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 My DIY Cajon build.		  New Topic  Reply to Topic
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NUTHA JASON
Excellent Contributer

United Kingdom
261 Posts
Posted - 28/06/2012 :  23:29:02  Show Profile  Visit NUTHA JASON's Homepage  Reply with Quote
I decided, after messing around on one of my pupil’s cajones, to have one for myself. But it’s such a simple concept that I’m not prepared to fork out £150 for a fancy box. Besides I like making stuff.
So this thread will follow my own cajon build. I started yesterday so here is the progress so far:

Day one:
Just went to Champion for Timber. I have researched everything I can about building cajones and then designed my own with all sorts of diagrams and measurements. So I knew exactly what dimensions I needed them to cut the 12mm hardwood ply that cost me only £14 (+ 4 for the cutting). I could do it myself with my hand jigsaw but their machine is much more accurate. Got home and immediately went to work on the sound hole (pictured below are the first few cuts (I’m building my own cone).

FIRST PICTURE
http://www.drummerworld.com/forums/attachment.php?attachmentid=49812&stc=1&d=1340920403

Here are the pieces ready to stack and glue…

SECOND PICTURE
http://www.drummerworld.com/forums/attachment.php?attachmentid=49813&stc=1&d=1340920475

here they are g-clamed and ready to set overnight. Can’t wait for tomorrow afternoon to start sanding and shaping the hole. (see my plans in the bottom corner three pages of diagrams – my granddad was a genius carpenter and he always muttered ‘’measure twice cut once’’ – good advice)

THIRD PICTURE
http://www.drummerworld.com/forums/attachment.php?attachmentid=49814&stc=1&d=1340920526
see further ... stand on the shoulders of giants.

http://youtu.be/dQDwGH6-72E

http://jasonhorsler.tripod.com/

MustangMick
Advanced Contributer

Ireland
13097 Posts
Posted - 29/06/2012 :  07:30:34  Show Profile  Visit MustangMick's Homepage  Reply with Quote
Good luck, hope you have some thinner ply (4-5mm) for the front playing surface.

Mick
Freelance Drummer/Percussionist

www.royfulton.co.uk
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www.istanbulcymbals.com
www.jhs.co.uk/michaelconway.html
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Bewdy
Advanced Contributer

United Kingdom
818 Posts
Posted - 29/06/2012 :  07:43:47  Show Profile  Visit Bewdy's Homepage  Reply with Quote
I'll be watching with this with interest, always fancied a cajon, and building one has never occurred to me.
LEARN TO DRUM ON THE iPHONE www.mapexdrummasterclass.com
WORK: www.virtual-engineering.co.uk PLAY: http://soundcloud.com/voodoo-cartel
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logic_user99
Advanced Contributer

United Kingdom
10129 Posts
Posted - 29/06/2012 :  08:58:00  Show Profile  Reply with Quote
Nice one, Jason. I'm going to be stripping my Stagg one back this weekend and making some renovations!
Drums | Cymbals | Sticks

"Starting my professional life from scratch..."
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NUTHA JASON
Excellent Contributer

United Kingdom
261 Posts
Posted - 29/06/2012 :  16:33:38  Show Profile  Visit NUTHA JASON's Homepage  Reply with Quote
thanks guys.
Day two
A busy hour and half has yielded a smooth cone shaped sound hole and my adjustable snare mechanism (made of an old wooden curtain rod and a cut in half 40 strand snare wire I had spare).

http://www.drummerworld.com/forums/attachment.php?attachmentid=49831&stc=1&d=1340983068

j
see further ... stand on the shoulders of giants.

http://youtu.be/dQDwGH6-72E

http://jasonhorsler.tripod.com/
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NUTHA JASON
Excellent Contributer

United Kingdom
261 Posts
Posted - 29/06/2012 :  19:31:38  Show Profile  Visit NUTHA JASON's Homepage  Reply with Quote
couldn't wait so i've done some more this evening:
All the parts ready for assembly except the tapa front (still searching for the right bit of ply. The green bar is for a snare catcher to stop the wires making sound in the off position.

http://www.drummerworld.com/forums/attachment.php?attachmentid=49834&stc=1&d=1340994387

Partial assembly – I’ve seen a lot of people using allsorts of clamps to hold the cajon together until the glue set but I’ve opted for a few discrete screws. On this pic you can see how the green twine rapped bar catches the snare wire when the snare is switched off. I think I’m going to put 1x1 pine batons in all the corners to add strength.

