Thread: Bengall-icious Microtome

Here is my latest Bengall that I picked up. I cannot wait until this one is up for a full cleanup from my resto pile. It definitely doesn't need much attention to be even more stunning than it already is!
I also look forward to the challenge that this blade will provide being an asymmetrical grind, both in honing and eventually shaving
I have a feeling that this blade will be the most demanding of perfection technique wise in my entire collection, but I look forward to the challenge!!
I hope you all enjoy the pics

Nick.

Nice! I have always wanted one of these. Good job on the resto.

But their purpose is not shaving, is it?

Some hints when honing these..

They are not the same as Kamisori nor do they hone the same these are true Asymmetrical blades they are designed to slice and they do it very well.. Sharpness is just not an issue with these that is easy to attain, the trick is getting them smooth also..

I have tried several approaches, from Kamisori style to straight western honing and honestly the easiest way I have found to get them shaving smoothly is to cut a piece of Electrical tape in half lengthwise.. Now take those two half pieces and place them carefully along the spine edge on the flat side.. Tape normally over the two pieces and the other side and Hone western style.. This will center up the edge and give you a smooth shave.. You might want to experiment with the other systems too, like I did, but I never got any of the experiments to work as well

Originally Posted by rocarule

But their purpose is not shaving, is it?

so true,they are not for shaving.

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I have only one microtome but have not as yet figured out how to hone it correctly. I will try the strips of tape as Glen suggests. I was going to reshape the blade as Glen also suggested to me a few years ago but have decided to leave it in its original shape.

Originally Posted by CastSteel

Nice! I have always wanted one of these. Good job on the resto.

Thanks, but all I have done with this one so far is to use some metal polish on it. I want to at some point give it a full clean up as some of the finishing is not the best. just some deep grind marks, nothing really to worry about unless you are a perfectionist like myself...

Originally Posted by gssixgun

Some hints when honing these..

They are not the same as Kamisori nor do they hone the same these are true Asymmetrical blades they are designed to slice and they do it very well.. Sharpness is just not an issue with these that is easy to attain, the trick is getting them smooth also..

I have tried several approaches, from Kamisori style to straight western honing and honestly the easiest way I have found to get them shaving smoothly is to cut a piece of Electrical tape in half lengthwise.. Now take those two half pieces and place them carefully along the spine edge on the flat side.. Tape normally over the two pieces and the other side and Hone western style.. This will center up the edge and give you a smooth shave.. You might want to experiment with the other systems too, like I did, but I never got any of the experiments to work as well

Thanks for the tip! I remember reading somewhere on here about your thread with the one you transformed into the one-piece kamisori. That thread along with another one with someone with a Puma microtome that they managed to shave with tapi g as you have said, made me desire to get one. Never thought I'd manage to get a Bengall one though!

Originally Posted by pixelfixed

so true,they are not for shaving.

I'm thinking it was for this reason that some of it is not finished as well as most Bengall's or other shaving razors for that matter, as it doesn't need to be.
Call me stubborn and or stupid though but I intend to try! If i fail, I can always see if Oz wants to have a play with it haha.

Nick.