A wand is one of the most important things to bring to a magical school larp. Without it you'd be lost! How would you defend yourself in Magical Defense class? How would you participate in a duel? How would you learn new things in Spellcasting? And what if there were no more spoons available and you'd have to stir your tea? In all those situations, you would be hopeless without a wand. So, time to get yourself one. Pronto.
Buying a wand can be expensive, and finding one that suits your and your characters tastes might even be harder. If you want something that is crafted to your needs, it might be better to take matters in your own hands! With the help of Kirrie and Storm, who made the video on the right, we'll show you how to do just that: how to make the wand you and your character have always dreamed of!
Step #1: The Basics
Get a piece of wood. You can get this at the hardware store or just outside (but make sure it’s completely dry before you start working on it). Measure how long you want your wand to be, and cut off the remaining length. The best way to do that is by using a saw.
Grab some sanding paper and start sanding the end of your wand into a blunt tip. Once satisfied, you can move on to the next step.
Step #2: Decorate!
Now it's time to decorate the handle however you want to! There are an endless amount of ways to do this: just use whatever you have. In this amazing video some of our beloved students made, they used an empty toilet roll to cut off a long piece and wrap it around the wand, gluing it to the handle. Again, this step is completely up to you, and you can go crazy with your creativity here!
Most wands have a fun piece at the end of it. In the video we used hot glue to attach the embellishments to the wand, but E6000 or contact cement would be perfect too. Make sure the glue is completely dry before continuing to the next step. If you’re impatient like us, use a hair dryer to make it dry up more quickly.
Step #3: Paint!
Before you start your paint job, prime the wand with wood glue. This will save you a lot of time in the next step, and will also ensure that your wand does not get damaged as easily. After all, you will be using this wand in combat so it must be strong enough to be dropped on the floor without breaking.
Then you'll give your wand a base colour. What colour you use is your own choice, and all sorts of paint can be used. Just use whatever you have in a black, brown or green colour and you're good! Due to the priming in the step before this one, the wand will soak up less paint and it will be easier to get an even coat of paint.
Now it's time to paint on the details. Again, to your very own liking. In the video the students painted the toilet roll that was added in an earlier step gold, to make the wand a bit more shiny and luxurious. Adding a contrasting paint to your details makes sure they stand out.
Seal the wand with varnish. This will cause the paint to chip less easily, making your wand a bit more durable again. Once you’ve let your wand dry up, it should be done and safe to use at a larp!
Step #4: Finalizing Your Wand
Seal the wand with varnish. This will cause the paint to chip less easily, making your wand a bit more durable again. You might not think you're going to drop it, but trust us: you will. So a little extra stability is always welcome, right?
Once you’ve let your wand dry completely, take some time to feel all around it. No sharp edges that could hurt you or your fellow LARPer? If yes, work your sanding paper to get rid of them and repeat your paint job on this part. If no, congratulations, your wand is done!
We can't wait to see all your beautiful wands at the next edition of 'MEC'. And don't forget to show us your work in progress in our Discord, so we can continue to hype you up at every step!