Wand Materials

Wood would likely be a more common substance also because it would be a lot easier to mold, hollow, and work with than most metals would, even with the use of magic.

But again, I streess considering how it my by be possible to use other materials within a wood wand, and see what usefulness they would have in folk magic or just literary symbolism.

I also think about how tiger bones have such a create deal of importance in Chinese medicine, and the use of something that was once alive could have a lot of magical potentcy. Bone would certainly be something to consider for a wand material. Maybe even Muggle animals could be used for the exterial as long as the wand had a magical core.

For some reason I don't think most wand-makers would blend a magical core with an outer part that can be defined as non-magical, such as normal animal bones. It could create complications.

I could imagine metal being used as an amplifier wand. Sort of, when you needed an extra boost to a spell you could use an iron wand, or something similar. You'd need a link to your normal wand, though, to make it easier for you to get a connection going with the amplifier wand.

I know practically nothing about Chinese traditions, but a few ideas have come up. Jade's been mentioned. Also, dragon bones could be used. They could have a problem with fragility, though. It would make sense for dragon bones to be hollow because of the whole weight/lift ratio needed for flight, so using dragon bones would almost be like using supersized bird bones for wands.

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Originally Posted by Apollonious

For some reason I don't think most wand-makers would blend a magical core with an outer part that can be defined as non-magical, such as normal animal bones. It could create complications.

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Well, most "normal" wands have wood shells. The woods have various magical connotations but aren't in and of themselves magical. All the trees are ones that also exist in the Muggle world.

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Originally Posted by OliveOilMed

But again, I stress considering how it my by be possible to use other materials within a wood wand, and see what usefulness they would have in folk magic or just literary symbolism.

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Ah, I'm rather attached to this idea about different shells because it works into Five Element theory and other things that I've been playing with. Admittedly, I'm still playing with the idea, but I rather like it.

Actually, the main problem is - what kind of solid is like Fire??

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Originally Posted by AidaLuthien

Actually, the main problem is - what kind of solid is like Fire??

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Well, lava's the obvious answer. Are there any volcanos in China. Does seem like a cool concept, though. Using levitation magic to craft a wand around the magical core, round and around until it cools. THAT would be a very talented wandsmith!

If you find yourself having trouble incorperating fire, you may have to get creative with what steps go into making a Chinese wand. After all, the wandsmiths in your story would have to be creative in incorperating these five elements.

Here are some stones that generally symbolize fire.

Agate: Banded
Agate: Black
Agate: Brown (tawney)
Agate: Red (Blood agate)
Amber
Apache Tear
Asbestos (but probably better not to use this one)
Bloodstone
Calcite: Orange
Carnelian
Citrine
Flint
Fire Opal
Garnet
Hematite
Iron
Jasper: Red
Obsidian
Onyx
Quartz: Clear
Quartz: Rutilated
Ruby
Sardonyx
Sulfur
Sunstone
Tigers Eye
Topaz
Tourmaline: Red
Tourmaline: Watermelon
Zircon


Petrified candle wax also comes to my mind for some odd reason.

Here are some animals associated with fire.

Cats
Lions, Tigers, Cougars, Panthers, Housecats

Desert Dwellers
Snakes, Lizards, Scorpions

Fiery Creatures from Myth
Fire Dragons, the Phoenix

And here are some herbs associated with fire.

Alder
Allspice
Amaranth
Angelica
Asafoetida
Ash
Basil
Bay Wood
Betony
Blood Root
Cactus
Carnation
Carrot
Cashew
Cat Tail
Cedar
Centaury
Chili
Chrysanthemum
Cinnamon
Cinquefoil
Clove
Copal
Coriander
Cubeb
Cumin
Curry
Damiana
Dragon's Blood
Frankincense
Galangal
Garlic
Gentian
Ginger
Ginseng
Goldenseal
Gorse
Hawthorn
High John the Conqueror Holly
Horse Chestnut
Houndstongue
Juniper
Leek
Lovage
Mandrake
Marigold
Masterwort
May Apple
Mullein
Mustard
Nutmeg
Oak
Olive
Onion
Orange
Pennyroyal
Pepper
Peppermint
Pimento
Pineapple
Poke Root
Pomegranate
Prickly Ash
Radish
Rosemary
Rowan
Rue
Saffron
St John's Wort
Sarasparilla
Sassafras
Sesame
Shallot
Snapdragon
Sunflower
Tangerine
Tea
Thistle Milk
Thistle
Holy Thistle
Ti
Toadflax
Tobacco
Tormentil
Venus Flytrap
Walnut
Witch Hazel
Woodruff
Wormwood
Yarrow
Yucca


