Well, I just wanted to thank all of you for getting me started on what looks like a fun journey. I broke almost all of your rules, and somehow still got a decent start.

First off, I purchased a pretty beat up Genco, Geneva on Ebay. I know, I know I was warned. However I only payed $11.45 shipped, so I figured if I messed it up I wasn't out much. Next I sanded down the blade by hand, and dressed up the edge with 1500 grit sandpaper and finished it off on a home made leather strop with an extra fine abrasive on it. I was too impatient to wait until I could get a new plain leather strop made or bought, so I tried her out without any further work.

To my suprise I got my cheeks almost as smooth as when I use my gillette fusion, and this was with the crappy gillette foaming shave gel. I am still looking for a strop, hone, brush and soap that are not outrageously priced so I can improve my results.

Thanks again to all of you who have provided so much valuable information on this forum, and I look forward to continuing on the journey.

Hal