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

[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.

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

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....

[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

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!

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.

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.

Re:How would MacGyver do it?

[HoneyBunchesOfGoats]

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

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.

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

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.

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...