How to Solidify Lava Lamp Gel

The blobs inside a lava lamp are made of wax.

Lava lamps give off a groovy, relaxing ambiance. Science drives the unique light fixture. The colorful blobs are wax suspended in a water mixture. A light bulb heats the wax from the bottom of the chamber causing it to float. If the wax is too hot or cold, the bubbles won't behave correctly. To harden the wax, store the lamp in low temperatures without freezing the water. Cool your lamp slowly and progressively until the wax blobs are hard.

Instructions

1. Handle the lamp with care. The wax may be compromised if the lamp is run for more than 10 continuous hours or if the lamp is shaken or dropped. A murky liquid is a sign that the wax is compromised.

2. Unplug the lamp and let it sit overnight. Do not touch the glass of a recently run lava lamp because the liquid can be very hot. If this is not sufficient to solidify the wax, try one of the following steps.

3. Turn the air conditioning on. Set the air conditioner to the 60-degree range and run it for a few hours.

4. Leave the lamp outside. Check the weather forecast for expected temperatures; the ideal range is below 60 degrees and above 40 degrees. You may need to leave the lamp outside overnight.

5. Put the lamp in the refrigerator. Make sure the fridge is not on the lowest setting so the water in the lamp does not freeze. Refrigerator temperatures range from 30 to 48 degrees.

Tips & Warnings

• With some lava lamps, the glass dome is not attached to the base. Grab the glass dome and base at the same time when moving the lamp.

• Move the lamp slowly and carefully. Shaking the liquid in the lamp can ruin the lava effect.

• A lava lamp is destroyed when the liquid is frozen.

• The liquid in the lamps can be extremely hot and cause burns.

References

• Lava: Use and Care
• Lava: Frequently Asked Questions
• Kansas Wind, Power and Astronomy: Efficient Refrigerators and Freezers