Build Your Own Lava Lamp

Manip writes "My new project: 'The difficult part about making your own liquid motion lamp is, of course, the motion. We won't go into the lamp base too much. The store-bought ones use a 40w appliance bulb in a metal housing which directs the heat to the underside of the glass container. If you're making your own base, we recommend installing a dimmer switch so that you can control your heat output.'"

Comments

Fun projects

[Pacer]

Wow, not only can you grow your own drugs, now you can make your own lava lamp.

All the fun of enduring pop-subculture at a fraction of the price. How inspiring ... how lovely ... how un-American!

Re:Fun projects

[Anonymous Coward]

Add a roll-your-own strobe light and black light, and we can open a nerd Spencer's Gifts.

Re:Fun projects

[josh crawley]

Now if we could only build our own plasma globes too...

You can... flyback transformer from a television, some steel wool, and a glass globe. Maybe a handful of other Radio-Shack components and wires. The toughest part is finding a suitable globe, evacuating the air from it, and filling it with gas to make the color you want, but it can be done with mostly off-the-shelf stuff.

Re:Fun projects

[Kirin3]

Geeks on homegrown drugs making homegrown lava lamps...

Hmm... and only a couple of week on the tail of this article... ;)

Re:Fun projects

[KI0PX]

A computer engineering professor at my school made one out of a fishbowl. He used plexiglass and silicone to seal it shut, and built a small air compressor to evacuate the air from it.

Re:Fun projects

[enigmiac]

Actually, while I was a waiting tables at a diner, I discovered that by putting cubes of jello in a glass of cold seltzer, you could create a minimalistic lava lamp. If the seltzer is cold enough, the jello won't melt, and the bubbles will adhere to the cubes, causing it float, and when it reaches the top, the bubbles will pop on the surface, leaving the jello to fall back down. Pretty neat trick to impress the customers, especially if you leave it sitting on the counter.

Re:Fun projects

[dondelelcaro]

Actually, while I was a waiting tables at a diner, I discovered that by putting cubes of jello in a glass of cold seltzer, you could create a minimalistic lava lamp.

The classic example is raisins in 7-UP (or sprite, slice or ...) which works pretty much the same without the need for super cooled jelo.

Just take about 20 raisins, rinse them and dump them into a glass of clear soda. Raisins go up, raisins go down.

Re:Fun projects

[ajs318]

You can do this! Take an old light bulb, preferably a clear one. It doesn't matter if the filament is broken. You also need a piezo gas igniter {the type used for lighting ovens when the built-in electric ignition has failed ..... pound stores sell them}, some well-insulated HT cable {spark plug cable is fine ..... obviously}, a hot-melt adhesive gun, a high-power soldering gun and various other home lab items.

Determine which of the two contacts on the base of the bulb connects to the longer bit of filament, and solder the HT cable to it. This needs a high-power soldering gun as the contacts are themselves made out of solder. Alternatively, you could just splay the wire ends out and connect to both the terminals.

Check the connection is sound {if you didn't heat it enough, or there was any dirt about, the wire will come off with a single tug} and then douse the whole thing with plenty of hot melt adhesive. The metal side part of the bulb base {with the locking pins} is not electrically connected to the two filament terminals, but should be insulated anyway otherwise a spark could jump from the terminal to the base, and from the base to your hand. Build up that adhesive. Set the whole thing in some kind of base, with the HT lead coming out the side. Don't bend it too sharply.

Remove the metal guard from the end of the gas igniter, and push the spark electrode into the HT cable. If it is a loose fit, wrap aluminium foil, copper wire, or basically just about anything conductive around it to make it a better fit. Add much hot-melt.

Darken the room. Place your hand on the bulb and click the igniter like mad. That's it!

If it all goes wrong, the most likely thing to check for is that the igniter might be sparking back to the return terminal, either sometimes or always. Better insulation is the answer. Hot melt adhesive will easily withstand the voltage that can jump 10mm., which is about 30kV.

You may obtain slightly better results if you ground the apparatus. Just run a length of green and yellow insulated wire from the terminal which used to press against the metal guard on the igniter to the earth terminal of a nearby power point.

Usual disclaimers apply; if this doesn't work, or if you hurt yourself, then don't complain to me.

Screw Lava

[Timesprout]

I want a full on Volcano Lamp

Re:Screw Lava

[coryboehne]

I want a full on Volcano Lamp..

