A lava lamp is a home accessory that serves as a lamp and original decoration. The device is a container of glass in which transparent glycerin interacts with paraffin by means of an incandescent lamp. Through the glass cylinder, the illuminated paraffin constantly moves, creating bizarre shapes and chaotic motion.
The founder of this unusual invention. Interesting to know: the first lamp was invented in the 1960s in Great Britain. The prototype of the future lamp was a transparent container of glass, in which eggs were boiled.
The 3 Best Magma Lamps: Reviews
- Original Brand Lava Lamp – Yellow Wax With Purple Liquid
- Baseax – Lava Lamp With Rainbow Glitter
- SENCU – Lava Lamp With Automatic Color Changing Function
There are many models of lava lamps. You are sure to find one that will make you happy and make your home as colorful as possible.
Take a look at some of the models that will inspire you to make the right choice.
1. Original Brand Lava Lamp – Yellow Wax With Purple Liquid
This type of product was first handcrafted in 1960 by Edward Walker. It is the benchmark and is still appreciated by customers today. The Magma lamp has an elegant design that is perfect for any interior. Its use is strictly internal and the power is 35 watts. Its total weight is 2.95 kg at 240 V. The lava lamp is made of quality materials, making it a durable accessory. If you prefer yellow, green and blue colors, don’t hesitate with this model.
| Style | Classic |
| Material | Glass |
| Bulb type | Incandescent filament |
| Product dimensions (L x W x H) | 12.24 x 8.27 x 4.25 inches |
| Color | Yellow Wax With Purple Liquid |
2. Baseax – Lava Lamp With Rainbow Glitter
Would you like to see life in purple, or at least your interior? This lava lamp is for you. It contains glitter that is bathed in purple liquid. Placed in your living room, it will be an indispensable eye-catcher. The design is made of aluminum and the lamp is made of glass. This is a magma lamp that will fit perfectly in any room. If you are looking for an original idea for a gift, consider this piece of equipment that will only make the person you present it to happy. Its power is 25 watts at 230 volts.
| Style | Retro |
| Material | Glass, Aluminum |
| Bulb type | Fluorescent |
| Product dimensions (L x W x H) | 4″D x 4″W x 14.5″H |
| Color | Rainbow Glitter, Clear Liquid and Gold Base |
3. SENCU – Lava Lamp With Automatic Color Changing Function
Another model from SENCU and a very high quality lamp. It is suitable for everyone, but especially for children. In addition to the unbreakable glass construction, it has a low voltage (12 watts), which provides some safety for children. The “lava” lamp was easy to set up. It’s not heavy and it doesn’t feel or look cheap. A very attractive model, this lava lamp is sure to make your children’s eyes sparkle.
| Style | SENCU |
| Material | Plastic, Acrylonitrile Butadiene Styrene |
| Bulb type | LED |
| Product dimensions (L x W x H) | 10 x 3 x 3 inches |
| Color | Colorful |
The Buyer’s Guide: How To Choose a Lava Lamp
As in most cases, when choosing accessories for the home interior, it is worth focusing on the design and cost. Most often, the lamp is chosen by color, as bright contents should fit into the overall concept of the room and please the owner. In addition, you need to pay attention to such characteristics:
- The filling of the cylinder. Paraffin or wax have a more “calm” movement and help to relax after a day of work. But glitter has a more energetic character and is suitable for a positive charge.
- Design. The light can have a modern look, perfect for minimalism or high-tech. Or on the contrary, symbolize the fashion of the last century, used to create a retro style.
- Size. Typically, home lamps have dimensions in the range of 30-75 cm, which are ideal for installation on the table. But there are also larger scale copies of up to 1 meter, which occupy a special position in the interior.
- Technical characteristics. Despite the similarity of all lamps, before buying, you need to familiarize yourself with the rules of operation of the product. These include the operating time, batteries and care of the product.
Rules of Operation
When using a lava lamp for the first time, it will take 2 to 3 hours to fully warm up the wax. If it gathers at the base or in the upper compartment and is stationary even after 1.5 hours of operation of the device, the lamp should be gently turned several times around its axis.
The device can work uninterruptedly for up to 8 hours. The maximum allowed is two hours more if it is switched on. Longer operation leads to overheating of the lamp and its failure.
If during operation the wax collects at the bottom of the bulb or if too small bubbles appear, you should let it cool down for an hour. Using the lamp is easy, but you still need to follow the basic rules:
- Install the product only on a flat, stable surface;
- The incandescent bulb should be placed strictly in the center;
- The average temperature in the room – not below 20 degrees;
- Clean the glass bulb with a soft rag, it is allowed to use a glass cleaner with non “aggressive” composition;
- Timely disconnect the device from the network in order to avoid overheating;
- To replace burnt out lamps by A-15 watt or A-40 watt analogues;
- Every 3 months to make a full cycle of the lamp heating.
FAQ
How Long Should a Lava Lamp Last?
If it’s a small table lamp, about 40 minutes, if it’s a large and floor lamp, about 2 hours.
How Long Can I Keep The Lava Lamp On?
To avoid overheating, it is not recommended to keep the lamp on for more than 8 hours. Avoid exposing the lamp to direct sunlight. This can cause the wax to discolor and overheat the lamp.
Why Shouldn’t The Lava Lamp Be Shaken?
If you shake or drop the heated lava lamp, the melted wax may break into separate fractions which will not come back together again.
What Is The Bulb In The Lava Lamp?
For lighting the bulb and heating the wax, a common incandescent lamp with an E14 base and a power of 25W is used.
What Is The Liquid In The Lava Lamp?
The wax, the liquid (glycerin), the glass bulb, squeezed between the metal base and the cap, and the most ordinary incandescent bulb under the bottom surface of the bulb – that’s the lava lamp. No clever gadgets or secret jumpers. Except that the exact formula of the internal contents is still a secret.
How Long Does a Lava Lamp Take To Warm Up?
How long does it take the Lava lamp to warm up? The heating time is influenced by the ambient temperature and the size of the lamp itself. The small ones (34 cm) take ~ 1 hour, the medium size (41 cm) ~ 1.5 hours, the big ones (48 cm) ~ 3-3.5 hours.
How Do Lava Lamps Work?
Lava is colored paraffin in an oily liquid. The lava lamp was patented in 1963 by Edward Craven Walker. Modern small and large devices work on the same principle. Once plugged in, the incandescent bulb gives off a glow and heat.
How Do You Start a Lava Lamp?
Observe the optimum temperature conditions for the proper operation of the lava lamp (20-25 C°). When you first turn on the lava lamp, warm it up in the range of 2 to 3 hours in the following order:
- Screw the incandescent bulb into the center of the stand;
- Insert the bulb into the cradle with the closing cap upwards;
- Place the cap on top of the bulb.