G'day Tom,
Just wanted to say that, to let you know that I haven't died, and
despite the fall from grace of one of my heroes, Mr Keilor, and my
prolonged silence (for no good nor real reason) , I'll still talk to
proud residents of Minneapolis.
I dealt with this problem by buying Record / Marples/ Woden holdfasts
on-line. The primary consideration with them was that they still had at
least one cast iron collar. I know that they are cast rather than
forged, and that with their screw action they are neither as quick
acting, nor as fashionable as the bespoke blacksmith produced holdfasts,
but they have given me 35 years of faithful service, and if ever I get
around to building my "ideal bench" I'll use the same style of holdfast
and collar but in the larger size. On my small (narrow) bench the short
reach of the smaller holdfast isn't the limiting factor on what I can do.
As a bonus I have a pair of Phil Koontz's forged hold fasts; an
over-the-top thank-you gift for a couple of books I found him on
backyard iron casting which fit the collars perfectly. Bets of both worlds.
None of which answers your question. As an answer to that I'm
assuming that you have already got a bench full of holes too small,
unless you have a specialist engineering supplies firm which can supply
a bit with a lead piece the diameter of the existing hole (I have centre
bit used by boatbuilders to cut deck fastener plug holes) I can see no
easy solution except either a large half-round file, or an eletrik
router with a template chasing collar and an oversize bit. How oversize
is a matter of trial and error on a piece of scrap, NOT on your bench.
Please pass on my regards to Lyndall....
All the best, from hot and humid Hobart (Time 2345, Temp 20.5C, 49% RH
which willl make you laugh no doubt!)
Tony B
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