How to Make a Harry Potter Wand

Co-authored by wikiHow Staff

Last Updated: December 19, 2023 Approved

The biggest ambition of any young wizard is to get their own wand and go to Hogwarts. Still convinced that your owl must have lost its way? No matter! You can still have an incredible wand without traveling to Ollivander's. While it might not choose you, it makes the perfect prop for your newly purchased robes!

Method 1

Method 1 of 3:

Using a Wooden Dowel or Stick

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1
Get a wooden dowel that is between 10 and 13 inches (25.4 and 33.02 centimeters).^{[1]
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Research source}^{[2]
X
Research source} You can find them at craft stores; they are usually sold in packs. You can also get a longer dowel and cut it down using a hacksaw.
- You can also use a stick that you found outside. Make sure that it is no thicker than your finger, close to the length you want it, and fairly straight.
2
Sand down one end of the dowel so that it is rounded. This will make the tip.^{[3]
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Research source} You can even sand the wand so that it tapers slightly, just like the wands in the movies. Start with a coarse-grit sandpaper and finish off with a finer grit.
- If you are using a stick, you'll want to sand down any sharp, pointy, or jagged ends. You can leave the bark and knobs on the stick, or you can cut/sand them off.
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3
Use hot glue to build up the handle part, if desired. The handle part is usually about the length of your finger. Use the hot glue to cover the entire handle of your wand. Let the glue harden, and add 2 to 3 more layers, if desired.^{[4]
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- Not all wands have to have a handle. For example, Hermione's wand did not have a handle on it.
- Once the hot glue hardens, you can "carve" designs into it with the hot nozzle of the glue gun.
4
Consider hot gluing a bead or button to the base of your wand. Some wands have a knob at the end of the handle. You can make one by hot gluing a fancy button or bead to the end. Pick something that is about the same width as the base of your wand; you don't want it to be too big.^{[5]
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- Don't worry about the color; you'll be painting it later.
This is ideal for creating swirly designs on the wand, like Hermione Granger's. You can do this by twirling the wand between your fingers while drawing with the hot glue gun. Also, if you don't have hot glue you can use tape wrapped around it to make a handle or use clay to make a nice handle without a glue gun.
6
Paint your dowel with a base color using acrylic paint and let it dry. Most wands will be some shade of brown, but you can also make your wand black or white. To give it some extra texture, paint it several shades of the same color. For example, you can make your wand brown with light brown and dark brown streaks.
- Consider using watered-down acrylic paint so that the wood's original texture shows through.
Take a darker shade of your base color, and use it to fill in any nooks and crannies on your wand. Then, take a lighter shade of your base color, and use it to highlight any raised areas on your wand. Use a small, pointed brush to do this.
8
Let the paint dry, then seal the wand to make it last longer. Take your wand outside and set it down on a sheet of newspaper. Spray it with a clear, acrylic sealer and let it dry. Then, flip the wand over and spray the other side. Let the sealer dry and repeat if needed.
- Sealing the wand is not absolutely necessary, but it will make the paint job last longer! You can use a glossy, satin, or matte finish.

Method 2

Method 2 of 3:

Using a Chopstick

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1
Get a chopstick. If you are making this for a child, a regular chopstick will work just fine. If you are making this for a teen or an adult, consider getting one of those 15-inch (38.1 centimeters) bamboo cooking chopsticks.
- Don't worry about the color; you will be painting it later on!
- Can't find a chopstick? You can try using a long, wooden paintbrush instead. Just snap the brush part off, just below the metal crimp. You can also saw it off using a hacksaw.
2
Use hot glue to build up the handle and wand. The handle should be about the length of your finger. Cover the handle area with hot glue let it harden. Add 2 to 3 more layers, if needed.
- To create a wand like Harry's, draw vertical lines to make the handle. Make them thicker at the base of the wand and thinner towards the other end of the handle.
- Some wands are plain but others, such as Hermione Granger's, have designs on the rest of the wand. You can use the hot glue to draw vines, squiggles, or spirals. You can create a neat design just by twirling your wand in your fingers while drawing a line.^{[6]
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3
Add a bead or button to the bottom of the wand. Some wands have a fancier handle base. If you'd like yours to have one too, you can hot glue a small bead or fancy button to the base of your wand. The bead or button should be the same width as your wand; it should not extend past the edges by much.
- Think about the bead or button's design and don't worry about the color. You will be painting this.
- You can always leave the bead or button unpainted, especially if it is a pretty crystal one!
4
Paint the wand a base color using acrylic paint. Most wants will be some shade of brown, but the Harry Potter movies also had wands that were white or black. You can even paint your want different shades of one color to make it look more like wood.
- Consider using watered-down acrylic paints if your chopsticks are made out of bamboo. This way, the original texture still shows through.
5
Add some weathering using lighter and darker shades of your base color. Take the darker shade, and use it to fill in any nooks and crannies on your wand. You can use a q-tip or a pointy brush to get to those hard-to-reach areas. Then, take your lighter shade, and use it to highlight all of the raised areas.
- If your wand is black, you will only need the highlights. If your wand is white, you will only need the shadows.
6
Seal the wand with a clear, acrylic sealer to make the paint last longer. Bring the wand outside and set it down on a sheet of paper. Spray it with some clear, acrylic sealer, and wait for it to dry. When the wand dries, turn it over, and spray the other side. Repeat this step, if necessary.^{[7]
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- Sealing the wand is not absolutely necessary, but it can make the paint job last longer.
- You can use a matte, satin, or glossy finish.

