One Day Build: 2 Chamber Cajon Drum With Narration and Demostration

So awhile ago i built Mega Cajon, and it worked out awesome, sold it the night I brought it to an open mic to let people play with it, but a bunch of people here on the youtubes wanted to hear how it sounded and kinda how i went about building one. So I made another video where I talk about my thoughts on the build process and at the end you a get a little demo of how it sounds.

[@sawdoctor0]

I made a few improvements. For the drum skin I used 1.5mm aircraft birch plywood stretched into an angle iron frame. Gives you a nice tuned thump in the middle and a lovely bongo sound at the edges. Then added a tilt mechanism with an extending foot but then had to add a bum rest so you don't slide off the back. Thta was MkIII. Still thinking about MkIV !!

[@arcanics1971]

There are some good reasons for placing the sound hole at the back. Firstly, it takes advantage of the reflective surfaces as the sound is bouncing off the nearest wall rather than going out into the audience; secondly, it means that the drum can be played quite aggressively and because the osund is projected back it won't overpower the guitars etc and thirdly, it means that any miking will be behind and not taking up stage room where a musician might need to be. That said a side sound hole would certainly have its own set of advantages and some extra bassy cajons even have a front bass port. It's a very nice cajon, btw. I like your ideas on this.

[@arcanics1971]

I'm not an expert btw. I am currently investigating buying or making a cajon so my head is full of information regarding them at the moment. Some of it is probably wrong.

[@joemusic2882]

arcanics1971 I’m making my own cajons and have discovered that in order to achieve a good solid sound you must use a hard dense wood. Birch is expensive as is most quality wood. I have been using oak and have been grabbing up any curbside furniture people through out. Now, on the sound hole I have made 2 tablet cajons that sound great without a hole and everyone loves it. The unfortunate part of all this is I am using a homemade table saw and jigs. Most of my tools are from good ol Harbor Freight tools. What can I say??!!! I’m on a tight budget. Good luck with making yours and believe me...Take your time and never say, “That’s good enough!”. Every little mistake shows on wood.

[@paulw.3967]

I sort of assumed that the reason for usually putting the sound hole in the back was to put it as far from the tapa as possible, because it acts like a tuned port in a bass reflex speaker cabinet, and the shortest path from the back of the tapa (out the back, around the side, and) to the front limits your bass response and determines the low frequency resonances of the cabinet. Putting the hole on the side cuts that path length in half, letting high pressure from the back of the tapa come around the front to cancel out the low pressure there, and vice versa. That reduces bass response by defeating the purpose of the sides, and raising the frequency of the low-frequency resonances by quite a bit.

[@johnmartin9090]

Great job ! Love primitive instruments

[@ownenlikeaboss]

you have built a drummers worst nightmare

[@lyrebirdfurniture522]

hah.. have you seen the mega cajon build? its like twice the size of this one.

[@callmeishmael3031]

The termites where I live love birch ply so I always avoid using it. Nice job. Thanks.

[@michaelwillcutt2619]

I use brass wood inserts So basic wood screws would wear out an wood have put larger screws in to point no longer work inserts are cheap for long term use and adjustable tones

[@michaelwillcutt2619]

I use brass 10/24 inserts in body an 10 24 screws for tapa cover

[@blanehinze]

It's almost like I never moved out and I'm still in the workshop with you!

[@africancichlids3011]

sounds good

[@africancichlids3011]

calipers is what u used a combination square could have been used to put the feeet on as well

[@Halojlaughlin]

Hey what was the thickness of the mahogany you used for the face of the drum?

[@kirankumarch6943]

generally... 4mm is used... even spruce wood tapa can be used.... m.facebook.com/kiran7013/?tsid=0.501198008698253&source=result can check out our page... not well maintained! 😜

[@brentdietiker]

traditionally an 1/8" is used for the tapa(front face). That way the snare can be heard. I don't believe that the snare was positioned properly in this particular build. I like the two different sections though. I've always used the snares in a vertical position in order to get a proper angle up against the back of the tapa.

[@Vothtrucks]

You do have great woodworking skills and nice tools in your shop...but this being new to me I dont get banging on a box as a real instrument. When searching for 1/8" plywood....... luan ( one of the 107 types of mahogany ) is in the box stores as floor underlayment or door skin material.

[@joemusic2882]

jr johnston Its not just a box. All you have to do is research cajons on KZbin and maybe attend a drum fest.

[@stnkfst8639]

What’s that sound? Is that your wife naggin’ in the background?! Apart from the nagging, it’s a great vid by the way😉

[@evgenyche108]

Круто!

[@mariolocoxloscuchillos7993]

MUY BUENO! PERO LA PRUEBA DE SONIDO,TENDRÍA QUE HABER SIDO EN EL TALLER,SIN TANTA GENTE HACIENDO RUIDO!SALUDOS DESDE SALTA LA LINDA ARGENTINA!😆

[@gedsonsantos6204]

Sale ? I froom Brazil

[@nca19750975]

İt sounds like sound is coming from dinner table more than an instrument.

[@africancichlids3011]

combination square

[@michaelwillcutt2619]

Paint hmm😮 never paint stain an seal is ok

[@fartwrangler]

What the hell is all that background noise?

[@Jack-vc8id]

the sound is bodyless////

[@vitslon1698]

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