http://www.drummerworld.com/forums/attachment.php?attachmentid=49835&stc=1&d=1340994437
see further ... stand on the shoulders of giants.

http://youtu.be/dQDwGH6-72E

http://jasonhorsler.tripod.com/
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docadiddle
Advanced Contributer

United Kingdom
1506 Posts
Posted - 29/06/2012 :  23:18:28  Show Profile  Reply with Quote
I also made one a couple of years ago. If you're having trouble finding ply for the front surface, might be worth trying a modelling shop. That's where I managed to get some 3mm stuff from.
A short distance along the long, hard road from novice to MayerWhiteism
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NUTHA JASON
Excellent Contributer

United Kingdom
261 Posts
Posted - 30/06/2012 :  00:22:43  Show Profile  Visit NUTHA JASON's Homepage  Reply with Quote
thanks doc but i've just pulled off a coo - i have taken the back board from an antique wardrobe 3 mm oak ply dense and beautiful - i could not ask for better. tomorrow i put her together!
see further ... stand on the shoulders of giants.

http://youtu.be/dQDwGH6-72E

http://jasonhorsler.tripod.com/
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docadiddle
Advanced Contributer

United Kingdom
1506 Posts
Posted - 30/06/2012 :  00:30:03  Show Profile  Reply with Quote
quote:
Originally posted by NUTHA JASON

thanks doc but i've just pulled off a coo - i have taken the back board from an antique wardrobe 3 mm oak ply dense and beautiful - i could not ask for better. tomorrow i put her together!

Fantastic. Should look great with the oak grain.
A short distance along the long, hard road from novice to MayerWhiteism
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NUTHA JASON
Excellent Contributer

United Kingdom
261 Posts
Posted - 30/06/2012 :  15:11:35  Show Profile  Visit NUTHA JASON's Homepage  Reply with Quote
the perfect plywood for my tapa – 4 mm oak laminate from the back of an antique wardrobe. Looks sweet! I cut it slightly larger than needed so I can sand it to size once attached. I have also glued in 1x1 pine batons in the interior corners for added strength. Here is the cajon before assembly:

http://www.pearldrummersforum.com/attachment.php?attachmentid=429758&stc=1&d=1341064949

the underneath view showing the rubber feet installed. The tapa’s grain stands out well and you can see the snare mechanism pole sticking out the side waiting for completion. So next she needs a little more sanding, the snare selection mechanism completed and then a nice soak in linseed oil. But that is for another day.

http://www.pearldrummersforum.com/attachment.php?attachmentid=429761&stc=1&d=1341065068
see further ... stand on the shoulders of giants.

http://youtu.be/dQDwGH6-72E

http://jasonhorsler.tripod.com/
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StormBlast
Advanced Contributer

United Kingdom
1506 Posts
Posted - 30/06/2012 :  15:21:18  Show Profile  Reply with Quote
Let us know how the snare sounds, I intend on using 2 halves of a 40 strand too
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dibs
Advanced Contributer

United Kingdom
856 Posts
Posted - 30/06/2012 :  18:04:31  Show Profile  Reply with Quote
quote:
Originally posted by NUTHA JASON

the perfect plywood for my tapa – 4 mm oak laminate from the back of an antique wardrobe. Looks sweet! I cut it slightly larger than needed so I can sand it to size once attached. I have also glued in 1x1 pine batons in the interior corners for added strength. Here is the cajon before assembly:

http://www.pearldrummersforum.com/attachment.php?attachmentid=429758&stc=1&d=1341064949

the underneath view showing the rubber feet installed. The tapa’s grain stands out well and you can see the snare mechanism pole sticking out the side waiting for completion. So next she needs a little more sanding, the snare selection mechanism completed and then a nice soak in linseed oil. But that is for another day.

http://www.pearldrummersforum.com/attachment.php?attachmentid=429761&stc=1&d=1341065068


What happens when you fall out of the back of the wardrobe and into Narnia?
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NUTHA JASON
Excellent Contributer

United Kingdom
261 Posts
Posted - 01/07/2012 :  12:54:45  Show Profile  Visit NUTHA JASON's Homepage  Reply with Quote
lol
and here now is the completed snare selector mechanism. In the off position. Note the three variations of on position. i'm now thinking of adding something like this:

http://www.woodbrass.com/images/woodbrass/SET75+SCHLAGWERK+CAJON.JPG

http://www.drummerworld.com/forums/attachment.php?attachmentid=49871&stc=1&d=1341143372
see further ... stand on the shoulders of giants.

