what wood finish for a birch cajon?

[ik9000]

I got one of these KITS as an impulse buy in a sale. Am currently making it, but wonder what to finish it with. Anyone got any ideas what would work best?

I'm after something that would give a natural finish and enhance the grain, but darken the (very pale) wood. I'd probably stain the front a darker colour. I'd want something reasonably waterproof so it withstands beer spills and rain showers, but not too sticky or glossy so it's nice to play and sit on.

[g8ina]

I fixed the link it wasnt working. Id simply do a good quality beeswax, leave the wood to show itself.

And do PLEASE take some lessons As a percussionist (bodhran) I get thoroughly fed up of bangers ruining folk sessions at the few folk festivals I attend But have fun too of course !

[ik9000]

sorry did I bodge the link? thanks for fixing it. The wood is really pale - you can barely see the grain it's so light. Hence after something to bring out the contrast. Otherwise happy to leave it mainly as is, albeit with a darker front (partly to help make the stupid logo not as obvious, and also so I can tell which way is front without constant reference to where the sound hole is.)

[Zak33]

paint with white emulsion...two coats.

leave to dry for 1 week so it's hard

smash hell out of it with something light but something rigid........ especially around the edges and corners. Bamboo? Wooden ruler sized thing.... Also use a rope back and forth along the edges and maybe a leather belt....beat it rough but NOT to damage the wood... just the paint

then wax it

[ik9000]

paint with white emulsion...two coats.

leave to dry for 1 week so it's hard

smash hell out of it with something light but something rigid........ especially around the edges and corners. Bamboo? Wooden ruler sized thing.... Also use a rope back and forth along the edges and maybe a leather belt....beat it rough but NOT to damage the wood... just the paint

then wax it

qe?

[g8ina]

Maybe he just doesnt like the Cahon (- have to be honest, just like badly played bodhrans, I hate badly played cahons.....)

[Zak33]

it'll look old, ....worn.... weathered.... classic

not new and shiny

I have never made one but if I did... I'd make it look old

[scaryjim]

I'm just trying to work out if I could sneak this past the missus as a craft project (since it's been suggested that I don't need a cajon so I shouldn't buy one... ).

I'm probably going to be in trouble when she reads this....!

[g8ina]

Oops.....

[scaryjim]

Am I going to have to have words with the other mods about you abusing your admin privileges, young man...?

[ik9000]

I'm just trying to work out if I could sneak this past the missus as a craft project (since it's been suggested that I don't need a cajon so I shouldn't buy one... ).

I'm probably going to be in trouble when she reads this....!

My wife took a similar view but it was so cheap and gave me "a project" that she bought into the idea. Not that I don't have a gazillion other projects to do on the house, but it was Christmas...

If you do get one the kit is cheap, but you need to have your own glue, straps and clamps. If I had seen this kit I probably would have gone for that one - solid panels (vs ply) and two snares so more even output, plus a better tone wood for the front. That said, I paid £24 and had most of the clamps etc already. The extra ties are £6 at screwfix: http://www.screwfix.com/p/adjustable-band-clamp/16857 I'd definitely recommend these over standard strops/straps. Toolstation/amazon do dirt cheap corner mitre clamps for keeping things 90 degrees in the corners if you don't have them already. Don't use quick drying glue -the one I'm using started to set before I was happy with the alignment last night. Going to have a bit of sanding to do this weekend...

[scaryjim]

... Not that I don't have a gazillion other projects to do on the house ...

Yeah, I'm not short of things to do for the next six months (at least!), but it's something I'd be interested in trying.

After reading this thread I googled up some instructables for making one and was surprised that the snares are basically just half a drum snare rested against the front. The whole construction is a lot simpler than I realised. Once I've finished the house I'd be very tempted to just buy up some suitable timber and have a go at a self designed one. I've been looking for a side business anyway....

[g8ina]

Am I going to have to have words with the other mods about you abusing your admin privileges, young man...?

who ? Me ???

[ik9000]

ok so my hunt for a decent finish continues. Nearly fully built now, just the front face to attach - trying to work out which way is best to install the front panel as it is bowed. Then it's sand and finish.

A bit of googling took me here and then onto here:

Now I can see how getting a responsive laquer would be important, as resonance is vital to instruments, and that C37 seems all well and good but then they start talking about coating CDs and circuit boards and at that point the cynic in me asks is this a wind up? How could a resin applied to a laser-read digital medium in any way affect the sound quality thereby produced by the speakers at the end of a signal transfer chain and electrical cable. Have I missed something or is this a complete leg-pull for the gullible?

[peterb]

Id agree that the last part of the second link (covering non-mechanical parts with lacquer is a load of cahones - although microphone from thermionic valves is a known phenomenon, and vibration on unsecured components can weaken soldered joints. Putting a conformal coating on a circuit board can mitigate against those effects, but I don't see how using a lacquer developed for acoustic applications would be any better than any other.

As for its acoustic properties, Im afraid Im not in a position to comment. I'd need to see some objective measurements with controls to see if it really did make a difference. Sadly claims like this are rarely backed up with such evidence.