Post #523416 by Tom Slick on Sun, Apr 11, 2010 10:33 PM

Everyone pretty much covered exactly what needs to be done. But here is the Clifnotes version of what has already been said:

Mineral oil is what was used, and can still be bought at cvs, rite aid and most other pharmacies. It has the correct consistancy for most pumps, and mine(a 32" from the 1970s) called to use this in the instructions manual that someone had uploaded to the internet a few years ago.

http://www.simnia.com/rain_lamps/fluids/fluids.htm

The above is a site that points out different types of oil, but at the end it also states that the major manufacturers who supplied the majority of rainlamps to the public in the 70s, also called for using regular old mineral oil(not to be confused with mineral spirits!).

Also, the best way to keep a motor running is to keep the fluid clean, and at the right levels. Never run your rainlamp without fluid(dry run)for more than just "testing times".
Imagine it like a Ferrari of lamps; If you use the lamp frequently, keep the oil clean. If you don't run it often, use moist(not dripping) watered paper towels to clean off the strands prior to using, because they will catch household dust like flypaper catches flys. Wipe the (outer-top)basin out as well, before restarting the lamp if it has sat unused with liquid for any period of time. A clean motor, is a running motor.

Lastly, I would also agree with others not to use any scented oils, as they have potential to gum up the motor, and eventually burn it out.

[ Edited by: Tom Slick 2010-04-11 23:04 ]