Things that make ya go hummmm.......