Slowing Mathmos Baby/Telstar bottle

[Andrew Williams]

Dear fellow site members, I'm new to asking questions on the site, but hope one of you can help.  I would imagine Mathmos lava to be slightly different thanUSA Lava Brand types, and wondered if anyone knew of a simple fix, or additive that I can add to a Mathmos Baby bottle?

I remember years ago Crestworth (now Mathmos) used to sell acceleration fluid, as I remember my Auntie buying some in the late 80's early 90's, which when added to the lamp, made it flow like a 'good un'  again.  Guess I'm looking to make the wax ever so slightly lighter in weight.

I know I can buy a new bottle from Mathmos, but this bottle doesn't have any clouding, is a lovely violet/orange colour, plus the lamp was given to me as a prsent, so has some centimental value.

If anyone can offer any hints on UK Mathmos wax, I'd be very so very grateful.

Andy

[Johnny]

Bit confused if you want to speed the lava flow up OR slow the movement down ?  if ive had a slow flow bottle ive added tiny bit of propylene glycol till happy with the flow, to slow down the movement which now a days with mathmos only blob ball shapes grrrr i take some of the masterfluid out and top up with distilled water . This helps alot when re-filling original astro bottles as the new mathmos bottles dont have so much contents so have to top it up with distilled water and the flow is better nice long stretchy shapes

[Andrew Williams]

Hi, this was to speed up lava flow, so it is less sluggish.

[Johnny]

If i was you id go and buy online some of the propylene glycol, im guessing your using the correct bulb wattage? also if its a old bottle like 10 or more years older then the wax is gonna be well past its best

[Andrew Williams]

Hi thanks Johnny, bottle isn't too old, and Iv'e checked bulb wattage, which is 30w, lave works, but just be nice if a bit more lively.

What do I do with the propylene glycol?

Thank you in advance for any help.

Andy

[Johnny]

take a small bit of the bottles fluid  when its cold then add few drops of the propylene glycol turn on and see if its made any difference when its heated up, if you put to much in then that can cause the lava to rise and not fall back down, its trial and error. and remember dont over fill the bottle aka top bottle up to the original fluid level

Andrew Williams said:

Hi thanks Johnny, bottle isn't too old, and Iv'e checked bulb wattage, which is 30w, lave works, but just be nice if a bit more lively.

What do I do with the propylene glycol?

Thank you in advance for any help.

Andy

[Andrew Williams]

Thats a great help Johnny, thanks so much.

Your instructions make me think that the original so called 'acceleration fluid' that Crestworth Limited (pre Mathmos) used to do, that acted in a very similar way.

I will buy some, and see how it goes.  I have a friend with a lamp with a similar problem, I could also try and help them out if this works for me.

Much appreciated Johnny