Lava Lamps : What are replacement bottles for? - Tilted Forum Project Discussion Community

itch vaccine · 09-18-2004, 12:17 AM

I'm in Malaysia and they don't sell good lava lamps here.. or perhaps they're just hard to find. So my relative is coming back from London and she could get one from me from Mathmos UK (http://www.mathmos.co.uk) -- which is Fluidium.

So Fluidium (the lava lamp) has replacement bottles.

What are they for? Will the lava in the lava lamp eventually run out or stop flowing that I'll need to change them? Or these replacement bottles are just for those who broke their lamps?

Thanks for your help

metalgeek · 09-18-2004, 12:55 AM

the wax in the lamp ends up looking bad, either clumoing toether to much, o going into lots of small balls.

itch vaccine · 09-18-2004, 01:48 AM

Ouch, then major bummer? :P

There's no way I can find replacement bottles in Malaysia.

How long does it take to wear out?

Rlyss · 09-20-2004, 05:36 AM

It's been a long time since I was in Malaysia, but I'd have thought Kuala Lumpur would have stores that sell lava lamps. Surely the shopping centre under the KL towers would have a few stores with gadgets and cool retro stuff. If you're in or near KL I'd say the towers are the way to go.

MSD · 09-20-2004, 09:27 AM

If you knock the lamp over, the water (actually some sort of oil) can go cloudy, ruining your lamp.

Cynthetiq · 09-20-2004, 10:06 AM

my britney spears penis looking one still works great! it gets knocked over all the time.

Glory's Sun · 09-20-2004, 01:20 PM

my grandma has one that still works.. I think she got it during her hippy days.. it still makes great formations and everything..although it does seem to take a little longer to actually heat up now..

stonegrody · 09-20-2004, 03:32 PM

I've had mine and used it for a couple of years now. It has gone through several moves and a drop and it still works great. I wouldn't worry about a replacement as long as you don't break yours.

gar1976 · 09-24-2004, 08:20 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by MrSelfDestruct

If you knock the lamp over, the water (actually some sort of oil) can go cloudy, ruining your lamp.

I've had this happen to mine, and over time, it cleared up.

Also, if the room temperature was too high, then I got massive amounts of small bubbles. A low room temp would produce the coolest effects.

itch vaccine · 09-24-2004, 09:08 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Rlyss

It's been a long time since I was in Malaysia, but I'd have thought Kuala Lumpur would have stores that sell lava lamps. Surely the shopping centre under the KL towers would have a few stores with gadgets and cool retro stuff. If you're in or near KL I'd say the towers are the way to go.

I am in KL. But the problem is the one that sells the retro cool stuff moved out of KLCC already. Maybe they'll have it in another mall.

Thanks for the comments everyone

Wouldn't be hesitant on the lamp now.

My room is always cold ... so I guess it'll run well

The thing that moves inside the lamp.. it's wax right?

sadistikdreams · 09-25-2004, 11:48 AM

noooo. its molten magma...

yeah, its some kind of wax

itch vaccine · 09-26-2004, 04:13 AM

I wish it was magma. that way I wouldn't need to replace it :P

MSD · 09-26-2004, 09:12 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by itch vaccine

The thing that moves inside the lamp.. it's wax right?

http://www.oozinggoo.com/ll-form1.html

Quote:

Like most things having to do with lava, the official United States patent is a thing of uncertainty. For many years, we've been told that the US Patent for lava lamps was patent #3,570,156 of March 16, 1971. But recently we've come across a very, very convincing document from 1July 11, 1968 showing US Patent #3,387,396. Read on!

US Patent #3,570,156
Although this type of motion lamp was invented in 1963 by Edward Craven Walker, and patented in England by his company in 1964, this US Patent dates to March 16, 1971. (Can you believe 8 years passed before the lamp was patented in the States?)
Of course, the patent itself is vague concerning proportions of ingredients. The lava component is said to consist of "a solidified globule of mineral oil such as Ondina 17 (R.T.M.) with a light paraffin, carbon tetrachloride, a dye and paraffin wax."
The clear liquid is roughly 70/30% (by volume) water and a liquid which will raise the coefficient of cubic thermal expansion and encourage the movement. The patent recommends slip agents such as propylene glycol for this. However, glycerol, ethylene glycol, and polyethylene glycol (aka PEG) are also mentioned as being sufficient. May did some research of these chemicals and found that these aren't cheap. The best prices she found are at VWR Scientific Products where 500ML of propylene glycol is 10.75 plus shipping. We never tried this formula (it seemed over our heads).

