Making your own wand and when

[Wolf]

There are lots of site on the web for identifying wood,
some were by leaf other's by bark. Not to hard to find.

I think it is some kind of coniferous tree. An evergreen, which is quite nice.

Does anyone wrap wire or stones around their wand, or add extra embellishments, or carve symbols or patterns?

I've set stones into them before by dremeling out a hollow spot and epoxying the stone into it. The one I am currently using has no stones but I carved the entire futhark into it. There is a pic of it in the altar section.

[MsMollimizz]

A few years ago I tried to take a few pics of my wand...
it must be camera shy cause its always blurry LOL !
I wrap the "handle" with cotton string...I don't like slivers.
My Yucca wand's handle is wrapped in red string for Fire,
Dolphin confetti glued on shaft for Water, a tumbled crystal
with inclusions resembling a sailboat for Earth in the tip,
and the hollow shaft I added stuff inside for Air (secret).
I've thought about carvings in the shaft but I'm not that talented !
I've used linseed oil while working for someone and it never
seemed like it would dry. I put one thin coat of nail polish
on mine, usually Sally Hansen's nail repair polish...

Wolf, what does the wood smell like ???
Did you find a site to identify the wood ?

Has anyone heard of Spindle wand wood ?
I've been talking to a Lady in Latvia
(small country north of Italy) and she was talking
about it and how there wasn't many growing a few
years ago but now there are many along the river bank
I've attached pic
I'm hoping to make another wand since my Goddess
is a bit dark and different from what I'm use to...
going to be interesting !
Gentle Light
MsMollimizz

[Wolf]

No discernible smell. Though when I run across another branch like it I will post a picture of it.

[Amalthea]

Following. I've been looking at info on wands but this thread has been very helpful!

[Shawn Blackwolf]

I have a yew wand , and a second wand , from an
apple tree , hit by lightning twice , given by former
students...

I have made my own , some highly decorated...

I have carved a stang staff , out of antler , with the
handle made by a friend , out of Black Walnut and
Pepperwood...

Two other things to add :

Oil : sometimes you do soak the wood in oil to keep
it from splitting yet soak it in a bed of sand in a tray
or wooden box...manzanita , madrone , and a number
of other woods , are susceptible to cracking as they dry...

Some people who make canes I know , even use machine oil...

And walnut oil , is a great finishing oil , though I sometimes use teak...

Two : I agree with Wolf , about sandpaper grit , yet I go further ,
and use five grits...I use 3M sandpaper , though I am not a fan
of their corporation...great sandpaper , though...

120 , 220 , 400 , 600 , 1500 grit...I spend hours with 600 , and 1500...

By the way , I do have a short blackthorn staff...

And it is propped by my door , for protection of the entryway...

I carried it everyday for years , and spun it as I walked...

I also have a long piece of elderberry , given by a friend...

A *very* rare find , as it is a wood sacred to the Faery Queen...

Not to be cut , under penalty from the Gentry...

However , it fell , when another tree was hit by lightning , and
struck a branch down...it has a face in a knot , on the top , waiting
to be brought out...one of this years many projects , on the list...

[nightshroud]

I use an old metal can for mine its great conducting energy for rituals.