Hello World, from Bowling Green, OH

[jshaffe]

I wanted to post and say thanks to all the helpful information contained in the various sticky posts around the forum. I decided a few weeks ago to put my sharpening skills to the test (I'm a PharmD student and the repetition is quite relaxing) after I read a post on straight razors from artofmanliness.com. I bought a post-1935 Genco Model B2 with a chipped and rusted blade from ebay for 15 bucks. After quite a few hours, three failed attempts, and lots of forums/videos filled with useful information, I was able to set the edge properly.
My razor has passed the HHT and is easily able to shave the tips of my arm hairs off without touching the skin. I've been shaving for a couple weeks now and I have yet to see any of my own blood *fingers crossed*. I've had the best shaves of my life and I'm definitely a convert.

Razor: Genco Model B2
Sharpening Strategy: 80, 120, 320, 600, 900, and 1200 grit silicon carbide stones
Polishing Strategy: Leather Straps permeated with 4000, 8000, 1600, 60,000 grit chromium oxide paste.
Brush/Soap: Van Der Hagen (Rite-Aid sale)
Post Shave: Nivea dye free, alcohol free shave balm