congaplace.com

Post some pics when you're done, eh?

Will do...

My first one has become a guinea pig. Tried a few different drilling techniques, and tested the sound.

Today I even removed the membrane.

It is a true Frankestein cata.

Well, there will be no pictures of my prototype "franken-cata"...

I really played around with the first one. I drilled four circular sound holes in it. But since I had no Foster bit, the holes were shabby at best.

Then I took it down to the local rumba, and one of the veteran rumberos swore up and down that the membranes at the ends needed to be hollowed out. There was no discouraging this cat and before I knew it, he takes his tuning wrench and breaks the membranes. It did not sound any worse, but it was starting to look real shabby.

Then I noticed it started devloping some cracks going along the grain. I am not sure if it was because I stored it in the car most the time and it has been in the 90s here in Los Angeles (I played clave on it while I drive), or it is was just poor quality bamboo?

Anyways by the time I made it to the next rumba, it was cracking, and the sticks I was using did not help - Alex Acuna Timbales sticks. In about an hour, there were new cracks and splits everywhere. A rumbero friend of mine took it home and was going to gorilla glue it.

So no picture, but boy, did I learn a bunch.

Since then, I have purchased a miter box, wood saw, and a 1" foster bit;I have also moved all the bamboo into my garage. I also need to find a better stick than timable sticks.

You live and learn, but more than anything - my tendency to be inpatient lurked up again.

I had about four feet of bamboo left, from my failed attempt at a guagua during the Summer.

Unfortunately, the pool had some horizontal splits, but I got the idea to possibly poly the bamboo's surface to help deal with splits.

I cut out the best 9" section from the pole, and gave it a quick sanding with 120 grit paper.

Going to drill a few 1" sound holes and poly it, more to come...

Sanded, two 1" sound holes made, sanded, tung oiled, steel wooled, tung oiled, steel wooled.

Going to add a few more coats of tung oil, and then use the string wraps BongoNotBombs has used on his - and for the record, I have pretty much followed what he has shared here on the board.

Hey nice job, mine has lasted nearly 2 years now. I actually use danish oil as it dries faster than tung and only put on 1 coat, but more coats is more durable if you have the patience. I recommend putting a coat of the oil on the strings when you wrap it as well.

How does it sound so far?

Nothing quite as satisfying as playing an instrument you have repaired or made yourself. I got to hand it to you for taking it on.

I played it before adding the oil and it sounded pretty good.

I didn't play it much, as all I had were drum sticks. I am looking to go get some thinner, lighter dowels, as not to crack the bamboo with the heavy sticks.

This message board has been a great resource, and inspiration, when it comes to creating and restoring afro-cuban instruments.

Well, the kata is finally done. Finished with three coats of danish oil and bound using a bamboo flute technique brought to my attention at BongoNotBombs' blog.

Really, this is a straight steal of BongoNotBombs' design, and it sounds great.

Thanks for sharing Bongo!

This one is 9" and on the short side, I am now working on a larger one.

Cheesy valentine's tablecloth courtesy of my wife - who decorates for every holiday.

Congratulations, it looks great! I hope it give you many hours of spirited rumba! Cata catata cata ta tata!