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(Topic ID: 275268)

Lava lamps

By swampfire

3 years ago


Topic Heartbeat

Topic Stats

  • 607 posts
  • 129 Pinsiders participating
  • Latest reply 3 months ago by Mattyk
  • Topic is favorited by 57 Pinsiders

You

Topic poll

Sort: Original A-Z Score

“Which best describes you?”

  • I love EM pins, and I love lava lamps 114 votes
    60%
  • I love EM pins but have no interest in lava lamps 12 votes
    6%
  • I hate EM pins but I like lava lamps 49 votes
    26%
  • EMs and lava lamps are slow and boring 15 votes
    8%

(190 votes)

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There are 607 posts in this topic. You are on page 7 of 13.
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#301 2 years ago
 
HFK

HFK

Inactive member

US Nokomis, FL

11y 72,900 1,191

Quoted from vid1900:

Menards has them, and in the past, has them for $7.99 on Black Friday.
Amazon has them (but you can't see if they are cloudy until you get them). After you return 2 to Amazon, they wont replace them any longer, and will only refund you.
Spencer (the weird store at the mall) has them, and some designs are "spencer exclusive"
Always check inside the box. If it's at all cloudy - DON'T BUY [quoted image]

Also check Home Depot, mine carries a couple different ones. Spencers is good if there is one near you, mine closed a couple of years ago.

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#302 2 years ago
 
XYZ

LukyDuck

Pinside member

4y 58,300 1,287

Quoted from Chalkey:

If you're the kind of dude ready to spend 3k+ on a lava lamp there's not much stopping you from using ship2me and a transformer.

Plan on spending around $5k+ for it! There is the price and VAT. Then the USD-GBR conversion, then shipping and lets not forget the import tax since it will be over the $800 limit.

I buy from Mathmos in the UK and it is not cheap. But hey, look at what people spend on other things like pinball!

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#303 2 years ago
 
DRU

DruTheFu

Pinside member

8y 51,050 682

My wife has been scoring lava lamps for me from Goodwill and thrift shop runs. She’ll find me a base or the wax bottle, or sometimes both, matching or not. But when they’re only a few dollars, we’ll worth the risk of buying to try out at home to win the lottery with if working!

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#304 2 years ago
 
MYK

undrdog

Pinside+ Addict

4y 99,050 3,220 9

Was just at a Home Depot. Small amount of small lava lamps.

1 month later
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#305 2 years ago
 
BRY

Aladdin

Pinside member

11y 72,300 1,333

Great topic!
I had a green starlite lava lamp back in the 80’s. Wish I had kept it.

But stay tuned, tomorrow, I’m picking up my next groovy ooze.

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#306 2 years ago
 
DWF

Chalkey

Pinside+ Frequent

US Chesterfield, VA

6y 69,550 2,972 18

Has anybody tried a mathmos with just switching the bulb to a 110v and getting an adapter for the plug?

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#307 2 years ago
 
BRY

Aladdin

Pinside member

11y 72,300 1,333

Here’s what I got today. They look good on my desk. I have never seen these before. I’m going to polish the metal a little with some Mothers.

I’m thinking these were custom?

84F346B6-FEBB-4DE2-9CCA-2D6AFF23C071 (resized).png84F346B6-FEBB-4DE2-9CCA-2D6AFF23C071 (resized).pngAE8D5184-6231-4117-9956-36B05F3428E4 (resized).jpegAE8D5184-6231-4117-9956-36B05F3428E4 (resized).jpegAEC21221-6A02-480A-AC5F-F88FB2F2E24B (resized).jpegAEC21221-6A02-480A-AC5F-F88FB2F2E24B (resized).jpeg
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#308 2 years ago
 
BOY

vid1900

Pinside member

YE Sana'a

12y 169K 40,258 18

Quoted from Aladdin:

Here’s what I got today. They look good on my desk. I have never seen these before. I’m going to polish the metal a little with some Mothers.
I’m thinking these were custom?

