Kitting a Grande--I have a coil question!

[Chris]

So my best friend bought a Grande a few months ago--it's a China model and of course it has stopped functioning. I told him instead of going through all the BS I went through trying to find a working lamp, to just order a Goo Kit and I would come over and help him restore the lamp.

My question is about the coils though. On my vintage lamp, I just used the old coil because it was in perfect condition. On the China lamp I had, I used the screen from the Goo Kit, because the coil was falling apart in the wax and making it look speckled. Both methods worked 100% fine--I see no difference in flow using the screens vs. using the old coil.

HOWEVER--my friend's Grande has the setup with the 2 coils at the bottom. I don't trust Lava Lite's coils and I bet money that when I go to his house to look that there are black flecks in the wax from those coils falling apart. Can you use the included Goo Kit screen on a Grande and just drop it into the bottom of the lamp? I imagine you can, but I thought I'd see if anyone had any experience with that.

Also--I'm assuming for a Grande I'm just going to be using the entire Goo Kit. Is that a safe assumption?

[Chris]

Follow up question--he wants the goo to be yellow. Anyone have any experience with the stock yellow dye on a Grande as far as how much I should expect to be using?

[Brad]

i would try to use the stock coils if they are in good shape.  if not, use the screen provided in the kit.  place it in the bottom of the globe folded like this:  /\

the screen also helps, but does not completely prevent bubbles in the wax.  you can use it in addition to the coils.

for a grande, you will use the entire quart of wax.  good luck!

[Chris]

Would you say for the yellow dye (my friend definitely wants the goo to be yellow) that I'll be using most of the container? My experience with the yellow is that you have to use a LOT.

Brad said:

i would try to use the stock coils if they are in good shape.  if not, use the screen provided in the kit.  place it in the bottom of the globe folded like this:  /\

the screen also helps, but does not completely prevent bubbles in the wax.  you can use it in addition to the coils.

for a grande, you will use the entire quart of wax.  good luck!

[Carol]

I've never used yellow as a loner.  Always used it to blend and make other colors.  I know I'm not real thrilled with their green and they're blue dye gets to looking more plum/purple over time.  If I were going to kit a grande, I would order liquid candle wax dye honestly.  I just think it may be of a better quality.  Vox used a dye from peak something or other.  I want to try they're blue because I've tried 3 attempts at MT goo's blue dye and they all start to look purple to me over time.  I think it may be Peaksky....Vox???

[Carol]

Here it is:

http://www.peakcandle.com/category/Candle-Dyes/Liquid-Candle-Dyes.aspx

[VOXul]

Nailed it, Carol!  Here is the color I used to kit this 32oz lamp. This is after one drop (ultra concentrated color, one bottle will dye lamps blue for the rest of your life!). Holds this tone, to this day, six months later.

Carol said:

Here it is:

http://www.peakcandle.com/category/Candle-Dyes/Liquid-Candle-Dyes.aspx

[Chris]

So with the liquid candle dye, it seems to me that you'd have to add it before pouring the wax into the lamp, is that correct? Is it possible to add more/different color in after the fact like you can do with MT's dye?

VOXul said:

Nailed it, Carol!  Here is the color I used to kit this 32oz lamp. This is after one drop (ultra concentrated color, one bottle will dye lamps blue for the rest of your life!). Holds this tone, to this day, six months later.

Carol said:

Here it is:

http://www.peakcandle.com/category/Candle-Dyes/Liquid-Candle-Dyes.aspx

[VOXul]

Actually it seems to be much easier to dye the wax when compared to MT. Since the liquid color is oil based you can literally set a drop of it down on the waters surface up top and as the wax floats to the top it will draw the dye in the second it breaks the surface. It will not blend or bleed into the master fluid when it is water based kitted. Have yet to try it on a factory filled Lava/Mathmos but I assume they also use a water based master fluid, not oil based.

I have not experimented with adding various colors once dyed but I know my wife was able to do it well when used for making actual candles. Again, it is ultra concentrated so a very little goes a loooong way. It will blend with other colors though to branch out from their standard colors offered.

[Chris]

Thanks! We'll give it a shot!

VOXul said:

Actually it seems to be much easier to dye the wax when compared to MT. Since the liquid color is oil based you can literally set a drop of it down on the waters surface up top and as the wax floats to the top it will draw the dye in the second it breaks the surface. It will not blend or bleed into the master fluid when it is water based kitted. Have yet to try it on a factory filled Lava/Mathmos but I assume they also use a water based master fluid, not oil based.

[VOXul]

No problemo! Seems the link to reference the lamp I dyed is broken. In case you missed it, the lamp may be seen here.

Chris said:

Thanks! We'll give it a shot!

VOXul said:

Actually it seems to be much easier to dye the wax when compared to MT. Since the liquid color is oil based you can literally set a drop of it down on the waters surface up top and as the wax floats to the top it will draw the dye in the second it breaks the surface. It will not blend or bleed into the master fluid when it is water based kitted. Have yet to try it on a factory filled Lava/Mathmos but I assume they also use a water based master fluid, not oil based.

[Brad]

if you got with the MT dye, it helps to add a small amount (about the size of a couple pieces of rice) at a time.  add it to the top of the globe, then as the wax rises to the top, it will take the dye to the bottom and mix.  do this until you obtain the desired saturation.

Chris said:

Would you say for the yellow dye (my friend definitely wants the goo to be yellow) that I'll be using most of the container? My experience with the yellow is that you have to use a LOT.

Brad said:

i would try to use the stock coils if they are in good shape.  if not, use the screen provided in the kit.  place it in the bottom of the globe folded like this:  /\

the screen also helps, but does not completely prevent bubbles in the wax.  you can use it in addition to the coils.

for a grande, you will use the entire quart of wax.  good luck!