To create our own lava lamp, we got four small cinnamon-scented candles to supply wax; we figured that wax would make good “lava”. We took out the wicks and removed the metal plates on the bottoms. We then put a pan on the stove and put it on low heat. We proceeded to drop the candles in the pan. Over the next several minutes, we stirred them around with a spatula as the wax melted. While this was happening, we started building the lava lamp.

We found a jelly jar and scooped all the jelly into Glad Tupperware containers. We also rinsed it out in the sink to take out all excess jelly. While one of us minded the wax, the other two put the jar under warm water with a sponge to take off the label. After that was done, the wax was melted. We filled the jelly jar with Arrowhead distilled water about 4/5 of the way full. The wax was poured into a Pyrex measuring cup while it was still hot. We poured this wax into the jar of water.

            As the wax flowed into the water, it solidified almost instantly. After all the wax was poured, it massed into a solid lump and floated to the top (where the lid would go). Unfortunately, it stuck there as it solidified, so we had to turn it so the lid was on the bottom. This meant that we would have to use a light purely for heating purposes, so no light would end up shining through. We then initiated the test to compare the two.

            We plugged the real lava lamp into an AC wall outlet and set in on a desk. For the homemade lamp, we plugged a desk light into the wall and turned the bulb facing upwards, supporting it with a cardboard box. We then took aluminum foil and folded it repeatedly until it was strong enough to support the jar. We put it on top of the light and waited.

            25-30 minutes passed, but nothing happened. Then the real lamp started working. The waxy substance slowly started pulsating and moving in the glass container. The test to see which lava lamp started working first was decided – our lava lamp was slower than the professionally manufactured one.

            About 45 minutes had passed since we first started, and out lava lamp still didn’t work. So we switched methods of heating – we cut a hole in the foil to let light through. This proved fruitless, so we put the jar in a small crock pot. Although the water began slowly evaporating (we could see droplets on the top of the jar), it still wouldn’t melt our wax. Sean discovered that wax melts at 113˚ F, so we figured that the water still needed to be hotter. We switched to a bigger crock pot and – it still didn’t work. So Shane went and boiled some water in the microwave and poured it into the crock pot to add heat.

            After an hour to an hour and a half after we started, our wax in the homemade lava lamp rose to the top – all in a big clump. It worked. Hooray!