Well, given that you are using flammable (possibly could even use somewhat explosive) substances to do this I'm sure with the proper mistakes you very well could have just that...

Has anyone though about using the phosphorescent powder's available from United Nuclear? I'm sure you could create quite the lava lamp in this fashion..

Re:Screw Lava

[zephc]

I want a build your own E-Z-Bake Oven HOWTO. Maybe one that could fit in a 5.25" drive bay?

Sure, it takes 4 hours to bake a cupcake, but still. Just don't think about adding eggs unless you don't mind a little salmonella.

Mirror

[Anonymous Coward]

In case the site is slow, here is a mirror.

Martin Studio Slashdot Policy

Re:Mirror

[NanoGator]

"In case the site is slow, here is a mirror."

Here's a google mirror.

Case?

[BrynM]

How long will it be before someone finally does a proper case mod with this information? Lots of folks have thought about it. I have yet to see someone who has done it though.

How hot can an AMD chip get again?...

Re:Case?

[Paul d'Aoust]

hmmmmmmmmm... no case mod involving a CPU as a heater, but this site documents the installation of a lava lamp into a very swanky stained-glass case. This site is the home of my favourite case mods in the world ^_^ Look at the very last case mod, number eight, to see the lava lamp.

Re:Case?

[tignom]

I actually tried to convert an old Mac SE into a lava lamp. I wanted to do something cooler/more creative than the fish tank. The problem was that I couldn't find a sealant that would withstand a solution containing alcohol. I made two attempts (different solutions/sealants) before giving up. There's still some blue spots in my garage from the second attempt.

Off Topic, But....

[Tsali]

How many /.'ers actually own a lava lamp?

Good.

Now, how many of those who raised their hand are involved in a relationship with someone.

Ahhh. You in the back. Anyone else? Good.

Thanks.

Re:Off Topic, But....

[quizwedge]

or try this....

How many ./'ers are involved in a relationship with someone.

Ahhh. You in the back. Anyone else? Anyone at all?

No? Well, sir, do you have a lava lamp?

Re:Off Topic, But....

[Anonymous Coward]

I was involved with this one girl, but it got to be too expensive, so I outsourced to India and now save 80% on the cost of maintaining the relationship! .....sigh

Re:Off Topic, But....

[imsabbel]

A nice yellow-orange lava-lamp is a really nice illumination if you want to have sex and you dont like a lot of candles (these things can fall over and create a real mess if things are getting a little "active"

Re:Off Topic, But....

[Anonymous Coward]

Err, I think that hippies have a much bigger chance of having actual human relationships than other subgenres of geeks.

Of course given a geek with a lava lamp, the big question is whether the geek is a hippie-geek or a computer-geek who wants to generate random numbers...

Dimmer

[frovingslosh]

If you're making your own base, we recommend installing a dimmer switch so that you can control your heat output.'"

A good thing to do even with the store bought ones. I use an X10 lamp dimmer on mine, but have also used a wall mount lamp dimmer to replace a wall switch for a friend. After these things get hot they generally get very active and it results in too many too small blobs of lava to be enjoyable. With a dimmer you can adjust the flow to suit your preferences even when the lamp warns up.

Re:Dimmer

[TClevenger]

Same here. My lava lamp tends to make everything stay near the top of the lamp, and doesn't get good flow. The bulbs tend to burn out every four weeks or so. I experimented with different bulbs, and it didn't help. A dimmer is essential for good results.

Also get a timer, since they don't recommend running the lamp more than 10 hours a day. Mine was set to come on 30 minutes before I got to work, and shut off five minutes after I left.

Next Week On Slashdot:

[niko9]

Make your own Tie Dye T-shirts!

Also, the top 10 best ways of looking like RMS!

Yes, but...

[OrthodonticJake]

The real question is whether or not you can make it edible. Extra points if it tastes good while heated!

Random Numbers.

[wideBlueSkies]

So now I can build my own lava lamp, smoke grass, and have my very own source of Random Numbers.

Cool. cough. cough. Anyone got a clip?

wbs.

Lava lamps are more than silly sixties items

[Rosco P. Coltrane]

Actually, lava lamps are cool from a scientific point of view too : they are considered a very good source of randomness for RNGs.

Very shaggadelic ...

While we're on the subject...

[breon.halling]

... here's a litt bit about making those crazy lightshows from the sixties.

How would MacGyver do it?

[Trikenstein]

A chocolate bar, some turkey fat, glass tube, tincan, some wire... What else?

Re:How would MacGyver do it?

