Trying to crack the original formula- why was kerosene used?

[Ant Bee]

In my quest to figure out exactly what the original formula is, one thing I haven't figured out is why they used Kerosene in the mixture.  It seems like it was a very small part of the mixture, something like 7% by volume.

But what was the point?  Did it act as a preservative, or enhance the flow, or help to bind everything together?

Speculations?

[tim]

i added some more wax and some SLS and now it flows amazingly well! easily the coolest lava lamp i own. thanks everyone for your help.

[Allan_Mazek]

     Finished my simplest lava lamp, by using just wax, perc, liquid paraffin and resin die, as it was my main goal. I like to work with mass because it is invariant like volume, and below there's my recipe (in percentages of total mass) for this lamp in the link:

- 46% paraffin wax

- 12% paraffin oil

- 42% perchloroethylene

https://youtube.com/shorts/cGLyL7QA9iQ?feature=share

     It doen't show on this particular video, but one annoying issue I've been facing is the origination of bubles of water inside the lava. They form in the space below the wax contained by the coil ring and rise crazy fast inside the lava. The effect is kinda cool, but as time passes the lava becomes bubbly and a bit foamy, returning to its original state as the lava cools again.

[tim]

nice lamp!

Allan_Mazek said:

     Finished my simplest lava lamp, by using just wax, perc, liquid paraffin and resin die, as it was my main goal. I like to work with mass because it is invariant like volume, and below there's my recipe (in percentages of total mass) for this lamp in the link:

- 46% paraffin wax

- 12% paraffin oil

- 42% perchloroethylene

https://youtube.com/shorts/cGLyL7QA9iQ?feature=share

     It doen't show on this particular video, but one annoying issue I've been facing is the origination of bubles of water inside the lava. They form in the space below the wax contained by the coil ring and rise crazy fast inside the lava. The effect is kinda cool, but as time passes the lava becomes bubbly and a bit foamy, returning to its original state as the lava cools again.

[Dmytro Lapchuk]

I tried to do according to this formula. The consistency turned out to be similar. But I have a problem: when heated, bubbles of air (or other gas) rise from the formed paraffin, as a result, my bulb explodes. Situation was the same with kerosene or synthetic thinner. Microcrystalline wax does not dissolve either there or there. I mixed it with 70% chloroparaffin by heating it in a water bath. Does anyone know what the problem is? Why does the bulb explode?

Tevfik Dogruman said:

While researching the formulas on the Internet, I found a report on kerosene use. The report is on the safety of the mixture. Maybe it can help you to give ideas.

I think kerosene holds the ingredients together in the mixture. Chlorinated paraffin density enhancer. Microcrystalline paraffin can be for opacity. I use synthetic thinner instead of kerosene in my works. Then the beautiful column is formed.

[Tevfik Dogruman]

How many liters of lamp are you making?

How many watt bulbs did you use?

Wax density is adjusted by mixing chlorinated paraffin and microcrystalline paraffin at a certain rate. Kerosene or synthetic thinner provides fluidity. The density of their mixture is good, about 1.03 - 1.06 g/ml.

Dmytro Lapchuk said:

I tried to do according to this formula. The consistency turned out to be similar. But I have a problem: when heated, bubbles of air (or other gas) rise from the formed paraffin, as a result, my bulb explodes. Situation was the same with kerosene or synthetic thinner. Microcrystalline wax does not dissolve either there or there. I mixed it with 70% chloroparaffin by heating it in a water bath. Does anyone know what the problem is? Why does the bulb explode?

[Dmytro Lapchuk]

I am using the original 16 inch Chinese lamp base and bulb.

https://encrypted-tbn0.gstatic.com/images?q=tbn:ANd9GcRdiYfRhaAZNQT...

Approximately 0.5 liters
35 watts

It seems to me that I somehow mixed the ingredients incorrectly, and some gas got into the composition. I first mix the chlorinated paraffin with kerosene or synthetic thinner and then by heating in a water bath I mix it with the microcrystalline wax.

