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my projects/rambling/ other (pic heavy)

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so I decided to start a page to compile my projects in one place

now for what I'm working on currently: A Cajon 

for those who don't know a Cajon (Spanish: box) is a wooden percussion instrument that consists of 5 sides  1/2in. to 3/4in. of plywood or solid boards and the 6th is a thin (3/32-3/16) sheet of plywood 

this one should come to a final dimensions of 12.5x12.5x19 inches the wood is maple and walnut 3/4in. with a piece of pine plywood for the bottom side. The front is going to be 1/8th birch plywood

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M.J.Lampert

  • 2 weeks later...
  • Author

Happy new year to all,

so I decided to try at least 1-2 new idea every month in the shop this year, so here is my first attempt at a split cross

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M.J.Lampert

Looks pretty good to me too MJ. You get better at making split crosses pretty quickly and will find your taste for the proportions soon. 

Frosty The Lucky.

 MJ. If I may ask... what size stock did you start with?         Keep it up              Dave

  • Author

3/8 I think I might see about finding some 1/4 for in the future

  • 1 month later...
  • Author

some more progress pics on the Cajon

gluing the bottom on

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the tapa (front) 1/8th Birch plywood cut and drilled

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the top being glued on

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a problem I had last night was that the brass screws are snapping before they get tight I pre-drilled to the specs on the package for hardwood (3/32nds) and it is drilled deeper than the length of the screw i had the clutch on the drill at 4 so it should have been low torque.

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also just how bad I am at making things square

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finally a mock up of what it will look like (before finishes applied)

have a great weekend

M.J.Lampert

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  Nice project, M.J.  Will you make a you tube video of you playing it when done?  I'm forwading this to a woodworker friend of mine.  Wood is more forgiving when it comes to "square", just "lean" on it one way or the other...

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not sure if i want to embarrass myself that bad;)

Worrying about embarrassment can be worse than embarrassment itself. Go for it!

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a while back n it followed me home i mentioned this laser thermometer it sadly but expectantly fell out of their given accuracy currently contacting them so will se if they will fix this problem

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M.J.Lampert

ps also got the front of my Cajon finished one coat of finish to goIMG_0070.thumb.JPG.2b4150baaec882d7922ab68d1917444a.JPG

  • Author

so this cutie came into the family and has her bother (me) on cloud 9. Sonya Naomi

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also some more progress on the Cajon, I am thankful that wood can have dents steamed out 

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a bunch more parts finished just have the main box to finish now, got 1 coat on the inside and might get the second tonight 

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M.J.Lampert

 

  Cutie is right...:).  You can teach her to play the Cajon you made someday.  

Are you planning on using snare wires? It gives a rather nice sound.

 

seb. 

  • Author

Seb, yes the hole on the tapa is for the switch of an adjustable snare that I have built off of different designs I saw on YouTube

M.J.Lampert

  • Author

warning pic heavy

the Cajon is now finished

a look at the internal snare mechanism. a 2" drum snare cut in half and attacked 

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will post a video in the next couple days

M.J.Lampert

 

On 2/24/2023 at 7:01 PM, M.J.Lampert said:

a problem I had last night was that the brass screws are snapping before they get tight I pre-drilled to the specs on the package for hardwood (3/32nds) and it is drilled deeper than the length of the screw i had the clutch on the drill at 4 so it should have been low torque.

M. J., a tip for you when working with brass screws...even though you have predrilled the holes...I always use only a properly fitted screwdriver and scrape a tiny bit of wax (candle, beeswax, floor wax, etc.) on the screw threads.  Brass screws are notorious for breaking and the use of a screwdriver lets you feel the torque on the screw so that you can stop before breaking it.

Beautiful Cajon!  Nice work.  Looking forward to the video (with sound, of course!)

Yea,, its really great watching your project!

  • Author

Arke, I used mineral oil on the second try and screwdrivers both times. also I upped it to #8 rather than #6 which originally snapped

now that this project is done hopefully i can get back to a few smithing projects I have started 

  If you make a video can you play "Big Bad John" with lyrics?  ;).  Nice job!

  • Author

not a bad idea, I was trying to decide what song to play and now I have another on the list:unsure:

the last Saskatchewan pirate

copperhead road

the hammer and the anvil (by the longest johns)

thank God I'm a country boy

big bad  john 

also have you ever heard "little bitty big john

  As a matter of fact, I had never heard that song until now.  A good one too!  :)  Sixteen Tons?  Now I'm just being silly.....

How about a little Dylan? "Shelter From The Storm," "Like a Rolling Stone," maybe just pick an album?

Frosty The Lucky.

  • Author

started cutting out the leather for a pair of chaps last night now to find some hardware I like (or possibly make) and do some light tooling 

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M.J.Lampert

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