I agree, in theory. But when you get down to the money possibly involved, and with many fine Drillings for sale both in Europe and here in America, I still think, unless there is a great amount of sentiment involved with this drilling in question here, that retiring it and looking for a useable replacement, within budget, might be the best move. I have seen several "trigger and sear" jobs Fubared big time but those who think that a TIG welder and some filler rod (including copper flash coated coat hanger wire)with Argon shielding gas was the 100% correct approach to building up worn metal surfaces. Plasma spray welding now is my first choice, as long as you have print details as to dims and hardness of the finished component.

"The field is the touchstone of the man"..