building a wooden dummy

**virtual_mantis** · Posted On: 1/09/2004 11:42pm

Anyone out there ever build their own wooden dummy? I've found plans on the web but wanted to get some pointers on how it was done. Did you have any trouble? Any leassons learned? I've seen some on the web that have a traditional wooden body and some that have a pvc body. They recommend filling the pvc with sand so it's heavier. Any thoughts/comments?

**Southpaw** · Posted On: 1/10/2004 11:42am

I made my own.

I bolted and glued a number of 2x10's together for the body. Then rounded it and sanded it best I could. The body ended up being an octogon rather than round...but it works fine.

For the arms and leg, I glued 2x4's together and then shaped them on a lathe to round and smooth them out.

I simply drilled the holes for the arms and legs instead of chisled them. So...this means that the holes are round and not square. It makes a little difference in how it feels...but not much. I then stained the dummy and started using it.

Basically...it's not easy to do...but possible with the right tools. And...I made mine for about $40 worth of wood and supplies...rather than pay $800 for one.

I'd highly recommend staying away from PVC dummies.

**Angry-Monkey** · Posted On: 1/10/2004 12:01pm

My instructor made his own dummy.

The page I had with specs has gone offline for some reason.
But it used to be here: http://www.wingchun.org/text/misc/pics.html

My teacher found his log on the beach, I think it's a 9" diameter one.
He used a lathe to shape his arms and drilled the holes and then chisled them into squares.
He only recently got a leg (After about 8 years) and it's still covered in bark, heh.

I plan on constructing a dummy sometime soon as well.

**Mr. Mantis** · Posted On: 1/10/2004 12:27pm

Originally posted by Amp
I'd highly recommend staying away from PVC dummies.

What makes pvc dummies worth staying away from?

**Southpaw** · Posted On: 1/10/2004 1:30pm

It feels funny.

And it's much better for your body to hit wood than plastic.

And you don't get that great sound.

And plastic is bad for you and the environment.

And many others.

**Mr. Mantis** · Posted On: 1/10/2004 3:22pm

Well then how about making it out of metal? You can get a cool sound out of that.

**Southpaw** · Posted On: 1/10/2004 5:03pm

Don't get mad if you have a PVD dummy.

There's a distict sound a wooden dummy makes. After training on a dummy for years, it starts to really grow on you.

Of course it has nothing to do with the functionality of a PVC dummy.

**virtual_mantis** · Posted On: 1/10/2004 5:53pm

Thanks for the input all. I went to a rough cut lumber mill today and bought a 5 foot long post 9 in. in diameter. I spent the rest of the day sanding it down. I'm documenting the whole thing to hopfully write an article with pictures. I'll let you know how it turns out. Ofcourse any tips or tricks would be appreciated.

**Mr. Mantis** · Posted On: 1/10/2004 7:02pm

Originally posted by Amp
Don't get mad if you have a PVD dummy.

I'm not mad, I don't have a dummy, nor dummy training. Though I would like it, I think.

**Mr.Miyagi** · Posted On: 1/10/2004 10:51pm

Mmm it's like the innitiation right to becoming a jedi, lightsaber...= wooden dummy. Heh. I want to make my own, but I may buy one, guy at our school makes them for cheap.

*finds a fallen trunk struck my lightning, still on fire, and drags it back home to begin the sanding* It could be a sweet ass WC movie..haha.