It has been quite some time since I have actually completed something at the lathe. I have gone down to the shop a few times but didn’t really know what project to start on.
Last month, a colleague asked If it was possible to turn a Magic Wand in the style of Ollivander’s wands from Harry Potter. I wasn’t sure what I would come up with, but decided that I would give it a try.
I was tidying the shop today when I came across a long piece of what I believe is Oak (although it could be ash or maple). I decided that I would give this “wand thingy” a try. If it didn’t turn out, at least I would have developed an idea on how I should proceed.
When I tried to chuck this piece up, I had to start with my tailstock hanging over the end of the ways. As I cinched up the piece to the spur drive, the tailstock was able to fully sit on the ways. So… I guess I know how long I can turn on my lathe.
Because the spindle is so long, I had to hold the piece in the centre with my fingers to keep the wood from wobbling. Although the wobble produced a neat effect, I couldn’t make the effect consistent and so was careful to get a smooth finish.
As I was turning the blond wood spindle I realized that the wood was extremely bland, so I decided that I would make a handle from a contrasting wood. I turned a tenon on the end of the wand and then chucked up a piece of bubinga in my Oneway Talon Scroll Chuck and drilled a hole in the end using my Jacob’s Chuck in the tailstock, after truing up the block.
After turning and finishing the handle, I inserted the wand into the hole and glued it with CA glue.
Everything is finish sanded to 420 grit and then waxed with EEE Cream.
When I do this again, I will make the shaft a little finer (I didn’t want this wand to be readily breakable by a 7 year old). I will also be a little more precise about the transition for the handle. In addition, I would like to figure out a way to insert a feather into the wand like the “real” Ollivander Wands.
To Everything, Turn...Turn...Turn 