Lava For Lava Lamps

Whether you are a collector or a dilettante, at some point or the other you have wondered where does one get the lava for lava lamps? Though they were not really considered hot property when they made their debut in England in 1963, lava lamps became ‘the’ light for the love-happy, flower child in the late sixties.

But coming back to our question earlier, the answer is you don’t go scraping a live volcano because you don’t need lava for lava lamps! This very popular novelty device works on oil, wax and other solid stuff; a recipe perfected by Craven Walker, who sitting somewhat inebriated in a pub in post WWII England, saw the little thingamajig and decided it had the potential to become a culture icon. Here’s how it works:

The lamp has 3 main components: a base, a lamp and a top cap. The base holds a 40 watt frosted bulb in a reflecting cone and electrical paraphernalia. The lamp - a Borosilicate glass container, holds “Water” and the “Lava” – both names for secret preparations. Sealed by a metal cap at the top, the lamp carries a small wire coil at the bottom. The top cap is a simple plastic cover that hides the inner cap and the water line.

When the lamp is turned on, the metal coil is warmed by the light bulb heating the Lava, which is a kind of wax. The heated wax becomes less dense than the liquid so it flows toward the top of the lamp, away from the heat. Once at the top, the Lava cools, becomes denser and starts falling back to the bottom. This continuous motion is what gives a lava lamp its mesmerizing light and makes it the perfect accessory for a romantic evening.

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