From the Workshop · No. 04
How a Wooden Dildo Is Actually Made
From blank to finished piece: the seven stages every one of our dildos goes through in our workshop.
This is the short version of how a Wooden Dildo Co piece goes from a square block of wood to a finished, sealed dildo. If you want every detail, including tools, sizes and the mistakes to avoid, read our full guide, How to Make a Wooden Dildo.
1. Selecting the blank
Every piece starts as a dried, square blank cut so the grain runs straight along its length. We check the end grain and every face for cracks, checks, knots and runout. Anything questionable is rejected before it gets near the lathe. More on why in Grain Direction and Structural Strength.
2. Rough turning
We mount the blank between centres, turn it round, and rough it toward the profile. The base, the neck and the widest point of the shaft get set first, measured against the design’s drawing.
3. Final shaping
With lighter cuts and freshly sharpened tools, we refine the curves, the head and the transitions until the profile matches our template. A clean cut here means less sanding later and a crisper shape.
4. Progressive sanding
We sand through every grit with no jumps, usually from 120 up to 1000 and beyond. Between grits we check the surface under a low raking light for leftover scratches. Here’s why we’re so strict about it: Sanding: The Step Most People Skip.
5. Parting off and finishing the base
The piece comes off the lathe, and we shape, sand and check the base for flatness and stability.
6. Sealing
We apply several thin coats of a body-safe, non-porous finish and level them lightly between coats, covering every surface, including the underside of the base.
7. Curing and inspection
The piece rests until the finish has fully cured, not just until it’s dry to the touch. Then we both inspect it, by eye and by hand, for thin spots, dust nibs and pinholes before it’s approved.
