I use a selenite wand. It's carved into a spiral, which helps to direct the energy. Selenite grows naturally in a tower formation, and you'll notice with selenite balls that they have a "window" effect, or a tunnel-like appearance.
I use mainly crystals to direct energy, but also my own body. I use the left side to receive energy and the right to project it.
At present I have three wands. One is a triple goddess wand, of oak, the second is a fairy wand from England made of rowan and the third is a Chakra wand made of clay and stones which I keep in my portable altar.
I have Several Athames also, but I seldom use them on my altar as I find the wands more suiting to my needs, I use them even to build my Circle.
Also when you travel, its harder to transport a knife, esp. if your using public transportation. I'm currently thinking of making a fourth wand, but taking my time as I want it to be special. Any ideas?
It's very rewarding to make your own items! I wish you the best of luck. Do you have a wide variety of trees in your area? If not, you could probably buy some raw stick online (but I have no idea where, sorry lol).
Here's a link about the magickal properties of certain trees: http://www.goldentreewands.com/magicpropertiesofwood.htm
You could try incorporating quartz, or any other stones you feel you have a connection to, and you could burn runes, magickal symbols and the like into wood. They sell simple wood-burning kits at most hardware or arts-and-crafts stores.
Uhm, I actually do the same when I lack an better amplifier.
I always carry as many crystals on me as possible so I always possess tools to amplify and direct energy.
Iam also utilizing swords and wands as amplifiers, but both are way too bulky to carry around.
Iam, as mentioned, working on a glove that I may be able to intigrate with my clothing as an accessory and it will be used as an magical multi-tool.
Aint crystals handy? :)
@Salamander
As Kikuyo already said, crystals in wands is a must have.
Using symbols and runes on your wand is a nice bonus and spice it up a bit.
When I will start build my advanced high-end wands I will make use of something I call Catalysts.
A catalyst is a crystal or glass ball right above the handle and before the antenna-part of the wand.
When you use the wand the catalyst will increase the energy output of the wand, send the energy up through the antenna to the tip (where you should have a clear quartz tip) where the crystal tip amplify the energy and...well, thats it.
Can anyone give me instructions for wand making. I have a lot of sticks around my house. I just need to know how to add crystals really. So if anyone can help I would really appreciate it.