Cajon, home made with strings...
 

Taking a chance here but since I used 6 guitar strings it fits the subforum title:D...

Built this cajon (box drum with South American origins) over Thanksgiving weekend. About $35 in materials and 10+ hours labor...yes, I'll keep my day job.

I used 7 ply 1/2" Baltic birch for the body, poplar for the inside braces, and 1/8" (3mm) birch soundboard, or tapa. I plan to make a two-sided one (2mm and 3mm tapa) over Christmas...Pics of course.

http://i85.photobucket.com/albums/k5...f/IMG_7176.jpg

Hey look! Guitar strings for the snare! adjustable too...
http://i85.photobucket.com/albums/k5...f/IMG_7200.jpg

http://i85.photobucket.com/albums/k5...f/IMG_7186.jpg

http://i85.photobucket.com/albums/k5...f/IMG_7197.jpg

Stained (Kona by Rustoleum...nice color!)
http://i85.photobucket.com/albums/k5...f/IMG_7202.jpg

Finished product
http://i85.photobucket.com/albums/k5...f/IMG_7207.jpg
with HD28
http://i85.photobucket.com/albums/k5...f/IMG_7233.jpg

of course you might want sound bite...sorry folks, I'm not a drummer, my son and daughter had a go with it last night and it sounds really nice...adjusted the snare since this vid was shot.
http://youtu.be/yqUryBWwL8Y

Very nice work! That cajon looks great!

Nice! I wish I had woodworking skills.....I can't even nail straight.
Anyway, my son has a store-bought cajon and I noticed the way the snare strings are setup is different. Is this your own version or something you saw? I imagine there's probably a few ways of doing it.

I saw someone who used guitar strings online...I just added the adjustability and, my strings are recessed flush with the frame so the tapa also sits flush. I may try a "fan wire" snare for my next build...

Thanks for the replies.

Looks great! Educate me on the cajon, do you top on the top?

Nope...you sit on the top and tap, slap, smack, bang the front face (natural colored panel in my photos)...the is called the tapa, it is 1/8" three ply birch. The thinner the better.

Depending on where you play the tapa, you get a different sound from a nice tight snap in the corners progressing to a very deep bass at the center.

Great percussion instrument. I've been having my son and daughter play it as I play guitar. Very versatile, needs a good touch because it can be loud, surprisingly really loud.

Hope this helps.

I'm glad I asked the question. Not knowing the Cajon, I thought everyone would think "of course you tap the top". Thanks for letting me know it's the front. Makes a lot of sense too.

Very nice. I bought a snare cajon a year or so ago from a builder named Newl who sells online. It's a very cool instrument. I play a bit but my son (age 20) is the drummer in the house. He sets it up with an old leather over wood samsonite suitcase he coverted to a kick drum, uses maracas, tambourine and other percussion bits to create a cool kit to use for acoustic jams. Your guitar string snares look like they will work well. Great job on the bulid and enjoy it....

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=vE0t0PNGTQA

Great looking cajon! Wish I could build one...and I know nothing about woodwork. :(

Guitar strings producing note rather than snare effect
 

I know that this is an old thread, but in case you're still checking and can offer any advice...

I've made a similar cajon to yours using guitar strings, but I'm finding that sometimes when I slap the front I get a "note" from the guitar strings (like they've been plucked!) rather than a snare effect. Any ideas? Do you they need to be tighter? Looser?

Thanks! And BTW I love the look of yours :-)