[HoneyBunchesOfGoats]

DUCT TAPE!! This is the most important ingredient in any MacGyver creation!

Re:How would MacGyver do it?

[Trikenstein]

*smacks forehead, ducttape, yea, what was I thinking.

I also think he'd use a button. Probably ground up and used as a catalyst somehow.

Re:Build or Repair

[Blaine Hilton]

Try http://www.coolstuffcheap.com/gelalarebu.html

My Project.

[magores]

I've been working on a perpetual motion machine. But it seems like its taking forever and a day.

Useless!

[Stephen Samuel]

If I wanted a great oozing mass bouncing around my living room and changing shape randomly, I'd invite McBride or one of his SCO PR lackeys over.

(Not enought SCO news today.. I really HAD to do something to get my fix)

The real reason these things went out of fashion

[meowsqueak]

...is because they were found to be responsible for numerous house fires. I suspect the modern ones are far safer than those made in the 1970's, but I'd expect a home-made one to be potentially quite dangerous.

So I guess /. is the right place for it! :)

Lava Lamps?

[Jonas the Bold]

News for Hippies, stuff that matters

Re:Build or Repair

[physicsnerd]

The Lava lamp uses a 40 watt appliance light bulb (the kind used in ovens). Most any supermarket or home improvenment store will have them.

Physicsnerd

Carbon Tetrachloride

[bobbozzo]

The patented formula uses carbon tetrachloride... VERY toxic and carcinogenic stuff. It used to be used as a cleaning agent until the FDA banned it in the 70's, IIRC.

Re:Carbon Tetrachloride

[Gunnery Sgt. Hartman]

We made one in my Organic I lab in college. We used dibutyl-phalate (sp?) and water with some salt to adjust specific gravity. I found some Sudan Red to dye the phalate and methyl orange to dye the water. We set it up each week before lab; it was sweet.

Good 'ol Google Groups (Circa 1995)...

[Alton_Brown]

I posted this years ago and it still survives. NOTE: I did not originally post this, but I saved a text file at some point and I am now credited as the "owner" of this though I still give credit to an unknown source. For those who know me, this will divulge my secret identity ;)

From: stormoen@sparc.isl.net (Stormoen MD)
Newsgroups: alt.drugs
Subject: Lava Lamp Plans Here.
Date: 13 Jan 1995 08:08:15 GMT
Message-ID:


I've had SEVERAL requests for the plans, so here they are.

Sorry, I guess I lost the name of the guy who gave 'em to me.

(I recieved two versions, and I liked this one best).

WARNING!! This electronic document deals with and involves subject matter and the use of materials and substances that may be hazardous to health and life. Do not attempt to implement or use the information contained herein unless you are experienced and skilled with respect to such subject matter, materials and substances. The author makes no representations as for the completeness or the accuracy of the information contained herein and disclaim any liability for damages or injuries, whether caused by or arising from the lack of completeness, inaccuracies of the information, misinterpretation of the directions, misapplication of the information or otherwise.

Please note: The information contained in this electronic document can be found in the 1992 Edition of Popular Electronics Electronics Hobbyists handbook, published annually by Gernsback Publications Inc, USA.

Inside a lava lamp are two immiscible fluids. If it is assumed that fluid 1 is water, then fluid 2 must be:

• 1) insoluble in water;
• 2) heavier than water;
• 3) non-flammable (for safety);
• 4) non-reactive with water or air;
• 5) more viscous than water;
• 6) reasonably priced.

Furthermore, fluid 2 must not be:

• 1) very poisonous (for safety);
• 2) chlorinated;
• 3) emulsifiable in water (for rapid separation).

In addition, fluid 2 must have a greater coefficient of expansion than water. Check a Perry's handbook of Chemical Engineering, and the above list eliminates quite a few possibilities.

Here is a list of possible chemicals to use:

• 1) benzyl alcohol (sp.g. 1.043, bp 204.7 deg. C, sl. soluble);
• 2) cinnamyl alcohol (sp. g. 1.04, bp 257.5 deg. C, sl. soluble);
• 3) diethyl phthalate (sp. g. 1.121, bp 298 deg. C, insoluble);
• 4) ethyl salicylate (sp. g. 113, bp 233 deg. C, insoluble).

If desired, use a suitable red oil-soluble dye to color fluid 2. A permanent felt-tip pen is a possible source. Break open the pen and put the felt in a beaker with fluid 2.

