Thread: Very hard Bengall steel?

I just purchased a Bengall razor off eBay, pretty much identical to the photo, no etching, no other markings besides "Bengall" (and the "TR Cadman" spiel on the reverse).

It had some discolouration and was purchased for practice, so I decided to sand it back and try to get a mirror finish on it. The steel seems to be extremely hard though, I spent about 20 minutes sanding with 180 grit and I don't think it even scratched it. I then used an 80 grit flap wheel in my Dremel, this did take some steel off, but it took some work.

Now I am using a split mandrel with 180 grit and it still doesn't seem to be marking it. Was there a batch of these that use particularly hard steel? Anyone have any ideas on how I can sand this?

About a week before, I purshased another Bengall etched with "Full Concave", this one sanded nicely and came up close to a mirror finish, so it's obviously not all Bengalls.

I'm working on my first restore (it happens to be a Bengall) and I decided it would be best to do it by hand for my first go. I don't have a point of reference to tell you if it is harder steel or not but it sure seemed like I had a hell of a time getting through sanding that thing. It's still not perfect but I think its as good as I'm going to be able to get it.

I sure hope its harder steel cause I dunno if I have the energy to do many more restores if that is the amount of work they all take. Granted I've learned a lot so far and if I had known better I may have started with a blade that was in better condition for my first restore.

As for the hardness of the steel, I've had some that were a brease to hone and others that I had to put down to continue at another time. But all the Bengalls I have used have been fantastic shavers. Once you get it polished and honed you will love it.

As I mentioned, I do have another Bengall, it polished and honed easily, I have also sanded and polished a Puma and a Frederick Reynolds, both also honed well. This Bengall though, hones as easily as my other one, but is tough to sand.

Just found this about Silver Steel on Wikipedia: "It can be hardened to 64 RHC", great, might take a while then.

Originally Posted by TheBaron

I sure hope its harder steel cause I dunno if I have the energy to do many more restores if that is the amount of work they all take.

Hahahahaha

I have one that looks exactly the same as the photo in my to restore Drawer, I might not rush to do it next now....lol

Originally Posted by Hydaral

As I mentioned, I do have another Bengall, it polished and honed easily, I have also sanded and polished a Puma and a Frederick Reynolds, both also honed well. This Bengall though, hones as easily as my other one, but is tough to sand.

Just found this about Silver Steel on Wikipedia: "It can be hardened to 64 RHC", great, might take a while then.

Are you using wet'n'dri papers. ?? SiC usually cuts most steels.

Yep, same paper as I used on my other restores. I think I'll just use the split mandrel with 180 or 240 grit for an hour or so and see how far I get.

I hear ya. I did one yesterday. 3 hours with the dremel before I got to the buffs.
Sure beats hand sanding tho.

I just had a look at the tang when I got home, it actually says "Bengall Hand Forged". I doubt that makes much difference though, from what I know about Bengalls, they were all hand forged.

It'll likely be a great shaver & worth the effort.