Colossus Rubber Plug

[Claude J]

I went to change the MF in the Colossus since it stopped flowing altogether.

Figured I'd check the bulb and dimmer for proper operation and insulate the inside of the base for heat dissipation since its now chromed.

Anywhoo,..

When I finally got the cap off, I noticed this one is completely different from the past  Colossus I popped the top on.
This one has a rubber plug for expansion that fits INSIDE the neck of the globe, provides NO EXPANSION cavity at all, and just fits over the top as a seal.
it is now just a dilapidated and destroyed sheet of rubber.
Also, I had a crapload of clear silicone to contend with that i didn't see on the first one I worked on (Possibly a Humungo?).

Can anyone enlighten me as to where to how to find a replacement rubber plug so this thing doesn't explode when I reseal it?

THE CAP

THE RUBBER STOPPER (remains of)

NUMBER WROTE ON THE STOPPER

137m

[Claude J]

Anyone?

[Claude J]

Well, I figured out how to do this.

I  have concerns about the lack of expansion, I have read stories of two different colossus lamps exploding.

I found a silicone rubber sheet with a SHORE A 50 (flexible) and another standard rubber with a SHORE 80 (Stiffer),

I'm going to try to seal it with the flexible SHORE 50 with epoxy while hot, Put a book on top to help it set level and even, let cool so it sucks in a bit after the glue is dry, then glue the stiffer rubber sheet to the top with a micro-sized hole drilled in the center for flex air to escape (in theory) thus creating a 2 staged expandable rubber seal.

then heat shrink it to the rim

I may not crimp the cap all the way either, just in case.

Recently I had a standard Magna tower goo kitt'd grande EXPLODE from lack of expansion in a corporate office (second time a grande exploded on me) so I'm a bit overcautious

FYI,. Make sure your insulation is high temperature worthy, the type I used started to give off a burnt smell so I pulled it and am waiting for specific ceramic hi-temp insulation to arrive.

[Claude J]

I finally love the flow~!

however, it was a difficult task

8 gal distilled water

12oz Surf

1 additional coil from a grande

The WHOLE gallon of  propylene glycol

No dimmer

still no flow

just a molten puddle at the bottom

Damn,..

its a 30 mile round trip to get more propylene glycol

UGH~! what to do?

Add 2 quarts of distilled water to pot, bring to boil, add a lot of pickling salt dissolved into it, then strain through a coffee filter and Whalla! 

flow like I have never had with a Colossus!

it actually give off light now

[kero48]

What's up with you grandes exploding, we all know you are well versed in grandes and that you for sure leave more than enough air space on top.

Now, you small hole idea is interesting because the grande aquarium plug has a tiny little air hole in it.

When I was toying with ideas for the grande bottle I redid, I was thinking about the hole in the rubber plug with no metal cap, thus pressure could escape but little fluid. So far the clear/red grande I made with lava lamp wax is, sealed the way you taught is fine.

Do you think they are exploding due to the heat being to close vs pressure? Do you know the real details of the one that you mention in this thread that exploded? Could it have been user error, put to close to a wall or additional heat source like a heater etc?

[Claude J]

READ CAREFULLY

the hole in the grande aquarium has nothing to do with the regular Grande

it is there to allow pumping in  air from the air pump into the water

it is there for that air to escape

Simple physics

there is nothing to seal for shipment either

I

The First one that exploded was due to highly expandable blacklight fluid (my fault- it was ages ago)

The second one that exploded was in test mode on my workstation and was due to the heating element being too close to the globe (my fault) It was R&D

The third one that I sent as a gift to a client might have been a defective globe or the owner had it cranked up all the way not knowing what good flow was

One of the dealers returned globes I received had a hairline crack that was only visible when fluid was in it.

I sold it to someone to use for glow in dark stones
This may have been the case with the one as well as eyesight isnt what it used to be.

The colossus will have the vent hole is only on the top sheet to allow for the lower sheet to expand the air pocket that will be created because the lower sheet will be a more expandable rubber seal actually sealing the bottle

It will draw down and suck into the globe as the fluid cools

the top sheet that is stiffer will be there for security and to seal the top better as it will be twice the thickness as the lower flexible sheet

Comprende?

[Mr MaGoo]

Pictures Claude, Pictures.  Am sure your doing all this sealing while the lamp is hot?  So as to let full expansion/ increased pressure occur then seal/ glue in place so when cooling does occur the negative pressure will occur and pull on inner rubber seal.  So that when lamp is heated again pressure will equalize, if not generate minimal pressure to seal as optimal running temps are encountered. Keep us in the loop, thanks!

PS grats on wonderful flow btw.

[Claude J]

Pictures will happen when the rubber material arrives

YOU UNDERSTAND MY ENGINEERING INTENT

THAT IS EXACTLY WHAT I AM GOING TO ACCOMPLISH

See BOLD PRINT below

Mr MaGoo said:

Pictures Claude, Pictures.  Am sure your doing all this sealing while the lamp is hot?  So as to let full expansion/ increased pressure occur then seal/ glue in place so when cooling does occur the negative pressure will occur and pull on inner rubber seal.  So that when lamp is heated again pressure will equalize,

(And the pinhole in the top rubber sheet will allow for the venting of trapped air in the cavity between the depressed lower sheet and the top/more rigid sheet of hard rubber)

if not generate minimal pressure to seal as optimal running temps are encountered. Keep us in the loop, thanks!

PS grats on wonderful flow btw.

[Claude J]

Update

Since the fluid is not as clear as I wish it to be and it has a red tint, I'm running a circulation pump and filter most of the day tomorrow with the hope of clearing up the fluid a bit.

I think I may have to due to the bleeding nature of the vintage goo

If unsuccessful, I may add a color to the fluid to mask the red tint.

I cannot make up mind between Blue, Purple, or Vintage Yellow

(I am thinking that the yellow. coupled with the red tint, may make it look like a classic gold lamp)

[Claude J]

NEW DISCOVERY

SIDE TOPIC form CoLOSSUS

Well, I found the culprit on the Grandes Kero

I was getting out a blacklight goo Grande globe to use for a secret project

I found a super small hairline crack that is so small, you can only see it if it gets the direct light right behind it at 90 deg or with a magnifier.

This is the second globe I got from a distributor buyout that had a hairline crack in it.

I sold the first one to use with glow stones or marbles

It could be actually the third one as I had one blow apart in a corporate office but the remains were tossed and after the fact.

kero48 said:

What's up with you grandes exploding, we all know you are well versed in grandes and that you for sure leave more than enough air space on top.

Now, you small hole idea is interesting because the grande aquarium plug has a tiny little air hole in it.

When I was toying with ideas for the grande bottle I redid, I was thinking about the hole in the rubber plug with no metal cap, thus pressure could escape but little fluid. So far the clear/red grande I made with lava lamp wax is, sealed the way you taught is fine.

Do you think they are exploding due to the heat being to close vs pressure? Do you know the real details of the one that you mention in this thread that exploded? Could it have been user error, put to close to a wall or additional heat source like a heater etc?