Directions for Lava in Lava Lamps

Lava lamps use melting blobs of wax to create their shifting effects.

The free-flowing lava in a lava lamp is actually a mixture consisting mainly of candle wax that softens from the heat of a light bulb found at the base of the lamp. The heat causes the wax blobs to rise to the top while gravity forces them to fall as they begin to cool. You can make this material at home with many household ingredients, then use the blobs of lava to design your very own lava lamp.

Difficulty:

Moderately Easy

Instructions

Things You'll Need

• Candle wax
• Old metal saucepan
• Drycleaning fluid
• Fabric dye in desired colors
• Clear glass jar with tight-fitting lid
• Lava lamp
• Distilled water
• Salt

1. Melt the candle wax in an old metal saucepan that you no longer use for food preparation.

2. Pour the melted wax into a clear glass jar.

3. Add the dry cleaning liquid to the melted wax, adding one part drycleaning liquid for every two parts wax.

4. Add fabric dye in the desired color to the jar and tighten the lid onto the jar.

5. Swirl the contents, but do not shake them, to mix them thoroughly.

6. Unplug and disassemble the lava lamp, disposing of its contents.

7. Chill the lamp in a refrigerator for half an hour.

8. Remove the lamp from the fridge and place it on a clean workspace.

9. Turn the clear upper part upside-down so that the base's opening is facing you.

10. Fill the lamp with distilled water and 1 tsp. salt.

11. Swirl the lamp to dissolve the salt in the water.

12. Add blobs of your homemade lava to the lamp using a tablespoon, then reattach the base to the lamp and twist the pieces together to seal them tightly.

References

• Qondio: Directions for Homespun Lava lamp