How long can I leave my Lava Lamp on for?

When I got one like 5 years ago my parents said not to leave it on all night or it will burn up and catch on fire, so I always turned it off before going to bed. Im tired of turning it off then on, and having to wait for it to heat up to make it all lava-y. So how long can it stay on before I have to turn it off to prevent it from overheating?

 

I don't know, but hit me on the back of the head with it.

 

It's not real lava, so you're safe.

 

It is so real lava.

 

I double-dare you to try and touch it.

 

Wrapped my hand around it, started to hurt after a few seconds.

 

I only leave mine on for about an hour or less at a time. When they over heat, it's scary.

 

Its going to explode in 5 seconds.


Sccrman95

 

Maybe this is something for the MythBusters to solve.

 

I bought one for my brother at Christmas and it said to leave it on no more than 8 hours.

 

That's what the instructions on my son's lamp says, no more than 8 hours. If you're putting it on a wood surface (a dresser, for example), I'd put a ceramic tile underneath it; that thing gets really hot!!! Oh, and be very sure it's not close to any papers or curtains or anything that might burn...

 

Mine's been on for 3 months nonstop and is fine.

 

Ousley's obviously a fire demon... he wouldn't notice such trivial things as his lava lamp burning.

 

When smoke starts to come out of it, then that might be a good time to turn it off.

 

Or when the glass cracks from overheating and you have a lava spill.

 

Wow! I read the title real fast and I thought it said "how long can you keep the same tampon?".

*stops drinking*

 

Just put a smoke detector over the thing. You'll be fine.

 

All through my early child hood I played "Hot Lava" which has trained me for the inevitable moment when my Lamp bursts and covers the floor in hot lava and I have to make my away accross the furniture and out the room.


Ousley, yours has really been on for 3 months??

 

Yep, might have even been longer than that. I never turn it off.