Everything you need to know about clipping/grooming your pet!

Choosing a set of clippers can seem daunting when you are choosing to buy a new pair. Corded, Cordless, 1 Speed, 2 Speed, Low Vibration or Quiet!  Then there is the question of what size blade?   Read on as we have all the information for you to choose the clipper best suited to you and will give your dog the cut you are after. 

 

Be mindful that cheap doesn't always mean the best option, however not everyone has the same grooming needs .  Do you have only one dog at home you groom occassionally, multiple dogs with different coat types or a dog you groom on a regular basis?  Is your dog sensitive to loud noises, and do you have access to an electrical outlet where you want to undertake your grooming?  All these factors play an important role in choosing the right pair of clippers.

With some simple tips, here at The Vet Shed we can help you choose the best pair to suit your grooming needs. Grooming your pet at home can save you time and money and also the stress many pets experience by going to a groomer.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Wahl And Oster are the brands we recommend.  Both have been around since the early 1900's and offer warranties and are leaders in the industry.  They have clippers to suit a range of grooming needs.  From the beginner to the professional there will sure to be a clipper ideal for your needs. 

What is the difference between single and variable speed clippers?

 

Clippers come in a variety of speeds. This refers to the speed of the motor which operates the blade.

Single Speed clippers like the name suggests, only operate at one speed.  These are recommended for the beginner groomer or pet owner just wanting a basic clipper to groom their dog.  They are ideal if you have a dog that is brushed regularly and doesn't have mats or tangles and a coat with no undercoat.  Great for grooming pets they just need a quick easy groom. Single speed clippers are generally less expensive than two speed clippers and many come with attachment combs and scissors providing you with a kit where you may not need to buy any additonal blades.

 

Oster have the Oster Golden A5 single speed clipper and Wahl make the KM-SS. 

Wahl Show Pro clippers are ideal for home use when you just need a light touch up groom or trimming pet's face and feet.

Be wary of clippers that are very cheap: they tend to be nosiy, less powerful and can overheat very quickly!

Mechanically with less bells and whistles less can go wrong mechanically.

Two and Three speed clippers have multiple speeds and are best used if you have a dog with a thicker coat (or undercoat) or are not maintained with brushing between grooms (and may have mats, knots or tangles). Variable-speed clippers allow a professional groomer and home user to use one tool for different breeds of dogs and different types of work (bulk, sensitive areas, detail work, etc),

If you have a larger budget and want more features in a clipper then these may suit you best: they can range from $200 up to $450 depending on the power and features of the clipper.

Variable speed clippers are good for noise sensitive dogs as many feature quieter motors.  The Wahl KM-5 , Oster A6 and Wahl KM-10 Brushless Clippers are exceptionally quiet clippers ideal for dogs who do not like noisy clippers.

Variable speed clippers are less likely to over heat (provided you undertake the maintenance and care of your clipper as per the manufacturer instructions) , posing the risk of burning a dog's skin. 

Wahl has brought out the KM-2 Cordless clippers which have a Brushless Motor for extra power and torque minus the cord.  These are ideal when you don't have access to a power outlet or to  maneuver  in tricky spots without having to worry about a cord. The offer 2 hours of running time before having to recharge and are ideal for noise sensitive dogs.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

The table below is a guide to the different types of clippers available and there intended use

 

Why do my clippers heat up?

 

• One of the most common complaints about clippers is that they get too hot.  A common cause for this is that the clippers are not properly maintained and not oiled.
• Without oil the friction of the two blades rubbing together creates heat. 
• Clippers these days run at such high spins per minute, that if not oiled heat is bound to be generated.  Try rubbing your hands together as fast as you can for a minute – you will notice the heat that is generated just by doing this! They get pretty hot – now image clippers spinning at over 3000-5000 rotaries per minute and you know why blades get hot!

Now pop some lotion on your hands and rub them together again – the heat isn’t so bad.  This is the same principal as why you should always oil your blades.

• Another common complaint is that the clipper itself gets very hot and is hard to handle – the way to figure out if it is indeed a fault with the clipper unit itself is to remove the blade and leave the clippers running for 10-30 mins.  If the clipper unit heats up then the unit is faulty and you need to contact an authorised agent to have the clippers serviced.  If the clipper unit remains cool then it is indeed the blade and the transference of the heat generated from the blade to the clipper motor and handle.
• Oster Kool Lube or Wahl Blade Ice Spray can be during clipping to cool down the blades but they do not take the place of good cleaning and oiling of your blades, but are intended to help you get through grooming your pet as quickly as possible.
• Think of the blade as a mini engine (you wouldn't drive your car when it has no oil!)   If you don’t keep the engine oiled it will seize up and be costly to replace or repair.  By keeping your equipment well lubed and clean, will greatly decrease your maintenance cost and amount of sharpenings you should need.
• The easiest way to combat your clipper blades becoming hot is to have several blades on hand and switch between blades so you are always operating with a cool blade. Pop them on a marble tile to help cool them down.
• All Clippers come with Clipper Oil so make sure you do use it.  Bottles of Clipper Oil such as Wahl Clipper Oil  or Oster Oil can be purchased for ongoing maintenance.