Those are 70s Continental 800 Lava Lamps, if they were the same shape but filled with glitter, they would be the GemLite 850

Originally, they had brushed aluminum finish.

make sure you are using a 30w C9 based bulb so you don't overcook them

1_5fcd5f5979ecf293fc0331213edd14cb (resized).jpg1_5fcd5f5979ecf293fc0331213edd14cb (resized).jpg
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#309 2 years ago
 
BRY

Aladdin

Pinside member

11y 72,300 1,333

Quoted from vid1900:

Those are 70s Continental 800 Lava Lamps, if they were the same shape but filled with glitter, they would be the GemLite 850
Originally, they had brushed aluminum finish.
make sure you are using a 30w C9 based bulb so you don't overcook them[quoted image]

Vid, you come through again. Thank you for the bulb info as I think these are running a bit hot. There's 'air' bubbles forming in the wax as it rises. Looks like boiling. So I'm going to check the bulbs that are in there.

The guy I bought these from said that he bought them while attending U of A in Tucson at the Tanque Verde Swap Meet some 40 years ago.

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#310 2 years ago
 
BOY

vid1900

Pinside member

YE Sana'a

12y 169K 40,258 18

Quoted from Aladdin:

Vid, you come through again. Thank you for the bulb info as I think these are running a bit hot. There's 'air' bubbles forming in the wax as it rises. Looks like boiling. So I'm going to check the bulbs that are in there.
The guy I bought these from said that he bought them while attending U of A in Tucson at the Tanque Verde Swap Meet some 40 years ago.

Nice!

Did he give you the boxes?

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#311 2 years ago
 
BRY

Aladdin

Pinside member

11y 72,300 1,333

Sadly no boxes

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#312 2 years ago
 
DWF

Chalkey

Pinside+ Frequent

US Chesterfield, VA

6y 69,550 2,972 18

Those things look amazing, beautiful flow. Nice score.

1 week later
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#313 2 years ago
 
BRY

Aladdin

Pinside member

11y 72,300 1,333

So I found this sticker on the inside of my Continental 800. It appears to say 25w.
I was wondering why the lamps were bubbling so maybe 30 watts are too much?

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#314 2 years ago
 
BOY

vid1900

Pinside member

YE Sana'a

12y 169K 40,258 18

try a 20 or a 25 ; or get an inline dimmer

I've got dimmers on many of my LLs because sometimes I measure my wall voltage and it's 121vac

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#315 2 years ago
 
BRY

Aladdin

Pinside member

11y 72,300 1,333

So I’ve got 25w clear globe bulbs in there now.

Do the little bubbles mean it’s a touch too hot?

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#316 2 years ago
 
BOY

vid1900

Pinside member

YE Sana'a

12y 169K 40,258 18

Yes, small bubble is too hot

Take the top aluminum cover off , and let some heat out

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#317 2 years ago
 
BOY

vid1900

Pinside member

YE Sana'a

12y 169K 40,258 18

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#318 2 years ago
 
BRY

Aladdin

Pinside member

11y 72,300 1,333

Made some DIY dimmers from extras I had.
I’ll report back.

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#319 2 years ago
 
BRY

Aladdin

Pinside member

11y 72,300 1,333

Happy to report, the dimmers are perfect to get the temperature just right. No more “boiling”.

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#320 2 years ago
 
BOY

vid1900

Pinside member

YE Sana'a

12y 169K 40,258 18

Quoted from Aladdin:

Made some DIY dimmers from extras I had.
I’ll report back.[quoted image]

Lol

Can I gently suggest you mount those in an electrical box and use some wirenuts and a duplex outlet?

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#321 2 years ago
 
BRY

Aladdin

Pinside member

11y 72,300 1,333

Quoted from vid1900:

Lol
Can I gently suggest you mount those in an electrical box and use some wirenuts and a duplex outlet?

I knew you’d see that! LOL!!!

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#322 2 years ago
 
HFK

HFK

Inactive member

US Nokomis, FL

11y 72,900 1,191

I understand it works but definitely made me cringe.

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#323 2 years ago
 
BRC

jellikit

Pinside member

US Plainfield, IL

11y 106K 4,453 6

If anyone has or knows of a Lava Lamp Icon Series 'Bones' for sale, please drop me a line. I would love to find one for a friend. Thanks.

lava-lamp-bones_1_41d3ffbcd3e6b14bb661b39081b30cd9 (resized).jpglava-lamp-bones_1_41d3ffbcd3e6b14bb661b39081b30cd9 (resized).jpg
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#324 2 years ago
 
TIM

MT45

Pinball Loft

US Lenoir City, TN

11y 110K 2,371 38 10

Quoted from Chalkey:

Has anybody tried a mathmos with just switching the bulb to a 110v and getting an adapter for the plug?

