How to make a Didgeridoo

In today's modern world there are a wide variety of materials available for making a didgeridoo. However none of these products can produce a sound that really compares to a Australian Eucalyptus didgeridoo.

Here at Didgeridoo's Down Under we have an excellent selection of Unsanded didgeridoos that you can use to create your own Australian Eucalyptus didgeridoo & here are your FREE instructions to make the task that much easier.
You are welcome to print these instructions for use when your didgeridoo arrives.

Removing the Bark

If you purchased a unbarked didgeridoo, you will have to remove the bark before you sand it. If you purchased a unsanded didge you can skip this step.
To remove the bark, we have found that a carving knife is the best option. Be very carful with the sharp edge & always push the knife away from you to prevent any injuries.

Sanding the didgeridoo:

1) You might find it easier to remove the bee's wax mouthpiece from the top of the didge, but remember to keep all the wax because you will require it later.

2) Depending on how smooth the didjeridu is you may need a course sand paper first, something around 40 or 60 grit paper is good to remove any deep scratches & knife marks from when the bark was removed.

You can either sand it by hand or you can use a mechanical device. If you use a mechanical type-sanding device make sure you keep the sander or the didgeridoo moving otherwise you will sand “flat spots” on to the didge. Remember it is supposed to be cylindrical.

3) Once you are happy with the rough sand, we now move on to the smooth sanding. I like to use either 80 or 100 grit paper to finish the didjeridu, this gives a nice smooth finish. You can still sand by hand or use a mechanical sanding machine.

4) Now that the didge is smooth it is VERY IMPORTANT to “Oil” the didjeridu. Keep in mind that the didgeridoo is a natural wood product. As time passes the moisture in the timber dries out, if that happens to quickly the wood will crack & will be useless as an instrument. To help in preventing this from happening I rub in “Linseed Oil”.

It is very inexpensive & you should be able to purchase this from any hardware store. If you can not find Linseed Oil, I have heard of people using vegetable cooking oil, like you would use for deep frying chips. Another option would be to use a oil-based furniture polish.

Decorating the didgeridoo:

1) If you are happy with the finish & like the natural look of the didgeridoo you can leave the instrument as it is. After the oil has soaked in for a day or two you can coat the didjeridu with a clear lacquer or varnish.

2) If you would like to decorate the didjeridu you can paint, burn or carve any design that you like. You are only limited by you imagination.

3) For painting the didges I use a water based craft paint. It would be nice to use the natural Ocher's, but even here in Australia they are not easy to find. I have no problem painting over the oil & being water based makes it much easier when it comes time to clean up.

4) For burning designs I use a “hot wire”, a transformer heats this up. The wire glows red hot & the wire is used like a pencil to draw the pictures.

5) For carving I use a combination of chisels, knives & sandpaper. You will require a lot more time & care when carving but the result is worth it.

6) Once you are happy with your design a couple of coats of clear lacquer or varnish will help to protect your art work. Again I use a water based lacquer but this is only because it is easier to clean the brushes.

Replacing the mouthpiece:

1) If you took the mouthpiece off before sanding the didge, collect all the wax & place it in a cup of hot water NOT Boiling. Hot water will cause the wax to become soft & malleable, once it is soft enough mold the wax into shape, you then press it onto the top of the didge.

If you have enough wax left over you can melt the remaining wax & dip the didgeridoo into the molten wax, this will help to seal it onto the didjeridu.

2) Well done, you have finished. You have finished making your very own Australian Eucalyptus didgeridoo. The instrument is now ready to be played. Like any other instrument, if looked after it should last a lifetime.

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