The principles of Lava Lite operation are simple. When heated from below by a 40-watt bulb, it expands until it becomes less dense than the liquid above, causing it to rise. When it gets to the top of the globe, the wax cools and starts to sink again, and the cycle repeats. Convection currents in the liquid presumably add to the effect. Sounds simple, but Lava Lite president Jack Mundy tells me that manufacturing the things is actually an exacting process.
Dedicated technicians measure the specific gravity of the various components to the ten-thousandth.
The specific gravities of each batch of wax and water must be individually matched, or the wax will break up into tiny bubbles, crawl up the side of the globe, or just float about an inch above the bottom of the lamp. If your lava lamp is so old that the right size globe isn't available anymore, they'll sell you a new lamp at a discount. Inc. All rights reserved. No material contained in this site may be republished or reposted without express written permission.