https://pinside.com/pinball/forum/topic/lava-lamps/page/5#post-6200138

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#325 2 years ago
 
BOY

vid1900

Pinside member

YE Sana'a

12y 169K 40,258 18

Inline dimmer will fix, knock about 20 percent off

https://www.amazon.com/Lutron-Credenza-Halogen-Incandescent-TT-300H-WH/dp/B0000BYEF6

Quoted from jellikit:

If anyone has or knows of a Lava Lamp Icon Series 'Bones' for sale, please drop me a line. I would love to find one for a friend. Thanks.[quoted image]

I have one, but probably not for sale, unless stupid money. Cristal clear liquid, black lava, cord has factory dimmer and switch. Not sure if I still have box, but probably.

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#326 2 years ago
 
BRC

jellikit

Pinside member

US Plainfield, IL

11y 106K 4,453 6

Quoted from vid1900:

Inline dimmer will fix, knock about 20 percent off
amazon.com link »

I have one, but probably not for sale, unless stupid money. Cristal clear liquid, black lava, cord has factory dimmer and switch. Not sure if I still have box, but probably.[quoted image]

Very nice, he's a good friend but sounds like more than I can afford.

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#327 2 years ago
 
ROB

RCA1

Pinside+ Addict

US St Joseph, MI

11y 128K 8,684 28 11

Quoted from vid1900:

I have one

Sweet mustache!

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#328 2 years ago
 
BRY

Aladdin

Pinside member

11y 72,300 1,333

Seems like some sort of Lava Lamp shortage going on, but I was somehow able to get the last 52 oz from Spencer Gifts? Free shipping too?
It'll get here Thursday and I hope it's not cloudy.

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#329 2 years ago
 
BJJ

Gundam_Pilot_

Pinside member

11y 73,575 1,696

Picked up a cool lamp off marketplace over the weekend.

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#330 2 years ago
 
BRY

Aladdin

Pinside member

11y 72,300 1,333

Quoted from Gundam_Pilot_:

Picked up a cool lamp off marketplace over the weekend.
[quoted image]

Wow, that’s amazing! Does the phone actually work if you plugged it in?

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#331 2 years ago
 
BJJ

Gundam_Pilot_

Pinside member

11y 73,575 1,696

Quoted from Aladdin:

Wow, that’s amazing! Does the phone actually work if you plugged it in?

The phone actually works! Lady said it sat on her kitchen counter for years as a conversation piece.

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#332 2 years ago
 
ACE

paulace

Pinside+ Frequent

US Charlottesville, VA

6y 72,300 1,407 8

I ordered a grande from lavalamp.com (Chinese made) and when it arrived, the liquid was really cloudy. I emailed their customer service (who was actually pretty patient and helpful), and they had me cycle it for a few days - to no effect. When that failed, the lady on the phone just took the serial number, and said she'd send a replacement globe. I asked if she wanted me to mail the original globe back, and she said it wasn't worth it.

Well, the 2nd globe arrived, and sure enough, it was cloudy too. I cycled it a while, then realizing I wasn't getting anywhere, decided to replace the liquid. I just used tap water, and adjusted the water density with either epsom salts, or isopropyl alcohol until I got the flow I wanted. They both turned out really nice....crystal clear. Or at least as clear as our drinking water is here.

lava (resized).jpglava (resized).jpg
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#333 2 years ago
 
DEF

Ballypin

Pinside member

US Hamilton, OH

9y 102K 2,138 16 1

Quoted from Gundam_Pilot_:

...phone....as a conversation piece.

I see what you did there

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#334 2 years ago
 
BRY

Aladdin

Pinside member

11y 72,300 1,333

I think this one I picked up today is an 2008?

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#335 2 years ago
 
BRY

Aladdin

Pinside member

11y 72,300 1,333

Did they call these the “Midnight Series”?
I like the color combo. Yellow wax with purple I think. It was $15 bucks, not bad.

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#336 2 years ago
 
RW

RobertWinter

Pinside+ Frequent

12y 117K 2,302 2

Quoted from jellikit:

If anyone has or knows of a Lava Lamp Icon Series 'Bones' for sale, please drop me a line. I would love to find one for a friend. Thanks.[quoted image]

They're "asking" $500!

ebay.com link: itm

This one with the original box sold for almost $900!

ebay.com link: itm

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#337 2 years ago
 
TEE

Grandnational007

Pinside member

US Berlin, CT

6y 64,300 1,144 12 17 1

Anybody have a line on a big boy grande? I missed the amazon sale a while back, and am kicking myself now.

