Having started this thread a long time ago I can now report that my 12 year old son is now the proud owner of a fine instrument that we 'made' at the Woodford Festival on his birthday on New Year's Eve. OK, OK so everything was pre-cut to size, and pre-drilled, and the laminated rim was pre-assembled, AND the skin was already prepared. But it's the best $95 home-made bodhran that a boy could get for his birthday.

Regards
John