5 replies to this topic

[Annabel]

Hi there! I want to know the manufacture of bongo drums, so like, what materials you need; what joints are needed to keep it together; finishes etc. I need your help! This is really important as I'm on an important project which I'm doing at school. Please help

[Nate Brown]

Welcome to the forum!

We've talked a lot about drum set building on this forum, but I haven't heard any talk about bongo building... never thought of it, actually.

Now I'm curious. Anyone ever attempt this or know anything?

Welcome again!

[KBaker]

I'm super curious too..

[hazzpwnage]

Also super curious , I've always wanted to try a Bongo with a small set of snares for busking.

[israbatista]

I ve built over 20 bongos and trying to build pleneras

Usually they are made of thick staves or segmented drums.

I they can be built with ply too.

The hard part is too make the bearing edges cause they are rounded from the outside not from the inside.

U need a metal or wooden single flamed hoops , some hooks and nuts , and some kindda thingy to attacth it to the wood(dont know how to say it in english) or lugs.

U need a 4 inch piece of wood to connect the two drums, some people use glue but i personally used 4 screws , to hold them.

They are usually un even sizes ( 7",9",11",13),

But the shells need to be thick not thin , cause u need a short sustain , so i personally prefer buying them cause it takes to much work

[BriT_1969]

I've never built a Bongo, but since they're such small Diameters I wouldn't bother building with staves.
I think they're tapered too (not sure on that), so that would make it even more difficult to stave since they'd have to be tapered too - and small. If I were to build one I'd probably try to hollow one out from a solid lump of 'tree' on a lathe.