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Prop making – DIY: How to make fake dynamite for theatre and stage

Artificial or fake dynamite is a prop often used in plays and is often included in comedies and children’s theater.

In this post, we will give you tips and tricks for creating fake dynamite that will look so real that even the actors will handle the fake dynamite with care!

In this example, I will use artificial dynamite that I made for a professional production of The Comedy About a Bank Robbery at Rogaland Theater in 2021. I was engaged as a prop maker for the production, and I also made several other props, but today we will focus on the dynamite.

Let’s get started!

Materials and process for making fake dynamite

Materials:

  • Acrylic paint or professional theater paint (I used paint from Haussmann)
  • Wood log sticks
  • Black rope
  • Water (to dilute paint)

Tools

  • Sandpaper
  • Hot glue gun
  • Paint brushes
  • Gauze (to take away dark paint)

I used round pieces of wood that I cut to the desired length. Then, I sanded the surface and edges to make them smooth and give the dynamite a realistic appearance.

If the play is performed in a blackbox with the audience close to the action, then I would cover the logs with paper for an extra realistic result. But on larger stages, you can just sand the wood down and apply paint directly on the surface.

See the pictures below for details of the process:

fake tnt prop theatre stage prop how to create fake tnt sfxzone
diy stage prop dynamite theater prop prop maker sander skarås pedersen fake tnt bomb tutorial sfxzone
artificial dynamite bomb tnt stage prop diy tutorial sfxzone
diy fake tnt dynamite teater prop stage tutorial sfxzone prop maker Sander Skarås Pedersen
I used glue from a glue gun to attach the black rope.
sfxzone tutorial how to make fake dynamite for theatre prop tnt prop builder sander skarås pedersen sfxzone
fake bomb tnt prop tutorial artificial dynamite prop maker sander skarås pedersen SPFX.NO
I used black paint diluted with water to create some depth and add some more dimension.
artificial dynamite for stage theatre prop tnt bomb fake prop maker sander skarås pedersen
Side by side comparison: The one on the left is a finished one and you can see the difference a little black paint can make.
DIY fake dynamite tnt tutorial stage props theatre Prop Maker Sander Skarås Pedersen sfxzone
Fake dynamite made for a production of The Comedy About a Bank Robbery at Rogaland Theatre in Norway. Prop Maker: Sander Skarås Pedersen (SPFX.NO)

Want to learn more about prop making and other techniques?

See a list of recommended books here.

This post are written by Sander Skarås Pedersen. He is a Norwegian prop maker, set designer, light designer, makeup FX artist, exhibition designer, scareactor and actor. Sander have worked for both professionals and with amateur theater. He also run a online store for Norwegian costumers where they can buy SFX-makeup and stage makeup.

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