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Posts: 262 · Joined: Sep 6, 2008 Location: Orlando, FL Posts: 262

I've seen a multitude of Potter merchandise on the web, from Alivan's (quite nice, really), to the Noble Collection, and all of the low-end stuff in between. And that's all well-to-do, but has anyone made their own products? Crafted your own wand, sewn your own robes, or perhaps made your own broomstick?

I often find that many times, the stuff we make ourselves is of better quality* and far more sentimental in value than the things we buy.

I've been struggling back and forth with buying a wand for some time now. I like some of the selection from Alivan's, and I dig Snape's wand from Noble Collection (though I can't get past the resin).

But recently I found a way to make my own, with all the benefits of sculpting a handle separate from the shaft of the wand, but without being too difficult. I've made four wands so far, and they would quite easily pass for film props.

What have you guys made? Let's hear them!

*If the person knows what he/she is doing, of course. Very Happy

Posts: 1822 · Joined: Aug 16, 2008 Location: Hogwarts Posts: 1822

i made my own wand but it didnt look the best Smile

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Wand:9 inches, Yew and pheonix feather
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Posts: 3464 · Joined: Mar 3, 2008 Posts: 3464

I have actually tooken a piece of Willow Wood and carved a wand out of it. Using a Hunting Knife, and in the end I would use sand-paper to smooth the sides. In my opinion it looked like a real wand. Smile

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Posts: 26 · Joined: Sep 8, 2008 Posts: 26

This wasn't me, but a girl in my class in 5th made the Goblet of Fire. She gave it to our teacher and a copy of 'Goblet of Fire'. It was cool.

Posts: 3464 · Joined: Mar 3, 2008 Posts: 3464

Posts: 1822 · Joined: Aug 16, 2008 Location: Hogwarts Posts: 1822

thats really cool
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Wand:9 inches, Yew and pheonix feather
Patrounus:Badger
House:hufflepuff
Signature Spell:Patrificus totalus

♥

Posts: 262 · Joined: Sep 6, 2008 Location: Orlando, FL Posts: 262

That is fairly awesome. The Goblet of Fire was quite interesting-looking.

Posts: 399 · Posted: September 8, 2008 5:33 pm Post subject:

Psssh. I wish I had time to make that kind of stuff. So much homework nowadays....
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Teenage angst and melodramas...heehee.

Posts: 1822 · Joined: Aug 16, 2008 Location: Hogwarts Posts: 1822

yes theres way to much homework Shocked

_________________
Wand:9 inches, Yew and pheonix feather
Patrounus:Badger
House:hufflepuff
Signature Spell:Patrificus totalus

♥

Posts: 262 · Joined: Sep 6, 2008 Location: Orlando, FL Posts: 262

Take the "Fred and George" route. Always time for creativity.

Honestly, it took less than an hour each to make the wands I did. One of them took a few hours, because of the wood stain. But if you don't stain it, it takes about 45 minutes including baking time.

Posts: 3761 · Joined: Aug 6, 2008 Location: Up your bum. Posts: 3761

I might have a go at making my own wand!
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Yas and Simmy - putting Luna on catwalks since 2008!

Posts: 262 · Joined: Sep 6, 2008 Location: Orlando, FL Posts: 262

Figured I'd end up posting some pics of the wands I've made. This one was the first one I did, and as such it's rather plain. The others I did after are a bit more complicated, but I think this one is simple and comfortable. It is 14 inches long. Pardon the quality, my phone is only 1.3 megapixel...

Here is the first picture, after I finished it:

And the second, after I stained it the first time (it is much darker now after three stains):

Posts: 11404 · Posted: September 29, 2008 3:47 am Post subject:

Posts: 262 · Joined: Sep 6, 2008 Location: Orlando, FL Posts: 262

I would very much like to see your work, if you wouldn't mind. Smile

Thank you for the compliments, but I assure you that is the least attractive of the bunch. I do rather like its simplicity though. I will be working on an ebony wand soon, and I think I will use a similar handle style. It is very comfortable.

Posts: 3761 · Joined: Aug 6, 2008 Location: Up your bum. Posts: 3761

Looking nice. I have some pine wood, but, alas, nothing to carve it with. Razz

And a crow feather as my core. Wink

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Yas and Simmy - putting Luna on catwalks since 2008!

Posts: 262 · Joined: Sep 6, 2008 Location: Orlando, FL Posts: 262

I didnt use any cores with mine. I was stricly going for a wand that was film prop quality, so the core wasnt really part of that goal. If I could find a way to insert something into the shaft while maintaining the solid wood look of it, I'd probably give it a shot. As soon as I buy that ebony wood stain, I'll finish my latest one and get pics up. It's going to look similar to the one I've posted, oak, 14 inches, all black.

