When I get around to tackling a resonator uke project I'll buy the cone ready-made, but I plan to make my own cover plate out of sheet brass or copper.
Basically I've come up with a couple of coverplate patterns that can be made using just a drill press to pierce the hole patterns in the plate. The next step would be to take a ball peen hammer and hammer an appropriate dome into the plate. This takes a little skill but it's pretty do-able with a little practice. After peening the dome into shape, it might be necessary to revisit the holes and touch them up. Look at the center of this copper charger to see what I mean about a hammered finish.
All that would remain would be to fabricate and solder on a bridge protector. Oh, and haul it down to the local plating shop to get it chrome or gold plated. Or you could probably get it powdercoated to most any color you'd want. A hammered finish, by the way, is not only decorative but also serves to stiffen the plate and harden the metal surface.
The hardest part would be accurately laying out the hole patterns before drilling.
I guess I've already started this project! I resawed some zooty flamed maple today that would look mighty nice as a reso uke. I'll drag my coverplate patterns out of the other computer and post them.
D..
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