Short-string Contact Leviwand With Grip Tape

Contact leviwands are a circus or flow art prop based on the magician's 'dancing wand' trick. In the UK it is difficult to find this specific type of prop with only lighter 'day wands' available for purchase which are often unable to perform the full range of tricks. As import is very expensive from the US I make my own wands and am often asked how to do this. This tutorial is for a short-string wand. It is not suitable for conversion to a fire wand as flammable materials are used.

CONSUMABLES (see main tutorial for sizes)

End caps - I use either poi knobs or 3D printed end caps (both pictured). Sizes of these are unpredictable so do try to buy in person if possible at circus events or shops - online vendors rarely give the dimension of the holes. Ideally you would have different coloured end caps but if not try to have two colours of tape (see below)

Metal washers of a size that will fit inside your end caps, 3-5 usually, easy to find at hardware stores or online

Fray resistant leviwand string - I recommend flowtoys (Flowtoys Replacement Flow Wand Handle with Swivel | Buy Swivelled Finger Loop for Levistick UK (firetoys.co.uk)) but have been told that you can substitute ice fishing line. Do not use 'invisible' polyester thread as this may snap and also shows up more when caught by the light than standard darker thread. You can use neon flow wand string if you prefer.

A leviwand finger loop or pom grip with 360 degree swivel (both pictured) - here a fishing swivel embedded in a rubber ball forms an example pom grip but I will use the finger loop for this tutorial, again available from flowtoys (Flowtoys Replacement Flow Wand Handle with Swivel | Buy Swivelled Finger Loop for Levistick UK (firetoys.co.uk)). Pom grips are hard to buy in the UK - watch this space for another tutorial on how to make them! Do not use handles without an embedded swivel, this will not work.

Wooden dowel that tightly fits your end caps - find the caps first, dowel is easy from local hardware or DIY stores! Here I am using a cheap patio scrubber (which cost £3) and cutting the end off.

OPTIONAL (but strongly recommended) shiny tape, I recommend Fancy Tapes Self-adhesive Tape Shop (fancy-tapes.co.uk) however some fancy Christmas wrapping tape etc may be suitable. Tape should be durable, stick well and be waterproof and fray resistant. If you have two types of tape this is even better.

OPTIONAL (but recommended) plumbers transparent self sticking silicone tape POPPSTAR 2x 3m Self-Fusing Silicone Band, Silicone Tape, Repair Tape, Electrical Tape and Sealing Strip (water-tight, air-tight), 25mm wide, transparent : Amazon.co.uk: DIY & Tools

TOOLS

Hacksaw

Tape measure

Fine marker pen

2mm drill bit

Drill or crafting tool

Scissors

Cutting mat/block

OPTIONAL vice

Measure, mark up and cut your dowel to length using the hacksaw. For this project my dowel (or patio scrubber) was 12mm diameter and my length was 76cm, which is fairly standard for an American leviwand and dictated by the 3D printed end caps. However the poi knobs I use fit a 15mm diameter, much thinner, dowel and when using this diameter my wands are proportionately smaller at c.62cm long. Larger wands are slower and easier to handle so better for beginners however a smaller person may find them awkward, it can be a good idea to try different wands and find a length and weight that suit you before making multiple wands. If your dowel has one rounded end cut or sand this off square before measuring the length as you want equal weight on both sides of your central hole.

There are two methods of making leviwands; with an off-centre hole without a weighted end, or with a central hole with a weighted end. I find the latter easier to balance. Measure to the centre of your wand and make a mark. Using your drill bit, drilling tool, and vice if you have one (I didn't here but it will make it easier) drill a hole completely through the shaft of the wand, keeping straight and true. Be careful here, if your hole is off centre thi9s isn't going to work and you may have to scrap this piece of wood. Check that your string will pass easy through the wand, if it doesn't try drilling into the existing hole from the opposite side to ensure that the hole is fully clear of debris. Then remove string and set aside for later.

If you were making a lot of wands for a class and wanted to keep costs down you could skip this step but I don't really recommend it. Shiny tape makes the wand look much nicer and will protect your hands from splinters. Using your shiny tape wrap the wand, starting at a slight angle so that you get a small overlap and no wood shows through the wrapping. Keep a constant tension and do not stretch the tape. When you reach the central hole use a drill bit to pierce the tape to keep the hole clear - if you leave this until the end the hole will be difficult to find. Repeat on the other side and then continue wrapping until you reach the end of the wand shaft. Trim the ends of your tape square. You can use offcuts for this process if wrapping later with silicone tape but if you are skipping that step try and use one full length with no cuts in it or it may unravel with use.

Add an end cap to one end of your wand, this will become the top. It should fit tightly and should not fall off if you hold the wand vertically. If it is a little loose try adding another coating of tape. At the opposite end add two washers (we may adjust this later) into your end cap and fit onto the wand. If your end caps are the same colour add a small piece of different coloured tape around the weighted end, this will help you reset the wand when doing tricks with it. If you don't have two types of tape you could make a discreet line with a permanent marker pen instead.

Put the finger loop onto your middle finger (or if using a pom grip hold in your palm) and cut string of a minimum length of 2x the length from your middle finger to your elbow plus several cm leeway for the knot. You need to run the string through both the wand and the finger loop swivel end and make a loose knot which will move along the string. Use the running knot to adjust the length of the string to the desired length (which will depend on how long your arm is) then make a stronger non-running knot. The knot should be small enough to pass freely through the hole in the finger loop swivel and the hole in the wand itself, and strong enough to hold up to repeated use. I strongly recommend watching the Lux Luminous video on stringing and sizing wands here Levitation Wand: How to String and size a Wand (youtube.com) and copying her suggested knots. It may take a few tries! Once you have strung your wand the way you want it check the balance. When held by the pom grip or finger loop the wand should swing very slowly so the weighted end is at the bottom and the wand hangs vertically. If this does not happen add another washer into your bottom end cap. If it happens very quickly take a washer out. Give some basic moves a go and see if you are happy - and only then trim off your excess string.

This step is optional but useful for gaining extra grip for contact moves. It will also add extra weight so you may need to rebalance your wand if your taping goes a bit wonky. Temporarily remove your end caps and set aside to replace after taping. Your plumbers silicone tape will have a backing on it, removing the backing as you go and working at an angle as you did with the shiny tape start to tape the hoop. Unlike with the shiny tape give this tape a small amount of stretch as you go around and a slightly larger overlap. The tape will initially be repositionable but if left for several hours will become bonded to itself. Replace end caps and check balance as per the previous step, adjusting as required.

NOTE If the wand becomes very dusty you may lose the grip from your silicone tape if so sponge clean with a small amount of water and dry.

Try a beginner tutorial T1 NAWB | EN | OFFICE HERO ADAPTION 30sec 16x9 | Script 01 UK (youtube.com) or just experiment and see what works for you. If you've already mastered beginner moves but are struggling with more advanced ones making a larger contact wand like this may help. If you have a Wandini LED wand (available in the UK) you can also weight it and add grip tape using Step 4 and Step 6 with your existing wand. I'm happy for people to use these instructions to make wands for their own use but I've specifically missed out where I source my end caps - if you want to sell them you will need to do your own research! Happy wanding x