Tevfik Dogruman said:

How many liters of lamp are you making?

How many watt bulbs did you use?

Wax density is adjusted by mixing chlorinated paraffin and microcrystalline paraffin at a certain rate. Kerosene or synthetic thinner provides fluidity. The density of their mixture is good, about 1.03 - 1.06 g/ml.

Dmytro Lapchuk said:

I tried to do according to this formula. The consistency turned out to be similar. But I have a problem: when heated, bubbles of air (or other gas) rise from the formed paraffin, as a result, my bulb explodes. Situation was the same with kerosene or synthetic thinner. Microcrystalline wax does not dissolve either there or there. I mixed it with 70% chloroparaffin by heating it in a water bath. Does anyone know what the problem is? Why does the bulb explode?

[Tevfik Dogruman]

Hi Dmytro Lapchuk First, I melt the solid ones and mix them. Then I add the liquid ones. The thing to note here: The boiling point of liquid substances must be higher than the temperature of the melted wax.
I think the wattage of the bulb is too high to this volume.

Dmytro Lapchuk said:

I am using the original 16 inch Chinese lamp base and bulb.

https://encrypted-tbn0.gstatic.com/images?q=tbn:ANd9GcRdiYfRhaAZNQT...

Approximately 0.5 liters
35 watts

It seems to me that I somehow mixed the ingredients incorrectly, and some gas got into the composition. I first mix the chlorinated paraffin with kerosene or synthetic thinner and then by heating in a water bath I mix it with the microcrystalline wax.

Tevfik Dogruman said:

How many liters of lamp are you making?

How many watt bulbs did you use?

Wax density is adjusted by mixing chlorinated paraffin and microcrystalline paraffin at a certain rate. Kerosene or synthetic thinner provides fluidity. The density of their mixture is good, about 1.03 - 1.06 g/ml.

Dmytro Lapchuk said:

I tried to do according to this formula. The consistency turned out to be similar. But I have a problem: when heated, bubbles of air (or other gas) rise from the formed paraffin, as a result, my bulb explodes. Situation was the same with kerosene or synthetic thinner. Microcrystalline wax does not dissolve either there or there. I mixed it with 70% chloroparaffin by heating it in a water bath. Does anyone know what the problem is? Why does the bulb explode?

[Dmytro Lapchuk]

Hi, Tevfik Dogruman. Thanks for your answer. I will try to melt the chlorinated paraffin and microcrystalline wax first, and then add the kerosene/synthetic thinne. Do you know if it is ok to use ceresin instead of microcrystalline wax?

Tevfik Dogruman said:

Hi Dmytro Lapchuk First, I melt the solid ones and mix them. Then I add the liquid ones. The thing to note here: The boiling point of liquid substances must be higher than the temperature of the melted wax.
I think the wattage of the bulb is too high to this volume.

Dmytro Lapchuk said:

I am using the original 16 inch Chinese lamp base and bulb.

https://encrypted-tbn0.gstatic.com/images?q=tbn:ANd9GcRdiYfRhaAZNQT...

Approximately 0.5 liters
35 watts

It seems to me that I somehow mixed the ingredients incorrectly, and some gas got into the composition. I first mix the chlorinated paraffin with kerosene or synthetic thinner and then by heating in a water bath I mix it with the microcrystalline wax.

Tevfik Dogruman said:

How many liters of lamp are you making?

How many watt bulbs did you use?

Wax density is adjusted by mixing chlorinated paraffin and microcrystalline paraffin at a certain rate. Kerosene or synthetic thinner provides fluidity. The density of their mixture is good, about 1.03 - 1.06 g/ml.

Dmytro Lapchuk said:

I tried to do according to this formula. The consistency turned out to be similar. But I have a problem: when heated, bubbles of air (or other gas) rise from the formed paraffin, as a result, my bulb explodes. Situation was the same with kerosene or synthetic thinner. Microcrystalline wax does not dissolve either there or there. I mixed it with 70% chloroparaffin by heating it in a water bath. Does anyone know what the problem is? Why does the bulb explode?