US Patent #3,387,396
Submitted by David George Smith of London on behalf of Craven Walker's Crestworh Company. The patent falls under Display Devices. The Abstract of the Disclosure reads, "A display device comprising a container having two substances therein, with one of the substances being of a heavier specific gravity and immiscible with the other substance, with the first substance being of such a nature that it is either substantially solid at room temperature or is so viscous at room temperature that neither will emulsify with the other liquid, and when heat is applied to the container, the first substance will become flowable and move about in the other substance.

...The liquid in which the globule is suspended is usually dyed water, but not necessarily so. The other liquid is chosen with very many considerations in mind, including the relative densities of the liquids at the desired operating temperature; the fact that the liquids must be immiscible; the fact that the surface tension must be such that the globule does not adhere to the walls of the container; the relative coefficients of thermal expansion of the liquids; and the shapes that are obtained during operation. A suitable liquid for the globule has been found to comprise mineral oil, paraffin, carbon tetrachloride and a dye or dyes. However, undue shaking or sharp impacts, especially during transport of the display device, can cause total or partial emulsification of the globule."

macmanmike6100 · 09-27-2004, 02:11 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by guccilvr

my grandma has one that still works.. I think she got it during her hippy days.. it still makes great formations and everything..although it does seem to take a little longer to actually heat up now..

I would imagine that the heating is unrelated to the contents of the glass and you would be able to replace the heating bulb (which is a standard bulb, I believe).

itch vaccine · 09-30-2004, 11:21 PM

So MrSelfDestruct .. Which is it?The earlier or later patent? I think the former is more ..

'lava-lampish' .. .

tangledweb · 10-03-2004, 05:31 AM

There are variations in the bulbs, too. I have replaced the original bulb in my lamp with a replacement bulb and it gets too hot for the lamp to work properly. I bought another bulb (thinking it was just a bad variant) and it did the same thing. Both bulbs were the genuine replacement bulbs for the lamp and not just cheap bulbs.

I threw the lamp out.

TheFu · 10-08-2004, 05:44 AM

I moved and left my lava lamp in the garage for a while, over a year. I guess the summer wasn't too kind and much of it oozed out of the cap. It got me thinking about the shape of the bottle. Narrowing at the top must help the contents cool faster so they fall back down. In the garage nothing cooled so it just oozed out from around the cap. So those replacement bottles can come in handy I guess.

itch vaccine · 10-09-2004, 02:16 AM

Ooh coolio

most probably these lamps will last a while coz they cost a good 49 pounds

thankie people for all the replies

itch vaccine · 10-09-2004, 02:19 AM

Oh I just found out
According to the mathmos.co.uk webbie

Astro :
The first and original lava-lamp designed by Edward Craven Walker (US Patent #3,387,396)..

09-18-2004, 12:17 AM	#1 (permalink)
itch vaccine Psycho Location: on my spinning computer chair	Lava Lamps : What are replacement bottles for? I'm in Malaysia and they don't sell good lava lamps here.. or perhaps they're just hard to find. So my relative is coming back from London and she could get one from me from Mathmos UK (http://www.mathmos.co.uk) -- which is Fluidium. So Fluidium (the lava lamp) has replacement bottles. What are they for? Will the lava in the lava lamp eventually run out or stop flowing that I'll need to change them? Or these replacement bottles are just for those who broke their lamps? Thanks for your help

09-20-2004, 10:06 AM	#6 (permalink)
Cynthetiq Tilted Cat Head Administrator Location: Manhattan, NY	my britney spears penis looking one still works great! it gets knocked over all the time. __________________ I don't care if you are black, white, purple, green, Chinese, Japanese, Korean, hippie, cop, bum, admin, user, English, Irish, French, Catholic, Protestant, Jewish, Buddhist, Muslim, indian, cowboy, tall, short, fat, skinny, emo, punk, mod, rocker, straight, gay, lesbian, jock, nerd, geek, Democrat, Republican, Libertarian, Independent, driver, pedestrian, or bicyclist, either you're an asshole or you're not. What's the best nation in the world? DO-NATION!

