After the successful proof-of-concept yet not-quite-good-enough prototype drum, I decided that the square frame (made of pine) worked well but I needed a better way of tensioning the skins.
Commercial drums have a wire bead around the skin circumference and a ring that holds it and stretches it over the edge of the drum body. I decided to try putting a bead on each edge of the drumskin (still using a plastic file folder) and using wooden rails to clamp them tight.
The rails are made of oak and in pairs; the anchor side is fixed to the drum body (shown above) and the other one floats free.
moogyver strikes again 