Good info. I think it would be easier if we did progress reports here in one place.
You have been working harder on it than I have and the dowel or small square wood sounds like it would be easy if it works good. I can put pins in the wood to control the slabs. I still think that the holes do not have a bad effect on the sound and will continue with them. This is getting interesting enough that I may have to break out the good stuff to make this thing work. I just cut some black jade out of California and it is some pretty good stuff with no fractures. I paid ten dollars a pound for it so I need to save enough to get my money back. Don't care about anything other than breaking even which I can do with two rings.
I have a couple of grand daughters that love black rings so I need to keep up with that also. lol The babies (no longer) always come first.
Anyhoo, Lloyd, I am glad you got into this and kept me interested.
Gotta go see the doc for a follow up so I am outa here.
Jim