Goo kit - instantly cloudy

[Verax]

So, I did a grande goo kit, and it was perfect.  Easy, and flow is fantastic.  I have since then tried 3 times, each failing on the first run.  My steps, and symptoms:

Steps:

• Empty globe
• Rinse globe with super hot tap water
• Clean globe with full can of Brakleen (spending 15 min with brakleen in globe, slowly soaking every sq inch)
• Rinse brakleen out with distilled water
• Melt gookit wax (I usually put it in the microwave at half power for a couple minutes, then put it into 140-150 degree water to finish it off
• Rinse globe with sufactant (Propylene Glycol), then dump it out
• Add gookit wax
• Let wax harden (usually 12-24 hrs)
• Add Distilled water
• Add Surfactant (Propylene Glycol)

Result:

I turn on the lamp, and when the wax melts, it "offgasses" white clouds until the wax is clear.  The liquid turns cloudy, and the wax remains clear.  Multiple running do not seem to resolve the issue.

Any thoughts on why this would be happening?

[ChuckM]

I have never used brakleen so I can't say what it is. My typical method was to use the really hot water that I used to melt the wax as one rinse... I use Dawn dishwashing detergent as well... ...I use a bottle brush too... then I rinse and rinse with hot tap water... then I rinse with rubbing alcohol several times... then I rinse with more tap water... then a final two rinses with distilled water.

For surf, I have always used the surf that they sell with the gookit. I don't know if they use propylene glycol, but I have tried to use it in non-gookit lamps (i.e., when I had a lamp that I felt needed new liquid... like my old midnight... it never worked out for me, but I also never got cloudy liquid from doing that either.

[Brad]

I agree with Chuck.  I've never used Brakleen on any of my goo kit lamps and have never had clouding.  I also used the surfactant that came with the goo kit with no issues.  Are you using that or your own PG?  I'm not sure why people are using Brakleen to clean globes lately.  Is there a reason for this step?  Brakleen is typically used for the Tetrachloroethylene (PERC) to make density adjustments, not as a cleaner.  A wash with very hot water, scrub with dish soap, and rinse with tap water always worked for me, even with globes with a ton of residual wax.

[Todd Miller]

Don't use propylene glycol, I've tried.

Instead use a mix of water/surf.  Pour it in

and swirl it about.  Dump out excess to use later.

Leave a little bit of surf/water in the bottle.

[Carol]

I've tried brakleen and no brakleen.  I have had globes that look cloudy when I first turn them on.  After they get hot enough to flow they instantly clear up.  Don't know why this happens, but it does bother me so I don't look at them until they are clear.  I also have had globes that streak up.  I've never used anything with my kits but the surf that comes with the kit.  I have used Epsom salt and dawn dish liquid in fluid changes and they clouded up horribly.  I would try again with the surf that Magma Tower's sends with the goo.

[Carol]

I forgot and wanted to add.....one of my favorite kits (my bubblegum pink) started to really look streaky inside the globe last night.  I tried an experiment.  I added 2ml of surf when it was super hot and let it flow and it seemed to take the streaking away.  Now I'm thinking that maybe this is some sort of wax residue because if it is not, then why is the slippery surf helping with the streaking problem???  Hummm????   Anyway, I'm going to see if it restreaks tonite and I am going to add another 2 ml to my other globes because they all seem to have a few streaks here and there.  I'm starting to think it is an MT goo problem.  Something that this goo gives off.  I don't know because others have used the MT goo recently and have not had this problem.  Do they not run them as much as me?  Maybe not as hot?  I don't know.  I may give MT a courtesy call and see what they can advise.  I was also told it is because my globes aren't clean enough.  This simply cannot be the case because I've used brakleen and acetone and i'm still having the streaking problem!!!  Anyway IMO the additional 2 ml of surf does nothing to effect the flow, so if it helps with the streaks I'm using it!!!

[Verax]

Thanks for all the suggestions.  I ordered a couple big bottles of their surf.  I've cleaned the globes out without the Brakleen step.  

thanks again!

[Carol]

Good luck!!!!

[LampHead]

 My guess is its the PG, the surf they use is glycerin based.