Step 1 Colin's cajon - gluing sides and top

My first gluing experience ever!  With some clamps borrowed from my friend Duncan, and working on the living room floor.  (don't try this at home folks, unless your spouse or partner gives you express permission,  and definitely not if you have kids or grand-kids or dogs or cats or are expecting friends or family over who will want to give you advice on how not to do this)

Phase one was for the two sides, and the top to be glued first.

I spent a lot of time theorizing and test clamping with the back and bottom included before taking the plunge. I was pretty pleased with how relatively clean the joins would end up being, thanks to Duncan's skill with the table saw.

I enlisted my wife as chief side holder and overall observer of gaps and mis-alignments.

We made sure that we picked good sides to show out, and also to ensure that the word "cherry" that the store had written on the edge of the plywood, would be covered by the tapa.

I used Gorilla glue, because I had it on the shelf from another project, and was quite happy with the way it squeezed out.  I guess I will only know after playing the cajon for a while, if the bond is sound.  

So we did the gluing which did not take a lot of time, and then went out for the afternoon to watch the latest James Bond movie, while it bonded. (sorry for the pun)  On return it had hardened really nicely.

To keep the sides as perpendicular as possible, I left in the bottom piece un-glued and tied together the clamps on either side. I think it worked but will only find out when get to glue the bottom and sides.

Standing on its own, upside down, with the back and bottom ready for gluing.  Pretty happy so far!