The cajon is a six-sided drum that originated in Peru and is an easy instrument to make your own. The cajon is a versatile instrument that is fun to play with alternating hands and feet and can produce a variety of sounds and rhythms. You can try to be a good carpenter and make your own cajon with the right ingredients and a well thought out plan. Follow Step 1 to get started with this fun project.
Step
Part 1 of 3: Getting Started
Step 1. Prepare a wooden board or plywood to taste
Typically, a cajon is made of two types of wood with different thicknesses: the wood that is thinner for the punch and the thicker wood on the other.
- Use 3 mm plywood for the “tapa” (surface to hit). Usually, to make a cajon, you need a wooden board measuring 30 x 50 cm.
- For the other side, use a wooden board about 12 mm thick.
Step 2. Cut the required pieces of wood and plywood to the right sizes to make the base box for the cajon body
Cut straight with the help of a metal ruler and saw.
- For the top and bottom of the cajon, cut the wooden planks into 30 x 30 cm pieces.
- For the back, cut the wooden planks into 30 x 45 cm.
- For the sides, cut the wooden planks into 32 x 45 cm.
Step 3. Draw a 12 cm diameter circle on the wooden board for the back
Make a hole at a point on the edge of the circle, then cut with a saw to create a hole in the board.
Scrub and smooth the edges of the board using sandpaper (sand paper)
Step 4. Create a snare for your cajon
One of the things that stands out about the cajon is that it sounds like a snare drum when played. This sound comes from several strings that can be made yourself, taken from a used snare drum, or a new snare installed in the drum.
In fact, a snare is a string or string that is pulled tight and paired with something that makes a gurgling sound. If you make your own snare, you can use an old guitar string, fishing line, or similar material suitable for mounting on a cajon. For the gurgling sound, you can use paper clips, weights, or other small metal materials that make a nice gurgling sound
Part 2 of 3: Gluing the Cajon Frame
Step 1. Glue the base frame
First, attach the base with one of the sides using enough wood glue. Then, glue the other side and the top together to make the base frame.
Keep all pasted parts upright. You can ask someone else for help or use the support in the cajon box
Step 2. Apply pressure to the joint during the glue drying process
Leave this basic frame for a few hours before you attach the back, tapa, and snare.
Wipe off excess glue with a damp cloth and follow the directions on the package of the wood glue you are using to find out about the pressure to apply and the drying time
Step 3. Install the snare before attaching the tapa part
How to install it varies depending on the snare material you choose. For better results, you can purchase a tuning peg at a musical instrument store so that the snare can be adjusted regularly.
Fasten the snare diagonally from the top corner to the corner where the tapa will be attached, approximately 7.5 cm from each corner of the top and sides. Attach the snare with screws or attach it with a tuning peg to adjust the snare
Step 4. Glue the tapa and the back in the same way as before and apply pressure for the same duration
Position the back so that the earpiece is at the base of the cajon and the snare is at the top. You can also add screws to make your cajon more sturdy. This tool will be sitting on you, so it's best to make it as sturdy as possible.
Part 3 of 3: Completion Stage
Step 1. Make legs from the remaining boards and attach them to the bottom of the cajon using screws
Rubber or cork can also be used for the legs. Cajons should be placed on top of something soft because your weight will weigh on them too. Some types of flooring can scratch if you use wood as a cajon leg.
Step 2. Smooth the top corners of the cajon to make it more comfortable to sit on
Use sandpaper and scrub all corners and surfaces. Scrub the cajon with a not-too-coarse sandpaper until the surface is as smooth as you like.
Step 3. Add some embellishments according to your personality
Use varnish for a professional and classy look, or add a painting of Neptune and a polar bear for a more hip look. Be as creative as you like.
