CA Guitar Repair Blog: Sela Snare Cajon Kit

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Assembling the Sela Snare Cajon Kit

Hi there! I've studied the "Assembly Instructions" manual thoroughly, watched the Sela YouTube Video a dozen times, done a few dry runs, and am ready to actually assemble this kit.

Step 1 - Gluing the Body Panels

Gluing the panels together is a really challenging task, I tell you. After applying glue to the beveled edges, the panels need to be aligned exactly with no protruding edges. You then have to wrap the two lashing straps around the "body," gently tighten them, and recheck the alignment. Here's the body after initial tightening.

Body Strapped Right After Gluing

Following the initial tightening, you stand the body upright, adjust the straps so they're parallel with each other, and use your body weight to pull down on the straps until they're as tight as can be. Then there's a waiting period of some three hours to allow the glue to dry. In Germany maybe, methinks. Over here, it's more like three days, what with the rainy season and all that. This is our cajon after the final strap tightening, ready to be kept aside until the glue dries.

Final Tightening of Lashing Straps

Step 2 - Drilling the Holes

The glue has dried, and we're ready to bore some holes with the 3.2mm spiral drill bit provided. The lashing straps are still on for safety reasons. I'm using my trusty drill press for two reasons. The first is because I want the holes to be as perpendicular as possible, and the second is because I don't have a cordless drill anyway. Getting drilled first is the front panel [18 holes], followed by the back panel [24 holes].

Drilling Holes Into the Front Panel

Drilling Holes Into the Back Panel

Step 3 - Installing the Snare Head Holders

The two snare head holders keep the Sela Snare Head in place against the front panel when in use. Here, the wooden spacer tool is absolutely necessary to ensure that the holders are installed correctly. Here, you can see the spacer tool in use. With the snare head holder exactly where it needs to be, I'm now able to secure it to the side panel with two wood screws.

Installing a Snare Head Holder

Installing the Depth Stop Screws

This step isn't listed as a separate step in the manual, but I'm doing so for reasons of clarity. Now, for the Sela Snare Head to function correctly, it must not be allowed to make contact with the bottom panel/base of the cajon. To this end, we must insert two wood screws to the inside of the side panels. These two screws will act as "depth stops," and keep the snare head from dropping down and hitting the bottom panel. Here, the spacer tool is used again, this time to mark a cross on the side panel. The depth stop screw is then inserted into the center of this cross, and screwed in halfway. In the first image below, you can see the cross and one of the depth stop screws already installed. In the next image, both depth screws have been installed, and I'm test-fitting the Sela Snare Head.

One Depth Stop Screw Installed

Test-Fitting the Sela Snare Head

Step 4 - Screwing On the Back Panel

Having taken care of the snare head holders and depth stop screws, it's time to screw on the back panel. The back panel needs to be sanded smooth, especially around the circumference of the plectrum-shaped hole. This is because this hole will be used as a handhold to carry the cajon around, so we don't want any sharp edges or splinters. Well, I've done the required sanding, and have positioned the back panel with its edges overhanging the top, bottom and side panels equally. Looking at the image below, you'll notice that I've partially installed three of the 24 screws required. Those nails you see are to keep the back panel from shifting while I'm installing screws.

Screwing On the Back Panel

Step 5 - Screwing On the Playing Surface

With the back panel installed, it's time to flip the cajon over and screw on the playing surface/front panel. The same procedure applies here, with the front panel placed so that the edges overlap all four sides of the body evenly. The only difference is that only 18 screws need to be installed this time. Here, I've just installed two screws and am halfway through installing the third. Once again, nails help keep the panel from shifting.

Screwing On the Front Panel

Front Panel Fully Installed

Step 6 - Sanding

The manual does not give one a truly accurate picture of just how much sanding is involved in the assembly of this kit. Truth be told, each and every face, edge and corner of the cajon needs to be sanded as flush and smooth as possible so that a somewhat "professional" look may be achieved. It's nice that a 180 grit sanding sponge and 320 grit sandpaper have been provided, but you'll be needing abrasives of much finer grit to attain the desired look and feel. Here I am sanding one edge of the cajon with sandpaper wrapped around a sanding block, both provided by Sela. I'll continue sanding with finer grits of abrasives and stopping at 1000 grit, which should be sufficient.

Sanding in Progress

Step 7 - Screwing On the Feet

Ah, yes, those rubber feet. We've got to attach them to the base of the cajon, haven't we? To ensure that the rubber feet are accurately positioned at all four corners of the base, I'm making use of the trusty wooden spacer tool yet again. With the cajon upside down, I've marked two intersecting pencil lines in each corner, guided by the spacer tool. Now all I have to do is place the rubber feet where the lines intersect, drill pilot holes, and secure them with wood screws.

Positioning One of the Rubber Feet

Rubber Feet Installed

Step 8 - Installing the Snare Head

We're almost at the finish line, folks. Remember the Sela Snare Head? Well, it's removable, and was removed before Step 4. Now it's time to reinstall it in the body. It's quite easy, actually. Just hold it in one hand, put that hand through the hole in the back panel, and slide it into place. To remove it, simply reverse the process just described. That black pointy piece of sponge you see is the Snare Head Damping Foam. You either push it inwards or pull it outwards to "alter the sound of the snare effect."

Sela Snare Head Installed

Wax Treatment

On page 8 of the manual, there's a tip which goes like this - "You can treat the cajon with oil, wax oil or clear varnish." Good tip, this. And what have treatment have I chosen? Well, it's my tried-and-true wood polishing wax [beeswax and carnauba]. It's 100% natural, and works like a charm every time.

Waxing the Front Panel

Mini Photo Shoot

I've taken care of waxing, and now the cajon is ready to be delivered to its owner. He's understandably extremely eager to see what his fully assembled Sela Snare Cajon Kit looks like, but there's something I have to do first. Yes, let's take a few snapshots.