Couldn't resist trying out The Winner again. Everything else was the same..
-face wash
-prep with wilkinson brush/soap
-CH Cavendish Black soap + c&e best badger
-still have some of that homemade aftershave left

I still can't believe that I got that razor for so little cash (a bit over $10US shipped), that it took so little work to get shave ready and that it's giving me such great shaves, comparable to Taylor's and the Bismarck! My homemade AS works fine but I think I'll stick with DBR after I run through this batch.