Lava Lamp doesn't flow: Common Problems and Ways to fix them

This video is meant as a starting point for people who are having trouble with their lava lamps, but aren't sure where to begin. First we look at how a lava lamp should work, and then we look at a couple reasons why it might not and possible ways to fix them.

0:00 Intro
0:22 6 Phases of lava flow
1:47 Room temperature
2:18 Heat adjustment
3:26 Second hand lamps
4:52 Further questions
5:15 Outro

[alicea.]

I got a lava lamp for the first time as a present, but I decided to check it at home before giving and was scared to see that the bubbles weren't forming, the chunks were acute and looked like cloth. But your video calmed me down. Thank you!

[Hime]

My issue with my new lava lamp is it doesn't form bubbles. It just becomes like one big long slow flow, looks like the falls. It doesn't break into bubbles.

[mikecarter]

I still have my lava lamp from 1985. Never thought about a dimmer, got one ordered today.

[momsspaghetti]

Mines just always a big solid piece of wax and it takes hours for it to liquify

[andrew]

I have a lot of lava lamps. the bulb that generates the heat is paired in a way that it gets it just hot enough to make it float up, but not so hot that its unable to cool and sink back down. I had one lamp that just didn't want to float. I moved it just a little and magically it worked fine. Turns out where I had it positioned there was draft from my window keeping it just cooler than needed to work.

[AMightyStorm]

bro you deserve more subscribers, this is such a great video, thanks! I just got a new lava lamp for the first time and was curious about the flow.

[alialtersaccounts]

Hi! When I turn on or off my lava lamp, all of it just stays at the bottom. No video is showing me how to fix it.. the bulb is 25 watts so it should be ok.

[jadoreni]

My lamp might be cooked and overheated. I’m getting very tiny bubbles and it gets stuck to the side and just leaks down. Some of it will stay at the top too.

[flippindocks]

Mine is a 1995 Lava Lite brand...
Sometimes it only runs 2 or 3 hours and the wax settles into a blob at the bottom.... And stops flowing. Ideas?

[dogsareawesome]

Is there any way to improve lava flow if its a little old and doesnt work as well? Like a stronger bulb or something?

[luckyPiston]

I use a hotter bulb and a dimmer with my vintage lamp i also added a we bit a salt and dish soap to the water, now when i dial in the optimum brightness the thing rocks !

[michaelesposito]

Great video. My Lava lamp keeps burning out the bulb after a few hours. Any suggestions would be appreciated.

[isaacsanders]

The announciation is awesome here man I love your narration if you've other hobbies take us there!

[kirstenfrancesclassen]

I have a new lava lamp - today it has been running for 6 hours and I still have just a blob at the top and a blob at the bottom. The blobs are moving but nothing crazy like in your video - thoughts?

[mortennecrolust]

Great video! I have a suspicion that my lamp does not get warm enough. It's a Mathmos and usually I get one big blob rising only halfway, then it breaks apart and before a new bubble has formed, it sinks back down and merges with the rest of the wax. It also sometimes just shoots up and looks like a giant candle, that takes long to break apart. I have a spare bottle as I wanted two colors to chose from. Both act like this. The bulb is original Mathmos bulb.

[sherrybrinlee]

The lava stays in a huge clump at the top. Nothing bubbles up or down:(

[drphipshiolidge]

You could also get a jug, fill it about a quarter of the way full of boiling or hot water and put the lava lamp bottle in it and leave it for a few minutes.

[andrew_eglinton]

I love your cadence and diction. Natural narrator.

[uno-theofficialcardgamebyMatel]

Mine has stayed in the same position of one long piece of wax along the side and other bits that were floating now attached to it. It's been on for about an hour with little change and it has the best bulb I could find

[metalcow]

I have a mathmos astro vinyl with blue, blue, and it seems for this type of wax the 35w bulb isnt enough. It dont flow right even after 4+ hours. Any ideas ?