Homemade Tonfa

A tonfa is a martial arts weapon made from two pieces of wood fastened together to form a handle and an arm guard. The small or large section of the tonfa can be used for attack or defense. The tonfa can be used as a striking weapon or as a restraining tool to pin and hold your opponent to the ground or other object. You can make your own tonfa in just a few hours with just a few supplies and a bit of know-how.

Things You'll Need

  • Drop cloth
  • Wooden dowel (30 inches by 2 inches)
  • Tape measure
  • Pencil
  • Drill with ½-inch bit and 1-inch paddle bit
  • Wooden dowel (9 inches by 2 inches)
  • Rotary tool with sanding disc
  • Rags
  • Wood glue
  • Mallet
  • 12-inch bar clamp
  • Black enamel spray paint
  • Safety glasses
  • Dust mask
  • Hearing protection
  • Work gloves
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Instructions

    • 1

      Lay out the drop cloth in your work area. Measure along the length of your 30-inch dowel with your tape measure and place a pencil mark 9 inches from one end of the dowel. Hold the dowel firmly and drill 1 inch into the wood with the ½-inch bit in your drill. Widen the hole using the 1-inch paddle bit in your drill. Wipe away any dust and debris with a clean rag.

    • 2

      Measure along the length of your 9-inch dowel and make a pencil mark 1 inch from one end of the dowel. Measure the width of the same end of the dowel. Find the center of the end of the dowel and make a pencil mark at that point. Mark a 1-inch circle on the end by measuring out ½ inch from the center in every direction.

    • 3

      Sand away the excess wood on the 1 inch section of the dowel with your rotary tool until it is only 1 inch wide and 1 inch long. Take your time and sand away the wood evenly with the sanding disc. Wipe away the dust and debris with a rag.

    • 4

      Squirt wood glue into the hole on your 30-inch dowel. Slide the 1-inch end of the 9-inch dowel into the hole in the 30-inch dowel. Tap the end of the 9-inch dowel to drive it into place. Slip the clamp onto the free end of the 9-inch dowel and the back side of the 30-inch dowel. Tighten the clamp and allow the glue to dry for 12 hours.

    • 5

      Remove the clamp. Use the sanding disc on your rotary tool to round off the ends of your tonfa. Wipe away the dust with a clean rag. Spray three coats of black enamel spray paint onto both sides of the tonfa. Allow each coat of paint to dry for one hour before the next application.