Question - How to clear up a foggy 90's lava lamp

[Spencer541]

I'm going through my whole collection and running into a few lava's that are very foggy such as this cranberry pictured below, a green one, a teal one etc.  These are all globes from the 1990's.  What can I do to help clear them up -

Should I run them?  

If so how long?

Frosted bulb or clear bulb?

Right now they are running a 4 hour cycle twice a day with about 12 hours in between cycles.  Is that enough or do they need more run time?

Thanks.

Pictured below is one #16 black and two #18 cranberry lamps sitting next to each other.  Obviously one is doing a little better then the other

The tape on the globe is just there to let me know where the liquid level was when I boxed them up years ago. 

[Bohdan]

This has always been a problem with those colors. I had a few that were clear but after they started to run became cloudy. What I use to do and still do is I run the globes for 8 to 10 hours using frosted bulbs and run them again the next day the same way. The wax and the cloudy wax become very hot after 3 days I will let it sit a few days and start over again. The 4 hour cycle works sometimes however the wax needs to be very hot to make it happen. I once ran a globe all day long turned it off at night and ran all day again it cleared up well. Also remember if the wax has reached its worn out time the liquid will start to cloud-up and nothing can be done about it this happens quite a bit with Mathmos lamps.

[Bohdan]

Here is a photo of another hard to clear cloudy lamp the emerald#12. For some reason after these colors have been stored for a while they cloud up upon running but after they are on for at least 10 hrs a day they become nice and clear within 3 to 4 days.

[Spencer541]

That's a beautiful emerald green clear lamp.  I hope to end up with those results.

I think I'm going to try the 8 to 10 hour run period for 3 days, then take a few days off, repeat as necessary.  So it's on for 10 hours then off for 14, repeat correct?

I will keep track of progress and post here.

Also what does the "the wax has reached its worn out time the liquid will start to cloud-up" mean.  What symptoms should I look for so I don't damage any lamp further

That's a beautiful emerald green clear lamp.  I hope to end up with those results.

I think I'm going to try the 8 to 10 hour run period for 3 days, then take a few days off, repeat as necessary.  So it's on for 10 hours then off for 14, repeat correct?

I will keep track of progress and post here.

Also what does the "the wax has reached its worn out time the liquid will start to cloud-up" mean.  What symptoms should I look for so I don't damage any lamp further

[Bohdan]

As the wax wears down the flow will be like its trying to rise but no longer can the the liquid will be forever cloudy.

[Spencer541]

That sounds horrible, I 'd hate to lose a lamp like that.

I did want to ask you but didn't know if I should start another thread,

I've got about three globes now that have what appears to be a film on the inside of the globe, have you ever seen this before?  Is there a fix for that?

[Bohdan]

The film on the inside can be had on newer to older lamps the film is wax and the more you run the lamp at a hotter range over time the film will start to spread it is usually around the bottom of the globe and it have seen more on 52z then 32z the only way to fix it is to drain the globe out Liquid/wax and to clean the inside of the globe out however the film will come back over time again its the wax.

[Bohdan]

The wax film I have seen many times is like a fog haze along the bottom slightly above the wax this is hard to get of the more you run it the foggier it becomes. I use to take the cap of and remove the liquid then use a large Q-tip like stick to remove that haze then I would add water and clean out the inner globe.

Another type of fog has color wax on the side of the globe with can be removed by heating from the outside like a hair dryer.

Most of the time dependent on how foggy the globe was I would just remove Liquid/wax clean out the globe and refill the same liquid/wax and reuse the cap and seal up.

There were times the fog was on one side and I would just leave it alone and turn the globe towards the back.

I have started to see this fog haze on never lamps Like the Heritage Clear purple and even the newer Clear/Blue 52z lamps this haze can be seen on a cold globe as the bulb is turned on.

[George]

I agree with Bohdan, I have also treated the older bottles this way.

I usually remove all the liquid and wax and wash out the bottle to remove the film. I have used the Q tips in the past but only when I have removed the liquid.

If you don't remove the liquid the residue will cloud the liquid once you have wiped it off with the Q tip. I find removing, cleaning and replacing the best way to clean that film off.  

[Spencer541]

How about these globes pictured below - are they shot?  I was just about to start the cycling process to try and clear them up.

[Bohdan]

That is what my Emerald green lamp looked like and it is fine now. I used a clear 40w bulb and ran them for 8 to 10 hours then turned them off and started the same next day. I ran them for 8 to 10 hours on the weekend and once home from work during the week would run them once home till bed time.

[Spencer541]

This method of running them 8 to 10 a day is actually working.  What a different so far.

I'll post a picture of that red in just a bit, it's almost crystal clear

[Spencer541]