How to Make a Clear Lava Lamp
Making a clear lava lamp will require patience, and willingness to work with chemical and mineral-based ingredients. The base of the lava lamp is created from a sauce pan, and requires a 30-watt light bulb with a dimmer switch. Use a metal drill bit to cut through the sauce pan and allow heat from the light to activate the flow of "lava" inside this homemade creation.
Things You'll Need
- One-gallon glass container or jug with a screw tight lid
- 30-watt light bulb and socket set with a dimmer switch
- 2 quarts of rubbing alcohol--90 percent or greater level of isopropyl
- 2 quarts of rubbing alcohol--70 percent level of isopropyl
- 1 gallon distilled water
- Sauce pan
- 2 quarts of mineral oil
- Screwdriver
- Power drill
- 1/4-inch drill bit made for use on metal
- 1/8-inch drill bit made for use on metal
- Protective eyewear
Instructions
-
How to Make a Clear Lava Lamp
-
1
Remove the sauce-pan handle with a screwdriver. Drill a 1/4-inch hole in the bottom of the saucepan. Drill a hole in the side of the pan near the rim for electrical cord. Drill two 1/-inch holes near the rim of the pan for ventilation.
-
2
Pour mineral oil in the one-gallon glass container. Fill container 1/4 full with the mineral oil.
-
-
3
Add one pint each of the 90 percent rubbing alcohol, 70 percent rubbing alcohol, and distilled water to the container.
-
4
Turn saucepan upside down, insert light bulb, plug cord into outlet.
-
5
Place gallon jug on saucepan. Turn on the light and heat mixture until mineral oil movement is apparent.
-
6
Add additional equal amounts rubbing alcohols and distilled water to increase mineral oil flow if necessary. Add a half a cup of each slowly to the gallon container. Let mixture heat for five minutes. If mineral oil still isn't flowing, add 1/4 cup each of alcohols and water.
-
1
Tips & Warnings
Adding color to the lava lamp is a tricky process, and can be accomplished by adding drops of food coloring to the mixture. Be careful not to add too much food coloring to the clear lava lamp, or a cloudy mixture will result. Add one food coloring drop to the clear lava lamp, allow heat to circulate the color for ten minutes. If color is still faint, add one more drop of food coloring to the lamp.
Monitor heat source carefully, and don't leave unit plugged in when not in use. Do not place saucepan heating unit near or on anything flammable. Build your lava lamp in a well-ventilated area.
