Lava Lamps

[Imzadi]

Do you have a lava lamp? What colors does it have? Did you have one growing up? I've always been fascinated by them, since I was a kid. I was recently gifted one that pretty much has similar colors to the one we had. It's so nostalgic, I love it! The old one we had growing up basically had one big blob that moved up and down. But, this one tends to make a lot of smaller bubbles, so it's much more interesting.

 

[fla4fun]

I always wanted a lava lamp as a kid, but they fell out of favor before I was old enough to buy one. I would stand in the store and watch them, totally mesmerized by the movement.

 

[RedAngie]

I had one when I was about 10 years old at the tail end of the groovy era, like the early 1970s. I think it just stopped working after a year or two.

 

[amcnj]

I never had one but always thought they were interesting. One of my children had one maybe 15-20 years ago now. I don’t remember if they made a comeback of sorts then or how exactly it came about.

 

[Neapolitan Ice Cream]

We have a blue/green one… I love it! So peaceful!

 

[Imzadi]

I had one when I was about 10 years old at the tail end of the groovy early 1970s. I think it just stopped working after a year or two.

One of my siblings shook our mom's lamp when it was hot. That mixed up the liquid with the blobby stuff and it no longer worked.

 

[PrincessShmoo]

My family had one when I was in high school. And, somehow/somewhere we (DH & i) acquired one after we were married. I used it so much it really doesn't do much now. Once heated up the solid part basically stays at the top now. It's blue/green with yellow wax.

 

[Imzadi]

Once heated up the solid part basically stays at the top now. It's blue/green with yellow wax.

I had looked on Reddit a while back, (they have a whole sub-reddit for lava lamps!) and someone suggested changing the lightbulb for one just a couple watts LESS. For instance, if your current bulb is 25 watts, see if you can find one at 23 watts. They say the current bulb may be too hot and that's what's making the wax stay at the top. Also, try carefully lifting off the glass part when it is cold and dusting off the bulb and around the bulb. It may have dust on it which is retaining heat. Of course, the wax may also just be really old.

 

[PrincessShmoo]

I had looked on Reddit a while back, (they have a whole sub-reddit for lava lamps!) and someone suggested changing the lightbulb for one just a couple watts LESS. For instance, if your current bulb is 25 watts, see if you can find one at 23 watts. They say the current bulb may be too hot and that's what's making the wax stay at the top. Also, try carefully lifting off the glass part when it is cold and dusting off the bulb and around the bulb. It may have dust on it which is retaining heat. Of course, the wax may also just be really old.

Truthfully, it's so old now, and hasn't been turned on in YEARS, I'd be nervous about doing so. That said, I can't seem to be able to just toss it out....

 

[Dan Murphy]

We bought Vince one, probably late 80's, a teen then. He liked it.

They do sort of peter out with age. I recall when they came out in the early/mid 60's, a great decade. For many years the Lava Lite company was located in Chicago, went by it often.

I

 

[Micca]

I have a lava lamp about 8 feet from me. I haven't turned it on in over a year, I should fire it up soon.

 

[wallawallakids]

I had one in college that looked exactly like yours! It was pink. I always wanted to be a hippie in HS. (It was the late 90s) When I got to college I had peace signs and Doors posters everywhere. The lava lamp and a Volkswagen bug followed. . I was a strange kid. But I still love them and think they are so cool and fun.

 

[PollyannaMom]

I have one! - It's red, just like my grandmother's that I always admired as a kid.

 

[Kathryn Merteuil]

We have two of them, one that is the same color as the pic in the original post and a blue one. We only use one at a time though depending on mood/time of year and whatever theme we have going in the basement at the time.

 

[mmouse37]

I had one back in the 70's and loved it and they are starting to make a comeback....my 9 year old granddaughter wants one! They had a few at IKEA I saw the other day. I have been seeing them more and more lately.

 

[Kennywood]

 

[Imzadi]

We have two of them, one that is the same color as the pic in the original post and a blue one. We only use one at a time though depending on mood/time of year and whatever theme we have going in the basement at the time.

I have been thinking of getting a blue one too! Would probably put it on the other side of the room and turn it on at different times.

 

[Imzadi]

OMG! I Love This!

 

[Kathryn Merteuil]

This thread inspired me to look for a new one... I grabbed a Hello Kitty lava lamp from walmart yesterday! I haven't had chance to set it up yet, but it is on my "to do list" this weekend.

 

[Micca]

So I don't leave everyone hanging on the edge of their seats, I'm back to report that after over a year of non-use my lava lamp still works!