DIY Cajon Drum

Scrap plywood can be used to make a cajon.

A cajon is a type of percussion instrument constructed out of a wooden box with a playing surface. The sound is created by striking the surface of the instrument. The sound reverberates inside the box and passes through a hole in the side or back of the box. Guitar strings or snare wires can be added to the box construction to increase the resonance of the box. This drum is popular because it produces a variety of different sounds with one inexpensively made instrument.

Things You'll Need

• Measuring tape
• Pencil
• 1-inch plywood
• Circular saw
• 1/8-inch 3-ply plywood
• Band saw
• Wood glue
• 6 guitar strings or snare wires
• Screws
• Drill

Instructions

1. Mark 2 pieces of the 1-inch plywood to measure 11 3/4 inches by 13 1/2 inches. Cut out the 2 shapes with the circular saw. These pieces will be the top and bottom of the drum.

2. Mark 3 pieces of the 1-inch plywood to measure 13 1/2 inches by 20 inches. Cut out the 2 shapes with the circular saw. These pieces will be the sides and back of the drum.

3. Mark 2 pieces of 1-inch plywood to measure 5/8 inches by 19 3/8 inches. Mark 2 pieces of 1-inch plywood to measure 5/8 inches by 11 3/4 inches. Cut out all of the shapes with the circular saw. These 4 shapes will form the internal frame of the drum.

4. Mark 1 piece of 1/8-inch laminate to measure 14 inches by 21 inches. Cut out the shape with the circular saw. This will be the playing surface of the drum.

5. Measure and draw a circle with a diameter of 6 1/4 inches on the bottom of one side. The circle should be located 1 1/4 inches from the bottom of the board and 3 5/8 inches from the edge. Cut out the circle with the band saw.

6. Glue the 4 pieces of wood cut in Step 3 together to form a rectangle. The smaller pieces should form the top and bottom of the rectangle, and the longer pieces should be aligned with the edges of the smaller pieces vertically. Glue the 3 pieces of plywood cut in Step 2 together to form the outside of the your cajon. One side should be placed on a flat surface and the two other sides should be attached at a 90-degree angle on top of the base. The board with the hole should be on either the left or right side. Glue the top and bottom onto the sides. Allow the glue to dry.

7. Drill 3 small holes in the top of the internal frame on both the right and left side. The holes should be approximately 3 1/2 inches from the edge of the frame and spaced 1 inch apart. Drill 3 small holes on the left and right sides of the internal frame. The holes should be located 3 3/4 inches from the top of the frame and be spaced 1 inch apart.

8. Thread guitar string or snare wire through the first hole on the top of the frame on the left, and secure it with a knot. Thread the opposite end through the top hole on the left side of the frame. Repeat the process with until strings are threaded through each of the holes. You will have 2 groups of 3 strings at each corner, installed diagonally.

9. Insert the frame into the cajon, and secure it with glue. Allow the glue to dry.

10. Lay the piece of laminate cut in Step 4 on top of the drum, and secure it with screws all around the edge. Screws should be placed no further apart than 2 inches.

Tips & Warnings

• The amount of bass that the instrument creates will increase with the number of screws used to secure the front plate to the cajon.

• Screws can be used to construct the frame of the cajon instead of wood glue, but they may alter the sound.

References

• Tom Hofstatter; Box O'Drums -- DIY Cajon; February 10, 2009
• Casey Connor; How to Build Flamenco Cajon with Plywood; German Ocana; 2004
• Cajon Drums; Cajon Plans 1; Casey Connor; 2007