http://youtu.be/dQDwGH6-72E

http://jasonhorsler.tripod.com/
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AndyC
Advanced Contributer

Spain
337 Posts
Posted - 01/07/2012 :  13:40:15  Show Profile  Reply with Quote
Like the snare position selector. very clever.
"You can practice 12 hours a day and become the fastest drummer in the world, but it's not a race." Kenny Clare
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NUTHA JASON
Excellent Contributer

United Kingdom
261 Posts
Posted - 02/07/2012 :  14:02:43  Show Profile  Visit NUTHA JASON's Homepage  Reply with Quote
well the jingle stick was a failure (for now) but the actual cajon is finished! Here she is in all her oiled glory. In a few days time I’ll try to get her to the studio for a recording
And the cost:
Rubber feet: £2.57
Ply wood and cuts: £18
Wood glue: £5
Brass screws: £3.10
Linseed oil: £3.75
Pine batton: £2
Old Curtain rod: 0
Old snare wire: 0
Thin tapa ply: 0
Various sand paper and making good: maybe £10

Estimated total cost: £45.42


http://www.drummerworld.com/forums/attachment.php?attachmentid=49899&stc=1&d=1341233881

http://www.drummerworld.com/forums/attachment.php?attachmentid=49900&stc=1&d=1341233881
see further ... stand on the shoulders of giants.

http://youtu.be/dQDwGH6-72E

http://jasonhorsler.tripod.com/
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Bewdy
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United Kingdom
818 Posts
Posted - 03/07/2012 :  09:30:04  Show Profile  Visit Bewdy's Homepage  Reply with Quote
Well done to you, a fascinating read, I bet that was some fun to put together.
LEARN TO DRUM ON THE iPHONE www.mapexdrummasterclass.com
WORK: www.virtual-engineering.co.uk PLAY: http://soundcloud.com/voodoo-cartel
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StormBlast
Advanced Contributer

United Kingdom
1506 Posts
Posted - 03/07/2012 :  10:04:10  Show Profile  Reply with Quote
Brilliant, lush sound hole. Can't wait to hear!
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NUTHA JASON
Excellent Contributer

United Kingdom
261 Posts
Posted - 03/07/2012 :  18:23:00  Show Profile  Visit NUTHA JASON's Homepage  Reply with Quote
it was a hell of a lot of fun. i'm already thinking of my next one. but i think i can only get away with making it next summer - if i want to stay married.

Jinglestick mark II
The original was upright and the jingles er… jangled when I hit a bass note. So I cut it in half and mounted it sideways with a little spring plate I found in my scratch and spares box (I never throw anything away). It works perfectly! To make it I had some thin aluminium plates from somewhere and I laminated them with ply and jingles (from an old broken hihat tambourine).
Here is the big installation.
Followed by a close up.

http://www.pearldrummersforum.com/attachment.php?attachmentid=429935&stc=1&d=1341335635

http://www.pearldrummersforum.com/attachment.php?attachmentid=429936&stc=1&d=1341335635
see further ... stand on the shoulders of giants.

http://youtu.be/dQDwGH6-72E

http://jasonhorsler.tripod.com/
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StormBlast
Advanced Contributer

United Kingdom
1506 Posts
Posted - 04/07/2012 :  14:35:38  Show Profile  Reply with Quote
Your boss is very short.
Are you going to put a seat pad on it? It'll either complete the look or make it look worse. I'm not sure.
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NUTHA JASON
Excellent Contributer

United Kingdom
261 Posts
Posted - 06/07/2012 :  19:48:44  Show Profile  Visit NUTHA JASON's Homepage  Reply with Quote
and finally some finger cymbals for a unique extra sound. This device took a lot of tinkering until I got a consistent sound. No more extras now. As soon as possible I’ll put up a video or sound file. Just got to wait for the studio bookings to clear.
ps: the crocs are my back door shoes for going into the yard. handy and waterproof. though i do confess i once did a gig in them.
j

http://www.pearldrummersforum.com/attachment.php?attachmentid=430053&stc=1&d=1341600134
see further ... stand on the shoulders of giants.

http://youtu.be/dQDwGH6-72E

http://jasonhorsler.tripod.com/
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Th0mas25
Advanced Contributer

United Kingdom
8342 Posts
Posted - 06/07/2012 :  20:35:14  Show Profile  Visit Th0mas25's Homepage  Reply with Quote
Very cool, great end result Jason, and nice to you have a little apprentice to help you along the way
http://bjornsdrums.webs.com/
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