Method 3

Method 3 of 3:

Making a Wand out of Paper

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Start at the bottom left corner of the paper and roll it towards the upper right corner. Stop when you reach past the widest point of the paper.
2
Apply some liquid glue on the last third of the paper. To avoid making the paper too soggy, apply the glue in a thin layer with a brush. At this point, you can also add a core to your wand. Here are some options:
- Phoenix feather: red, orange, or yellow feather.
- Dragon heartstring: piece of red yarn.
- Unicorn hair: silver or iridescent thread or tinsel.
This can take 20 to 30 minutes. If you do not wish to hold your wand for that long, you can secure it with some string or twist ties. The glue must be dry before you move on.
The tightly-rolled paper is probably very pointy at both ends. Use a pair of scissors or a craft knife to trim off both of the pointy ends. You will want to trim off one end more than the other. This will make the end wider, suitable for the base of your wand.
This will seal the tube further, and prevent it from unraveling. For an extra touch, hot glue a small fancy bead or button to the bottom of your wand. Make sure that the bead or button is the same width as your wand; it shouldn't go past the edges.
6
Use hot glue to draw designs on your wand. You can use the hot glue to build up a handle for your wand; they are typically the length of your finger. You can also use the glue gun to draw swirly designs on the rest of the wand.
- If you'd like, you can hot glue fancy beads or buttons to the handle to make fancy designs.
You want using paint primer, gesso, or even decoupage glue (such as Mod Podge). Allow the primer to dry before continuing. This will prevent the paper from becoming too soggy while you paint it. If it becomes soggy, it can fall apart.
Most wands will be some shade of brown, but there are wands in the movies that are also black or white. You can paint your wand a solid color, or different shades of the same color. For example, you could paint your wand brown, and add some lighter and darker brown streaks to it to make it look more like wood.
9
Add some weathering and let the wand dry. This will make the designs you drew stand out more. Take a color that's slightly darker than the one you used, and apply it with a paintbrush or q-tip to all of the nooks and crannies in your design. Next, take a lighter color, and apply some highlights to all of the raised edges.
- If your wand is black, you only need the highlights. If your wand is white, you only need the shadows.
10
Seal the wand, if desired. This is not completely necessary, but it will help your wand last a little longer. Go to a well-ventilated area, and set the wand down on a sheet of newspaper. Spray the wand with a clear, acrylic sealer and let it dry. Turn the wand over and spray the other side as well. Repeat this step if necessary.
- You can use a matte, satin, or glossy finish.

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Question

Will it work if I take a stick from a tree?

Community Answer

Yes. A lot of people make wands from sticks. You should sand it to get rid of the rough edges, though.

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How long should the stick be?

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According to the official Pottermore website, wands are typically between 8 and 12 inches long. Try to make your wand somewhere around that length. Remember, you can always cut the stick down if it is too long.

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Question

How do I put something inside?

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Hollow the stick/dowel with a dremel or knife, place inside your choice of core (feather, hair, etc.) and seal it with hot glue or epoxy. If you are using the paper method, add in your core during or before the gluing the two edges together. See the article for more details.

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Tips

Keep the wands between ¼ and ¾ inch (0.64 and 1.91 centimeters) thick.^{[8]
X
Research source} Something about the thickness of a pencil or your pinkie would be ideal.

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Embed fancy buttons or beads in the hot glue before it dries. This is great for making fancy handles.^{[9]
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Research source}

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Since you have now made a wand why not make a wand box? It's a great home for your new wand.

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Tips from our Readers

The advice in this section is based on the lived experiences of wikiHow readers like you. If you have a helpful tip you’d like to share on wikiHow, please submit it in the field below.

When making the paper wand, be sure to roll the paper super tightly before adding any glue. Filling the tube with hot glue instead of white glue helps make it nice and sturdy, too—just be careful not to burn yourself!
If you don't have a hot glue gun, try using yarn or string with regular glue to decorate your wand. Sure, it may take a bit longer to dry, but it can still get the job done!
While these homemade wands can look awesome, be aware they likely won't be quite as durable as those fancy Ollivander wands. Handle yours gently so it doesn't snap.
Don't limit yourself to copying Harry's style. Look up wands from other characters that inspire you, or get creative with patterns of your own invention.
Make your wand unique! Shape it with some cool curves instead of just straight lines, or sprinkle a bit of glitter on the tip to add some magical flair.

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Warnings

Children should not handle cutting wood. If the child would like to use a stick, trim it down for him or her.

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Hot glue guns can still burn, even low-temp ones. Adult supervision is required for this.

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