It is recommended to use benzyl alcohol as fluid 2. (Caution!! Do not come into contact with benzyl alcohol either by ingestion, skin, or inhalation.) In addition to water, the following items will be necessary:

• 1) sodium chloride (table salt);
• 2) a clear glass bottle, about 10 inches (25.4 cm) high;
• 3) a 40 watt light bulb and ceramic light fixture;
• 4) a 1 pint (473 ml) tin can or larger;
• 5) plywood;
• 6) 1/4 inch (0.635 cm) thick foam-rubber;
• 7) AC plug with 16 gauge lamp wire;
• 8) hardware;
• 9) light dimmer (optional);
• 10) small fan (optional).

The performance of the lava lamp will depend on the quality of the water used. A few experiments must be conducted to determine how much sodium chloride is necessary to increase the water's specific gravity. Try a 5% salt concentration first (50 g of salt to 1 liter of water). Pour the red-dyed benzyl alcohol mixture in a Pyrex beaker. Add an equal or greater amount of water

Re:Forgot to include the link! DOH!

[Alton_Brown]

Here's the groups.google.com link to the previous message:

Build your own fire hazzard

[combinatorics]

Now I can build something that:

o has no documentation about it's foundation
o is a potential fire hazzard

and pay more than what a well engineered alternative would cost.

Sounds like M$ to me.

Dimmer switch explained

[LINM]

FWIW, the reason that you want a dimmer switch is that:

If the light is to hot -> the viscous fluid that you observe tends to turn into tons of small bubbles that go all over the place in not that cool of a way.
If the light is too cold -> nothing will really happen.
If the light is just right -> you'll get the sexy phallic undulating viscous membrane that women tend to prefer. Slight variations on this can be controlled with the switch.

Just an FYI....

Re:The real reason these things went out of fashio

[asavage]

So heating a mixture of 70% and 90% alcohol isn't a good idea?

How to tie-dye a tie... and a tutu, too!

[steveha]

First you take the tie you're going to dye and tie it. When the tie is tightly tied, you dip the tie in the tie-dye dye! Ooh! When the tie-dyed tie is dried, you take the dye you just applied and set it aside. Re-tie the tie-dyed tie, take another dye, dip the re-tied tie in this dye, too. Take it out, let it dry, untie the tie, and you've got a tie-dyed tie. And a tie's not all you can tie-dye. You can tie-dye a tutu, too! Take the tutu, tie the tutu, dip it in the dye, let it dry like the tie we dyed, now tear the tutu in two. Now you've got two tutus to tie-dye! Take the two ties you tie-dyed, and the two tutus you've torn in two and tied, and dip them in the dye!

http://www.comedy-zone.net/cgi-bin/ikonboard/topic .cgi?forum=2&topic=18

If anyone knows where this came from, and where I can buy a CD or something with this, please let me know. (I believe I saw this performed on a TV show called Laugh Tracks or something like that, but it predates that show.)

steveha

Re:How to tie-dye a tie... and a tutu, too!

[Anonymous Coward]

where I can buy a CD or something with this

Buy CD-R blank
Record self reciting instructions in jaunty manner
Burn audio recording to CD
Congratulate self on job well-done (optional).

Or if you like, I can perform steps one through three and sell you the resulting CD for $19.95.

Re:Expired Patents

[MsGeek]

No duh...this is why, a few years ago, faux LavaLamps started appearing in stores like Walgreens and Wal*Mart. The patent expired, send in the clones.

Hopelessly inefficient...

[Goonie]

What kind of environmental vandal uses an incandescent bulb in a lava lamp? What right do you have to pollute the world by your wanton waste?

With compact flourescent bulbs, there is now absolutely no excuse to emit all that completely pointless waste heat to illuminate your lava lamp! The lamp will be cheaper to run, and the bulb will last longer too!

Just such an American thing to do...

what you could do...

[CausticPuppy]

...is replace the light bulb with a non-luminous heating element, and then just have some UV LED's in the base to "charge" the phosporescent goo periodically.

Re:what you could do...

[stefanlasiewski]

While less geeky, you could just use a blacklight bulb and leave it on.

As long as you don't mind the light spilling into the rest of the room...

Here's the recipe:

[Cid Highwind]

1/2L Kerosene
1/2L Water
Blue food dye

Pour water into approx. 1L glass or plastic container. Add blue food dye to taste. Float kerosene on top. (pouring it over the back of a spoon may help here) Seal container tightly, and shake gently to simulate rolling ocean waves.