Great. I purchased some sample packs from the shaving shoebox. Haven't received them yet, but I will be sure to use the feathers and make a note of how they feel. I was told to way until I get a better handle on technique before using feathers, so I will have to think about it. I'll take the cautions and maybe be really careful, like when I bought the unrecommended for newbs Slant.

Thanks for the advice. I was thinking the blades were shoddy. I tried stropping them on my palm, don't remember who said to do that. But it helped as the next shave was better in the beginning.