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#338 2 years ago
 
BRY

Aladdin

Pinside member

11y 72,300 1,333

When you’re on a roll, why stop?

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#339 2 years ago
 
BRY

Aladdin

Pinside member

11y 72,300 1,333

Just got my 52oz from Spencer’s.
Crap, it’s cloudy. I’ll cycle it and see what happens.
If not, I’ll just return it to the local store and pick up some Blacklight Posters! LOL!

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#340 2 years ago
 
JIZ

Beechwood

Pinside+ Addict

US Hudsonville, MI

12y 107K 3,349 3 14

All you guys are a bunch of losers. Lava Lamps?

Fuck you all... now I want to buy at least 3. FUCK!!

Pinball is expensive enough!!!

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#341 2 years ago
 
RAP

RyanStl

Pinside member

US Fenton, MO

9y 134K 12,076 1 108

Quoted from Beechwood:

All you guys are a bunch of losers. Lava Lamps?
Fuck you all... now I have to buy at least 3. FUCK!!
Pinball is expensive enough!!!

Good thing is you can get good lava lamps for $15. I would avoid Amazon though.

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#342 2 years ago
 
BRY

Aladdin

Pinside member

11y 72,300 1,333

LOL!!!!

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#343 2 years ago
OP
 
JMS

swampfire

Pinside+ Addict

12y 168K 13,602 48

Quoted from Beechwood:

All you guys are a bunch of losers. Lava Lamps?
Fuck you all... now I want to buy at least 3. FUCK!!
Pinball is expensive enough!!!

Lol! I bought my last 3 at my local Spencer’s for about $35 each. I need to go back, not that I have any more room for another one…

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#344 2 years ago
 
MYK

undrdog

Pinside+ Addict

4y 99,050 3,220 9

Wish I had my blacklight posters from when I was 15 to go with my lava lamp. Can’t find the ones I had anywhere.

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#345 2 years ago
 
JIZ

Beechwood

Pinside+ Addict

US Hudsonville, MI

12y 107K 3,349 3 14

OP
Quoted from swampfire:

Lol! I bought my last 3 at my local Spencer’s for about $35 each. I need to go back, not that I have any more room for another one…

I didn't even know Spencers was a thing anymore!

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#346 2 years ago
OP
 
JMS

swampfire

Pinside+ Addict

12y 168K 13,602 48

Quoted from Beechwood:

I didn't even know Spencers was a thing anymore!

They’re thriving here! All the teenagers want lava lamps and rock t-shirts. And some of them sell sex toys, lube and smoking devices. I just don’t know how they can afford the mall rent.

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#347 2 years ago
 
DEF

Ballypin

Pinside member

US Hamilton, OH

9y 102K 2,138 16 1

Quoted from undrdog:

Wish I had my blacklight posters from when I was 15 to go with my lava lamp. Can’t find the ones I had anywhere.

Ebay is your friend. Black flocked too. They had a wierd scent that went well with incense and Patchouli.

May as well buy a puka shell necklace too.
Screenshot (78) (resized).pngScreenshot (78) (resized).pngs-l1600 (2) (resized).jpgs-l1600 (2) (resized).jpg

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#348 2 years ago
 
MYK

undrdog

Pinside+ Addict

4y 99,050 3,220 9

Ballypin
That is very close to one that I had! Mine was more orange & red.

Also a black fuzzy one that was a line drawing in blue of a sailing ship on stormy seas.

Is my freak flag showing?

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#349 2 years ago
 
BRC

jellikit

Pinside member

US Plainfield, IL

11y 106K 4,453 6

Quoted from RobertWinter:

They're "asking" $500!
ebay.com link: itm
This one with the original box sold for almost $900!
ebay.com link: itm

I guess Lavaflation is right there with Pinflation, thanks for forwarding those so I realize the only place I'll be looking at for him will be Goodwill...

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#350 2 years ago
 
TMB

Roostking

Pinside+ Addict

11y 106K 8,567 2

Quoted from Beechwood:

All you guys are a bunch of losers. Lava Lamps?
Fuck you all... now I want to buy at least 3. FUCK!!
Pinball is expensive enough!!!

That's how I feel! No real interest in one, but then I come to his thread and see some really cool shit, that I want lol.

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