Bend the hardwood to create a circular frame. Working with wood can be arduous, and often it requires special tools. Rather than bend an entire strip of wood, several long pieces can be cut with a bandsaw and glued together to create a circle for the rim of the drum. Whole wood pieces can be bent with pressure and steam, but this is a lengthy process.
Sand the wood rim thoroughly to achieve a uniformly smooth surface. Fill gaps and holes with wood putty. Eighteen inches around is a standard size for Celtic drums, though bodhrans range from ten to twenty-six inches in diameter. The size of the instrument is up to the player's preference. Taper each end of the frame and press them together after applying wood glue. Use clamps to hold the ends in place while the glue dries. Add laminate or sealant to the wood after the glue and putty are thoroughly dry to increase the durability of your drum.
Wet the leather (if using leather, goatskin is preferred in making traditional Celtic drums) before attaching it to the rim. If working with plastic, no special preparation is necessary. The leather or plastic skin should be two to three inches larger in diameter than the rim.
Center the material over the rim (smooth side up) and attach with upholstery tacks, using a hammer to beat them down. Place the tacks evenly at four points along the outside edge of the drum, pulling the skin or plastic about one inch over the wooden frame. For larger frames, place a row of two or three tacks at each point. When using leather, be sure to keep the skin a little loose. It will pull tighter as it dries. If the top of the drum is made with animal hide, hang your Celtic drum up overnight and allow it to dry for twenty-four hours.
Add finishing touches to make your Celtic drum more complete. Create a tipper to strike the drum using a stick, shaped and sanded to be slightly thicker at the ends than the middle shaft. You can also use a strip of rawhide to wrap around the rim of your bodhran for a more completed look. Attach the rawhide using more upholstery tacks.