Wish I could get into the film prop industry, to be honest. I enjoy it quite a bit.

Posts: 3142 · Posted: October 6, 2008 2:51 am Post subject:

I'm always making wands with sticks i find outside. I carve them with knives.
I also sometimes make maps.

Posts: 262 · Joined: Sep 6, 2008 Location: Orlando, FL Posts: 262

I used to use a knife back in middle school/high school. I found them to very imprecise, even after using them for years and years. I now use an exacto knife and files for all of that. MUCH cleaner effect, in my opinion. You might want to give that a try.

I've also compiled exterior maps and portraits of the Hogwarts modeled in the Chamber of Secrets PS2 game.

Posts: 3142 · Posted: October 6, 2008 9:41 am Post subject:

Nice, but i would like to see myself how you made the handle. Maybe make a video of yourself making it. XD

Posts: 262 · Joined: Sep 6, 2008 Location: Orlando, FL Posts: 262

Alas, I have no videocamera and my 1.3 megapixel camera on my phone is NOT worth trying to make a video. It's fairly straightforward, though.

Buy a small thing of Sculpey from the craft store in whatever color you'd like. I personally chose classic wood colors with the really light Ivory to simulate woods like maple, ash and hickory, and then the black Sculpey, to simulate ebony.

Then run on over to Home Depot or Lowe's or whichever hardware store you have in town, and pick up some 3/8" wood dowel rod. However much you want to buy, it's cheap and usually comes in 48" sections. While you're there you might want to pick up an exacto knife, some files (I use a medium to coarse metal file) and some sandpaper (finer grit).

Cut a section of the wood dowel to whichever length you prefer. I made my personal ones 14" because I'm quite tall, but I've found 11" to rather comfortable as well. For the shorter wands, I've made the handle's 3.25" long, and the longer ones are 3.75" long. Make a mark (not with pen, the ink bleeds) on the wand with your finger nail or a light pencil or something where your handle will end.

Roll out a bit of the sculpey (I only used about a half of each bar per wand) into a nice rectangular shape the length of the handle, and wide enough to wrap around the wand. You want it to wrap around evenly, to maintain even distribution of the sculpey and keep the symmetry of the wand. Dont want any big lumps on one side. Wink

Once you've got the sculpey on the wand, you can start shaping it. Smooth out and lumps you've got in there, make designs, etc. I kept mostly to the designs of the first and second film, as I felt it was more akin to what Ollivander would make. He seemed very neat and organized about his craft in the books, and I wanted that to carry over to something stately and professional looking. The new wands in the later films are, personally, not something I would like to use. But I digress.

The tools I used to create my designs were the exacto knife, the files, and the tip of a pencil, all used ot make different width/depth indented rings in the handle. You can sculpt really whatever you'd like.

Once you've got a design you're happy with, follow the instructions on the side of the Sculpey package. Preheat your oven to 275 degrees Fahrenheit and when it's done, place the wand on a pan and cook it for about 10 minutes (the package says 15, but the handles arent quite thick enough for that). Then take it out and let it cool. As it cools, the sculpey will harden. Once cool enough for you to comfortably handle, it will be hard enough that you can sand down whatever abnormalities you werent able to get out originally.

I typically use this time to narrow and blunt the tip using a combination of files and sandpaper.

And that's virtually it.

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Ended up taking pictures of a few more wands I threw together. Hopefully you guys enjoy them. They're not as flashy or complex as the post-CoS film props, but I always envisioned the wands to be classy and subdued, much like Harry's Hermione's and Snape's from SS and CoS. Anyways, like I said before, enjoy! Very Happy

Moderator's Note: Please do not double post. Use the Edit button, instead.

Posts: 1554 · Joined: May 26, 2008 Location: earth Posts: 1554

wow. very nice. i like the one with the black handle and white end
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Posts: 262 · Joined: Sep 6, 2008 Location: Orlando, FL Posts: 262

They're very simple to make. Takes about 30-45 minutes including baking time. Give it a shot and make sure to take lots of pictures for us! Very Happy

Perfect for making a unique and custom wand for a costume, or convention (MuggleCon is coming up for people in FL), or just goofing off with.

Posts: 1554 · Joined: May 26, 2008 Location: earth Posts: 1554

ok sounds like fun
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Posts: 10262 · Joined: Dec 11, 2007 Location: aus. Posts: 10262

Oh wow, if i had talent i would make a wand.
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