Sela Snare Cajon Kit | Part 1

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Part 1 | Part 2 | Part 3 | Part 4

Unboxing the Sela Snare Cajon Kit

Howdy folks! Today is the day I begin assembling a "Sela Snare Cajon Kit" by Sela Percussion. The kit comes in a hefty white cardboard box that contains "high quality parts made in Germany." Text and labels on the top of the box are in both English and German. Flip it over, and we get to decipher some Spanish, Italian, French, Polish, Japanese, and Chinese. Right then, let's take a good look at this box.

English and German Text

Text in Six Other Languages

Contents and Bar Code

"Build Your Own Cajon"

Kit Construction - Six Main Steps

I've just opened the box and now understand why it's so heavy. Packed inside are a number of wooden boards, small parts, metal and wooden devices, and a wide array of materials. Sandwiched in the middle are an "Assembly Instructions" manual and a Martin Röttger "Cajon Method" CD. On the CD are demos and backing tracks for four different musical styles [rock, bossa nova, rumba and samba], each in four variations and three degrees of difficulty [simple, expanded and continuous]. These tracks complement the "Cajon Method/Schule" section of the manual.

Manual/Cajon Method CD

Back to the contents of the box, then. Right on top are two rectangular wooden panels. Removing these panels reveals two smaller squarish panels and various small items, some wrapped or packaged in plastic. Right at the bottom of the box are two more rectangular wooden panels. The first panel features a plectrum-shaped hole, while the second sports a reddish veneer. In case you're wondering what all these items are, fear not, for I'll be identifying each and every one of them in due course.

Here’s What You See First

This Comes Next

Right at the Bottom

The box is now empty and its contents have been laid out on my work table. Quite an interesting array, isn't it? Here's exactly what you're looking at:

• Two Side Panels
• Back Panel
• Front Panel
• Top Panel
• Bottom Panel
• Two Snare Head Holders
• Wooden Spacer
• Snare Head Damping Foam
• Sela Snare Head
• 320 Grit Sandpaper
• 180 Grit Sanding Sponge
• Two 2.5m Lashing Straps
• Two Tubes of Wood Glue
• 52 Wood Screws
• Four Rubber Feet
• Screwdriver Bit
• 3.2mm Spiral Drill Bit
• Glue Brush

What’s in the Box

And now, as promised, I'm going to identify each and every item that's in the box. We'll begin with the three images below. In the first, we see the two side panels. The top and bottom edges of these panels have been beveled at 45 degrees. In the next image are the top and bottom panels, also beveled at 45 degrees. This beveling enables the top, bottom, and side panels to mate correctly and form four "faces" of the cajon body. Let's look at the third image now. The thin wooden board with the plectrum-shaped hole is the back panel, or "hole site." Next to the back panel is a reddish wooden board adorned with the Sela logo; this is the front panel, or "playing surface."

Beveled Side Panels

Beveled Top and Bottom Panels

Back and Front Panels

Now that we've identified all six body panels, let's move on to the smaller items. I've numbered these items for ease of identification. In the image below, [1] are the two wooden snare head holders. These holders keep the Sela Snare Head against the front panel when in use. [2] is the Snare Head Damping Foam, which can be adjusted to "alter the sound of the snare effect." [3] is the "Spacer." This is a wooden straightedge used during the installation of the snare head holders and rubber feet. [4] is the wooden Sela Snare Head. The round hole in the middle is where the Snare Head Damping Foam is inserted. 

Items 1 - 4

Moving on, we have [5], which are two small tubes of wood glue. This glue will be used to bond the top, bottom and side panels together. [6] is a sheet of German "Awuko" 320 grit sandpaper, I'm sure you know what that's for. [7] is a package of two 2.5m lashing straps. These straps will be used secure the top, bottom and side panels while the wood glue dries. Finally, we have [8], which is an "Awuko" 180 grit sanding sponge.

Items 5 - 8

We're down to the last image of this post now. [9] is a 3.2mm spiral drill bit, while [10] is a screwdriver bit. Note that neither a drill nor screwdriver are included in the kit; you'll have to source your own. [11] are 52 wood screws for securing the front and back panels to the cajon body, amongst other purposes. Last but not least is [12], which are four rubber feet. These rubber feet will be screwed onto the bottom panel, or "base" of the cajon.

Items 9 - 12