[Tevfik Dogruman]

Hi Dmytro, I've never used ceresin. It looks like white beeswax. The melting point is appropriate. You can try.

Dmytro Lapchuk said:

Hi, Tevfik Dogruman. Thanks for your answer. I will try to melt the chlorinated paraffin and microcrystalline wax first, and then add the kerosene/synthetic thinne. Do you know if it is ok to use ceresin instead of microcrystalline wax?

Tevfik Dogruman said:

Hi Dmytro Lapchuk First, I melt the solid ones and mix them. Then I add the liquid ones. The thing to note here: The boiling point of liquid substances must be higher than the temperature of the melted wax.
I think the wattage of the bulb is too high to this volume.

Dmytro Lapchuk said:

I am using the original 16 inch Chinese lamp base and bulb.

https://encrypted-tbn0.gstatic.com/images?q=tbn:ANd9GcRdiYfRhaAZNQT...

Approximately 0.5 liters
35 watts

It seems to me that I somehow mixed the ingredients incorrectly, and some gas got into the composition. I first mix the chlorinated paraffin with kerosene or synthetic thinner and then by heating in a water bath I mix it with the microcrystalline wax.

Tevfik Dogruman said:

How many liters of lamp are you making?

How many watt bulbs did you use?

Wax density is adjusted by mixing chlorinated paraffin and microcrystalline paraffin at a certain rate. Kerosene or synthetic thinner provides fluidity. The density of their mixture is good, about 1.03 - 1.06 g/ml.

Dmytro Lapchuk said:

I tried to do according to this formula. The consistency turned out to be similar. But I have a problem: when heated, bubbles of air (or other gas) rise from the formed paraffin, as a result, my bulb explodes. Situation was the same with kerosene or synthetic thinner. Microcrystalline wax does not dissolve either there or there. I mixed it with 70% chloroparaffin by heating it in a water bath. Does anyone know what the problem is? Why does the bulb explode?

[bob]

how did you make your lamp structure thats what part im up to i think i need a lesson in eletrics..thnks

[bob]

Dmytro Lapchuk said:

I tried to do according to this formula. The consistency turned out to be similar. But I have a problem: when heated, bubbles of air (or other gas) rise from the formed paraffin, as a result, my bulb explodes. Situation was the same with kerosene or synthetic thinner. Microcrystalline wax does not dissolve either there or there. I mixed it with 70% chloroparaffin by heating it in a water bath. Does anyone know what the problem is? Why does the bulb explode?

Tevfik Dogruman said:

While researching the formulas on the Internet, I found a report on kerosene use. The report is on the safety of the mixture. Maybe it can help you to give ideas.

I think kerosene holds the ingredients together in the mixture. Chlorinated paraffin density enhancer. Microcrystalline paraffin can be for opacity. I use synthetic thinner instead of kerosene in my works. Then the beautiful column is formed.

where can i get chloranated parafin wax plse anyone im in the uk . thanks .

[Claude J]

synthetic thinner instead of kerosene in my works. Then the beautiful column is formed.

What did you use for a kerosene substitute???
bob said:

Dmytro Lapchuk said:

I tried to do according to this formula. The consistency turned out to be similar. But I have a problem: when heated, bubbles of air (or other gas) rise from the formed paraffin, as a result, my bulb explodes. Situation was the same with kerosene or synthetic thinner. Microcrystalline wax does not dissolve either there or there. I mixed it with 70% chloroparaffin by heating it in a water bath. Does anyone know what the problem is? Why does the bulb explode?

Tevfik Dogruman said:

While researching the formulas on the Internet, I found a report on kerosene use. The report is on the safety of the mixture. Maybe it can help you to give ideas.

I think kerosene holds the ingredients together in the mixture. Chlorinated paraffin density enhancer. Microcrystalline paraffin can be for opacity. I use synthetic thinner instead of kerosene in my works. Then the beautiful column is formed.

where can i get chloranated parafin wax plse anyone im in the uk . thanks .