09-25-2004, 11:48 AM	#11 (permalink)
sadistikdreams lonely rolling star Location: Seattle.	noooo. its molten magma... yeah, its some kind of wax __________________ "Besides the noble art of getting things done, there is the noble art of leaving things undone. The wisdom of life consists in the elimination of non-essentials." -Lin Yutang hearts, by d.a.

09-18-2004, 12:55 AM	#2 (permalink)
metalgeek Insane Location: Calgary	the wax in the lamp ends up looking bad, either clumoing toether to much, o going into lots of small balls.

09-18-2004, 01:48 AM	#3 (permalink)
itch vaccine Psycho Location: on my spinning computer chair	Ouch, then major bummer? :P There's no way I can find replacement bottles in Malaysia. How long does it take to wear out?

09-20-2004, 05:36 AM	#4 (permalink)
Rlyss The Pusher Location: Edinburgh	It's been a long time since I was in Malaysia, but I'd have thought Kuala Lumpur would have stores that sell lava lamps. Surely the shopping centre under the KL towers would have a few stores with gadgets and cool retro stuff. If you're in or near KL I'd say the towers are the way to go.

09-20-2004, 09:27 AM	#5 (permalink)
MSD The sky calls to us ... Super Moderator Location: CT	If you knock the lamp over, the water (actually some sort of oil) can go cloudy, ruining your lamp.

09-20-2004, 01:20 PM	#7 (permalink)
Glory's Sun Registered User	my grandma has one that still works.. I think she got it during her hippy days.. it still makes great formations and everything..although it does seem to take a little longer to actually heat up now..

09-20-2004, 03:32 PM	#8 (permalink)
stonegrody Brooding. Location: CA-USA	I've had mine and used it for a couple of years now. It has gone through several moves and a drop and it still works great. I wouldn't worry about a replacement as long as you don't break yours.

09-26-2004, 04:13 AM	#12 (permalink)
itch vaccine Psycho Location: on my spinning computer chair	I wish it was magma. that way I wouldn't need to replace it :P

09-30-2004, 11:21 PM	#15 (permalink)
itch vaccine Psycho Location: on my spinning computer chair	So MrSelfDestruct .. Which is it?The earlier or later patent? I think the former is more .. 'lava-lampish' .. .

10-03-2004, 05:31 AM	#16 (permalink)
tangledweb slightly impaired Location: Down South	There are variations in the bulbs, too. I have replaced the original bulb in my lamp with a replacement bulb and it gets too hot for the lamp to work properly. I bought another bulb (thinking it was just a bad variant) and it did the same thing. Both bulbs were the genuine replacement bulbs for the lamp and not just cheap bulbs. I threw the lamp out.

10-08-2004, 05:44 AM	#17 (permalink)
TheFu Crazy	I moved and left my lava lamp in the garage for a while, over a year. I guess the summer wasn't too kind and much of it oozed out of the cap. It got me thinking about the shape of the bottle. Narrowing at the top must help the contents cool faster so they fall back down. In the garage nothing cooled so it just oozed out from around the cap. So those replacement bottles can come in handy I guess.

10-09-2004, 02:16 AM	#18 (permalink)
itch vaccine Psycho Location: on my spinning computer chair	Ooh coolio most probably these lamps will last a while coz they cost a good 49 pounds thankie people for all the replies

10-09-2004, 02:19 AM	#19 (permalink)
itch vaccine Psycho Location: on my spinning computer chair	Oh I just found out According to the mathmos.co.uk webbie Astro : The first and original lava-lamp designed by Edward Craven Walker (US Patent #3,387,396)..