| Project by Greg Wurst | posted 358 days ago | 978 views | 10 times favorited | 13 comments | ![]() |
![]() |
I built this tongue drum from a Wood magazine article in the October, 2006 issue. It’s made of red oak with the handles and feet made of some sapele I had left-over. I mounted the side handles on the bottom side of the drum as opposed to the top like they had detailed due to my not noticing. It looks just fine down low as far as I am concerned.
I cut the top with a scroll saw, which cuts so finely I had to cut both sides of the slots. Once the top was mounted one of the fingers was a little too tight so I had to widen the slot with the jig saw. I got a little too wild on the round part and gouged it a bit, but it still looks and plays fine. It’s finished with danish oil and once it fully dries I’ll coat it with a few coats of wiping varnish.
My son seems to like it. Here’s some video of him playing with it. In the first one I dared mute his favorite show and he wouldn’t go back to the drum until I turned the sound back on! ;)
-- You're a unique and special person, just like everyone else.































13 comments so far
teenagewoodworker
home | projects | blog
2480 posts in 661 days
posted 358 days ago
awesome!
GO COLTS!!!!!!!!!!
Greg Wurst
home | projects | blog
716 posts in 725 days
posted 358 days ago
My wife’s the big Colts fan. I’ve been a Cowboys fan for life. We alternate jerseys for the boy to wear. ;)
Fortunately, the Colts and Cowboys don’t play each other very often. When they do it gets ugly around here! :p
-- You're a unique and special person, just like everyone else.
CharlieM1958
home | projects | blog
7608 posts in 1111 days
posted 358 days ago
That thing has a really cool sound!
-- Charlie M. "Woodworking - patience = firewood"
jim1953
home | projects | blog
1601 posts in 735 days
posted 358 days ago
Cool drum
-- Jim, Kentucky
tenontim
home | projects | blog
1319 posts in 637 days
posted 358 days ago
This is one of the first projects that my son and I made, back when. He took it to school for a science project.
These are neat to make and play. I can’t believe I haven’t made another. Thanks for the post.
-- Tim -- http://tmuli.com
Rustic
home | projects | blog
1247 posts in 489 days
posted 358 days ago
That is soo cool
-- There is no such thing as a mistake. Its called a design modification Rick Kruse, Grand Rapids, MI
darryl
home | projects | blog
1392 posts in 1219 days
posted 358 days ago
I had seen that project in that same issue… I have been wondering how they sounded as well, thanks for sharing the video. I’ve been considering adding this to the list of possible projects to do with my girls.
Thanks for sharing.
-- www.darrylmasterson.com ~ www.darrylmasterson.etsy.com
clieb91
home | projects | blog
681 posts in 828 days
posted 357 days ago
Very cool project. I have seen these at my local Woodcraft. Would love to make one for my daughter someday. Your son seems to like it, I am sure once his show goes off he’ll have fun with it :).
CtL
-- Chris L. "Don't Dream it, Be it."
Douglas Bordner
home | projects | blog
3421 posts in 957 days
posted 357 days ago
Cool!
-- "Bordnerizing" perfectly good lumber for over a decade.
Daren Nelson
home | projects | blog
531 posts in 798 days
posted 357 days ago
That is interesting for sure. It has me thinking now on tonewoods, who’da thought.
-- Urban logger, http://nelsonwoodworks.biz/
TexasTimbers
home | projects | blog
26 posts in 708 days
posted 355 days ago
I made one for my kids around 1994 from an article in a wood mag. We loved that thing! Me, arguably the most; being a drummer I could not leave it alone. “Daddy I wanna play it now it’s MY turn! It’s MY drum daddy!” lol.
Its remains are still lurking somewhere. I think it has 3 tongues left.
-- www.powdercreeksawmill.com
Kerry
home | projects | blog
131 posts in 683 days
posted 347 days ago
I saw that article and wondered how it would sound. Nice job.
That first video is too funny! How dare you mute his program!
Cheers,
Kerry
-- Alberta, Canada
echarde
home | projects | blog
6 posts in 318 days
posted 313 days ago
Yeah!!! I love it!! what a coool song! did u have any copy of this article? I want the same :)