How to Build a Cajon Box Drum

A cajon drum can be made from pieces of plywood.

The term "cajon" is Spanish for a crate or box, and the cajon drum is indeed a simple box with some added features. The cajon has a wooden playing surface in the front, and the sound hole is located in the back of the drum. Further, guitar strings or snare wires are placed in the back of the tapa, or front playing surface. Depending upon where the drum is tapped, a variety of sounds, including bass and snare sounds, can be made---in a sense, the cajon is a drum set all in one box.

Difficulty:

Moderate

Instructions

Things You'll Need

• Safety goggles
• 3 pieces of ½ inch plywood, approximately 20" long and 14" wide
• 2 pieces of ½ inch plywood, approximately 14" long and 14" wide
• 1 piece of 1/8 inch birch 3-ply, approximately 20" long and 14" wide
• 2 pieces of ½ inch plywood, approximately 12" long and 2" wide
• Compass
• Drill
• Jigsaw
• Wood Glue
• 4 Rubber Stoppers
• Guitar strings
• Eye lags
• Hammer
• Nails
• Beet Juice or Wood Finish

1. Put on the safety goggles. Using the compass, draw a circle in one piece of half-inch plywood (20"x14"), just above the middle of the piece of wood. This circle will become the sound hole of your cajon. Drill a hole in the bottom of the circle. Use the jigsaw to cut out the remainder of the circle.

2. Assemble your cajon box. The three pieces of 20x14 half-inch plywood will be the back and sides. The piece in which you cut the hole will be the back. Attach these pieces together with the wood glue and allow to dry. You may choose to tie some rope around the pieces to ensure they are tightly sealed. The two pieces of 14x14 half-inch plywood will be the top and bottom. Using the wood glue, apply the four rubber stoppers to the bottom of the piece of wood that will be the bottom of the box; these stoppers will protect your wood and floors. Once the back and sides are dry, attach the top and bottom with wood glue and let dry.

3. Assemble the tapa brace and the snares. Screw the eye lags in the backs of the pieces of half-inch plywood, 12"x2", which will be your braces; use two eye lags per string (you may use as many strings as you wish---three strings is recommended), one in each piece of plywood. Glue the two pieces of half-inch plywood, 12"x2" at the top and bottom of the drum in the front. Leave a small space between the top and bottom pieces and the brace pieces. Wrap a guitar string around an eye lag and fasten securely. Pull the string tightly over the top brace and bring it to the front, then pull the string down and underneath the bottom brace and secure to the eye lag. Repeat the previous instructions for each string.

4. Place the piece of 1/8-inch birch over the opening. This piece will be your tapa. Do not glue your tapa to the box---instead, use a hammer and small nails to attach the tapa. You may choose to use the drill to make holes prior to inserting the nail so as not to split the wood. Use approximately three nails for the top of the drum, and nine nails for the sides, leaving the top corners free, and use five nails for the bottom.

5. Finish the sides of your cajon. You may choose to use beet juice, a common traditional method of finishing the wood, or you can use a wood finish. Leave the tapa unfinished.

Tips & Warnings

• Always wear safety goggles when using tools and assembling wood pieces.

• Allow any glued parts to dry before moving on to the next step.

• This activity requires the use of tools such as drills and saws. Use proper safety equipment, such as goggles or gloves, when doing these activities.

References

• Toms Hofstatter.com: DIY Cajon
• Casey Connor.org: How To Build a Cajon