REALISTIC Harry Potter Wand

I'm putting on a show in September with a Harry Potter booth and am getting ready for the full on costume with a Harry Potter wand in my hand. Here's the how-to for this easy and realistic wand made from a thrift-store dowel and a bit of paint.

If you'd like to see more of my DIY props as I get ready for the show, you can visit my website or shop here:
PropPrintables Website PropPrintables Store

Step 1: Materials

A dowel (or stick)
A saw (or other cutting tool)
Paint & brush (acrylic basics)
Glue Gun (+ Glue sticks)
Craft Varnish (or clear nail polish)
A gem (optional)

Step 2: Cutting the dowel

Measure dowel to the length you want, mark with pencil and cut (I cut to 12 inches). If you find you need to, like I did, use a bit of sandpaper on the end that was cut.

Step 3: Adding the PIZAZZ

This is the fun part!

The first thing you want to do is start at the very end and work your way down by squeezing BIG globs of glue that ooze down the sides of the dowel. The more, the better, but don't get burned! Just remember - all things in moderation.

I found an old bead from some necklace at a thrift store which I stuck on the end. I let the glue harden and then pulled it off to paint black beneath it so it stood out better. I glued it back on after I painted it.

Step 4: Painting the wand

Step 5: Varnish

mvanderdeen says: Jul 26, 2012. 10:22 PM

ive had a cool idea for this hollow it out and use a heating element and batteries in the handle add a little pyrotechnics and magic happens

monkeyracing in reply to mvanderdeenMay 18, 2013. 12:22 AM

I did a pyrotechnic prop wand for a play once. It was a hollow tube, with a 9v battery, a switch and a model rocket igniter in the handle end. To create the effect, a small wad of flash paper was stuffed down the tube. When the button was pressed, the igniter would set off the flash paper and a small, fairly harmless, ball of fire would shoot out. This was being used around kids, so it had to be "relatively" tame. If I did it now, I'd use smaller batteries or see if a piezo igniter would do the trick.

PropPrintables (author) in reply to monkeyracingMay 18, 2013. 6:43 AM

Wow! That is so cool! I imagine quite a reaction from the crowd. Great idea - thanks a ton for sharing!

PropPrintables (author) in reply to mvanderdeenJul 28, 2012. 10:03 AM

haha! That would be pretty crazy!

rrkrose says: Sep 3, 2012. 10:31 PM

I remember when I was probably 10 my mom would take me to this harry potter themed store in LA and buy me wands about once a month (because I broke them all the time). It would have been really helpful (and a lot cheaper) to know how to make these. Thanks for the great 'ible!

PropPrintables (author) in reply to rrkroseSep 4, 2012. 10:55 AM

No prob! I totally relate to the story - I broke things all the time as a kid. Tended to make myself replacements for anything I broke ( to avoid getting in trouble? ) which is where the idea for these came from. :)