Deardorff project?

I bought an old (no FS, no baseplate) 8x10 'dorff with shot bellows, deep gouges, etc thinking I would get her fixed up. Of course once it showed up I managed to get a user 'dorff with good bellows for below market rate.

Other than just reselling it I'm toying with making a Frankenstein's Monster, the one and only "Koronadorff".

How crazy/difficult would it be to have someone saw the rear swing plate just inboard of the bends and weld in extensions on each side, and make a new back standard that could accept my Korona 8x20 back? Would it be easier to just get a new steel bar bent and properly drilled?

I figure it COULDN'T be any less rigid than my Korona and would have more extension.

Sounds like a job for Richard Ritter. Or at least a phone call to him at 802-365-7807 to discuss what you want to do, whether he could do it, how much it might cost, who else could do it, etc. A slight increment in your long distance bill would be well worth it, I think.

Good luck!