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David Falkner
03-22-2017, 2:48 PM
This isn't much of a project but I like helping people with their projects so I figured I'd do a short post on this -

I got a text the other day from one of the student leaders at church asking if I could repair the Cajon they use in the student ministry area. It seems they had played it so much that the veneer had begun to peel off. I pointed out that the board I would use would not have that wild figure and the were ok with that. So I picked it up Sunday after church and Monday went to Michaels to get a piece of 1/8" Baltic Birch ply, same piece I used when I built my Cajon a couple of years ago. Sandy had a coupon so the board only cost about $2.50!

It was pretty easy to transfer the holes and cut to size, sand, spray some sealer and then a good heavy gloss coat of Nitrocellulose. Between the sealer and gloss I figured it would be ok to 'personalize' it a bit for them so I engraved Airline Baptist Students on the soundboard.

Also, I noticed an Allen wrench rattling around inside the box and found that it is for adjusting the tension on the snare wires. It must have had a holder at one point but that was gone. So I made them one out of Walnut, embedded a rare earth magnet inside, and glued it to the back support piece. Now the wrench is contained but very easy to remove. And it stays put even if you turn the Cajon upside down and bang it around (I had to try, what can I say...).

Here are the photos of before, after, engraving, and Walnut holder -

http://i1256.photobucket.com/albums/ii494/difalkner/001%20-%20Old%20Cajon%20soundboard_zpsidraafpx.jpg

http://i1256.photobucket.com/albums/ii494/difalkner/002%20-%20New%20Cajon%20soundboard_zpsel2pwxwu.jpg

http://i1256.photobucket.com/albums/ii494/difalkner/003%20-%20Engraved_zpsc9zhpruj.jpg

http://i1256.photobucket.com/albums/ii494/difalkner/004%20-%20Allen%20wrench%20holder%20Walnut%20with%20rare% 20Earth%20magnet_zpsnuxrtc17.jpg

Enjoy!
David

John C Cox
03-22-2017, 3:58 PM
Great work.

No doubt that veneer wasnt really all that well attached. Lucky somebody didn't slice a finger on it before you got it sorted out.

That script engraving looks great. Did you do that freehand?

David Falkner
03-22-2017, 4:21 PM
Thanks, John! Sort of freehand - I designed, sourced, and built our CNC and used Fusion 360 for the CAD/CAM work, then hit 'cycle start' with my hands... Ok, no. Not by any stretch did I do it by hand! LOL! :D