Hopes this offers some help to your process.

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Originally Posted by OliveOilMed

Well, lava's the obvious answer. Are there any volcanos in China. Does seem like a cool concept, though. Using levitation magic to craft a wand around the magical core, round and around until it cools. THAT would be a very talented wandsmith!

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To my knowledge, no, there aren't any volcanoes in China. There are a bunch in the Pacific Rim, basically going all the way around the Pacific. Let's see... wikipedia!

Well, there appears to be one near Hong Kong, but most of the rest, I think are outside of the borders of wizarding China as I've imagined them.

... lava would fit these people's opinions of themselves... hmmmm *ponder ponder*

Maybe if you could offer a clearer idea of how you want to incorperate the five elements into wand-making, if they have to be balanced or one element is dominant, I could be of more assistanced on this topic.

Some other ideas for fire-related solids are pumice and obsidian, both of which are produced by volcanoes. Pumice probably wouldn't be a viable wand material since it's literally holey, but obsidian might. An obsidian wand would look very impressive.

To try and resolve the issue of a lack of volcanoes in China: pyroclastic flows can stretch hundreds of miles. Depending on the size and strength of the volcano, it could just be ash, or giant chunks of rock could go flying across the country. Maybe wizards have a way of capturing these materials.

Another idea I just had would be to use stone and other materials from meteorites. Meteorites are set aflame upon entering Earth's atmosphere, so they're sort of fire-related...

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Originally Posted by Apollonious

Another idea I just had would be to use stone and other materials from meteorites. Meteorites are set aflame upon entering Earth's atmosphere, so they're sort of fire-related...

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Meteorites also have a great deal of metal in them too, so they would tie into the element of metal as well. And I also imagine something that fell from outer space or 'the heavens' would hold a great deal of magical potency.

I don't know if you are still checking this, but anyway, I think that Ollivander doesn't give us enough cores to work with for our fics. I mean, one gets tired of using the same three ones.
First of all, I'm sure wands couldn't be made of anything man-made, that is, plastic, metal, etc. That wouldn't be "magical" enough, if you know what I mean. So bone or ivory would work, besides wood. I think probably certain other kinds of stone or crystal, like, what if you made a wand out of ruby? That'd be cool! But you have to remember, if you choose something of stone or bone, it's gonna be hard to put the core in. Hope I helped! :)

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Originally Posted by EnchantedCamel

I don't know if you are still checking this, but anyway, I think that Ollivander doesn't give us enough cores to work with for our fics. I mean, one gets tired of using the same three ones.
First of all, I'm sure wands couldn't be made of anything man-made, that is, plastic, metal, etc. That wouldn't be "magical" enough, if you know what I mean. So bone or ivory would work, besides wood. I think probably certain other kinds of stone or crystal, like, what if you made a wand out of ruby? That'd be cool! But you have to remember, if you choose something of stone or bone, it's gonna be hard to put the core in. Hope I helped! :)

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Metal isn't man-made. Metal ore is found in the ground, it's natural. It needs to be shaped to be workable but so does wood. You don't just grab a branch off a tree and go "aha!" and start waving it around.

As for stone and bone being hard to put the core into... it is magic. There's no hole at the end of a wooden wand from where it has been (presumably) bored out. Unless there's some kind of spell that somehow shoves the core inside the shell without having to bore the piece of wood open.

Unless you're going to go with movie canon and there being a thicker handle where a piece of wood was (perhaps) added on afterwards.