Chats with Mike

Jon Rampey: Wand Maker

2020 has taught us how to make lemonade out of lemons. Jon Rampey, a newcomer to Dayton, makes art using this philosophy of resourcefulness.

"Creating something is better than buying it," he said.

Like many of his generation, 27-year-old Rampey loves the Harry Potter universe and knows nearly everything about it. Years ago, he decided he must have his own sorcerer's wand like Professor Dumbledore's. Wands being a bit pricy, he decided to carve his own.

In 2009 he made his first full-sized wand from a stick using a carpenter's knife. Getting a taste for wand-making, he soon graduated from a carpenter's knife to a rotary Dremel tool.

"After I'd made some, a friend told me I needed to start selling them," he said, sheepishly. "But mainly, I do it because it's therapeutic. Doing this brings me some peacefulness. Also, I like the satisfaction of making it myself."

Locals are discovering his craft, but recently a man in Afghanistan, of all places, found Rampey on Facebook and ordered a Harry Potter wand.

"I'm not sure whether it was his English, which wasn't very good, or if he just wanted one real bad," he said of the stated request. "But I sold it to him for $30, and he covered the shipping, which was more."

Rampey has been sculpting, carving, painting, and wood burning for most of his life. Art supplies and materials are not just his tools; they can also be an inspiration. First, pencils were used to draw with; then, he used pencils to make "pixie wands." This is just one example of how Rampey sees artistic possibilities in everyday objects.

He showed me two creative and whimsical pieces, a "dragon's egg" and a "dragon's heart." Both were created using thumbtacks, which I didn't recognize as such. The effect is pretty cool and made me laugh.

Most of his pieces are art objects, some are functional, and some magical. He makes yard art, toys, textured journal covers, walking canes, office decor. He re-designs pens and pencils for writing. And, of course, wands.

Rampey works with graphite, clay, foam, hot glue, and glow-in-the-dark paints. He uses tree limbs, cast-off table legs, and odd pieces of moulding as blanks for his projects.

"I put a note out, and people have started bringing me old rake or broom handles. Those are great to work with. I don't have to take the meat off. I just have a clear piece to start designing with."

Rampey is a true craftsman and can work with just about anything, it seems, even chopsticks.

Just a week before our chat, Rampey had acquired a four-foot bench top lathe. Having never worked with one before, he began watching videos and browsing websites to learn from others. He can now add the lathe to the variety of hand-held knives and saws he already uses to cut into wood. The beautiful and inventive pieces he has produced after only one week of lathe work are impressive.

His wands are elegant woodcraft, and his 14-inch lightsabers are something I want to find in my Christmas stocking. The sabers glow in the dark, and their carved figured handles come in silver and gold finish.

Rampey's wand work is fast becoming noticed in Dayton through his Facebook page, "Rampey's Wands, Magic Crafts & Much More." He has participated in craft shows and bazaars and hosted several himself-including shows in the Tri-Cities and Spokane. He hopes to host a show in Dayton as soon as circumstances permit. Until then, he has items ready to order for Christmas and will take special orders on a first-come-first-served basis.

Now that's what I call a cottage industry.