Date:         Tue, 8 Apr 2003 13:17:36 +0100
Reply-To:     Clive <clive.harman-smith@NTLWORLD.COM>
Sender:       Vanagon Mailing List <vanagon@gerry.vanagon.com>
From:         Clive <clive.harman-smith@NTLWORLD.COM>
Subject:      Fw:  Re:Goofy  Lava lamps and thermals
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----- Original Message -----
From: "Clive" <clive.harman-smith@ntlworld.com>
To: "Mark Belanger" <belanger@FLUID.COM>
Sent: Tuesday, April 08, 2003 12:59 PM
Subject: Re:Goofy Lava lamps and thermals


> >>Even the commercial ones can't be left on indefinitely and will ready a
> steady state after a number of hours.
>
> The Brit that invented these in the 60's had the right formula! The ones
> I've seen ran continuously for years, and were not only very decorative,
but
> technically instructive for glider pilots, appearing to simulate exactly
how
> a 'thermal' draws air in over a massive area before unsticking from the
> ground and coalescing into a rising bubble. If the lava lamp were
infinitely
> tall you would also see that bubble start expanding as it climbed and then
> max out
>
> I think he died the year before last, this was just one of his many
> successful and unsuccessful enterprises. He seems to have managed to keep
> the idea from exploitation for quite a long time, by keeping his mouth
> firmly shut about what exactly the mix was. The last of that breed of
> eccentric British inventors?
>
> Harry.
>
> ----- Original Message -----
> From: "Mark Belanger" <belanger@FLUID.COM>
> To: <vanagon@GERRY.VANAGON.COM>
> Sent: Friday, April 04, 2003 10:23 PM
> Subject: Re: Goofy Coolant Refresh Idea
>
>
> > Jeffrey Earl wrote:
> > > Howzabout instead a VanaLava Lamp? Transparent coolant
> > > hoses and reservoirs as you suggest, but with the
> > > addition of psychodelic wax globules? Totally in
> > > keeping with the neo-hippie reputation of the VW vans,
> > > and will provide hours of hallucinogenic
> > > transfixation.
> >
> > Honestly, finding a way to get fish from being blenderized in a car
> > would be easier...  I looked into trying to build a wall-sized lava lamp
> >   for shits and giggles once and it's decidedly non-trivial.  Contrary
> > to conventional wisdom, there's no wax involved, but rather alcohol and
> > a type of mineral oil.  Anyway, apparently all the firms have their
> > special blends.  The two have to be in perfect balance and the
> > temperature differentials have to be just right or you get mush.  Even
> > the commercial ones can't be left on indefinitely and will ready a
> > steady state after a number of hours.
> >
> > It's pretty fascinating stuff.  Check out this site form more details:
> >
> >   http://www.oozinggoo.com/howto.html
> >
> > It's a weird, wonderful world...
> >
> >
> > -MB
> > --
> > _______________________________________________________________________
> > Mark Belanger - belanger@fluid.com
> >
>