 

 

 

 

OILING YOUR CLIPPERS

Blades should be oiled before, during and after every groom!  This is to reduce heat and maintain sharpness of the blades

• Blades that are not oiled will go duller faster.  The life of the blade will decrease by 50%
• By using oil on your blades before and after every use of your clippers, the blades will cut better and your clipper will stay running faster and longer
• Oil your clippers before and after every use!!
• Clippers should be oiled on a regular basis as part of the ongoing
  maintenance of your clipper.
• Oiling is a quick and easy way to ensure better cutting performance and longer blade life. As the top blade of the clipper moves at very high speed it is essential oil is present to stop both heat and wear
• Without Clipper Oil your blades will rust
• All Clippers come with Clipper Oil so make sure you do use it.  Bottles of Clipper Oil such as Wahl Clipper Oil  or Oster Oil can be purchased for ongoing maintenance.

 

 

How often should I clean my blades on the clippers?

 

• Blades should be cleaned after every use using the brush provided with the clipper unit or a toothbrush will suffice to remove any hair.
• How regulary you clean your blades depends on the frequency they are used
• Visibily dirty blades should be cleaned before using again
• Make sure you read the intruction booklet included with your clippers as some brands recommend using blade wash on brand new clipper blades.  Oster recommends new blades must be attached to the clipper and operated in Oster blade wash to remove the rust protective coating. This coating must be removed from the cutting surfaces or they will not clip through the coat.
• Oster Blade Wash and Wahl Blade-X Blade Wash easily flushes away hair & built up hair trapped between your upper & lower cutting blades.
• Fill a dish with enough blade wash to just cover the blade and turn the clipper on.  Place the blade in the dish and run until you hear a constant sound of the motor.
• Turn off clippers and use a lint free cloth to dry the blades - be sure not to leave any Oster Blade Wash or Wahl Blade-X Blade Wash  on the blades as it will cause hair to accumulate quicker and may cause the blade to run slower.
• 
• Following using blade wash you want to oil the blades as shown in the images below
• 

 

What blade do I choose to clip my dog?

There is no simple answer to this as pet owners all have their own personal preference to how long they want their pet's coat and what style they like.

Thankfully, the selection process is quite simple. Blades are numbered to indicate what length of hair they will leave. For example, a #10 blade will leave a hair length of 1/16″. Most clippers you purchase wil come with a #10 blade

The higher the blade number, the shorter the cut will be. So you should be able to tell that a #15 blade will provide a shorter cut than a #5. Generally manufacturers will indicate the precise length a blade creates in the specifications for the product. Dogs come in a variety of different coat types and textures .

• Finishing blade: Finishing blades (also known as fine tooth blades) have even teeth and provide a smooth finish. They are most suitable for an all-over groom or as a finishing touch.
• Skip tooth blade:  These blades are more suitable for a rough cut or for pets that have mats. The coarse or uneven teeth on a Skip Tooth will feed the hair into the cutting blade more effectively, which allows you to clip under mats. Often used before the bath for rough-cuts, and on dogs that must be shaved completely down. Be forewarned: skin can get caught in the gaps between the teeth. So be careful with skip tooth blades!
• Wide blade: These blades are simply wider than regular blades – which can come in handy if you are grooming a larger dog. However, they may not fit on your standard clipper.

Oster and Wahl clippers that come with detachable blades are interchangeable so this allows the flexibiity of using both brands

 

I’ve seen attachment combs – what are these for?

Attachment combs give you the flexibility of having longer cutting lengths up to 2" in length. Therefore a great option if you want to leave more hair on your pet.

Many beginner at home groomers can feel anxious using a naked blade against a pet's coat and prefer to use the attachment combs for this reason.  Doing freehand work on a non moving subject is tricky enough. Now trying it on a fidgety dog can be a recipe for disaster. It takes years of experience before you would feel like you could do it yourself. Clipper combs can take away all of that fear and years of messing up your dog’s fur.

They are easy to attach to your Oster or Wahl detachable blades and glide effortlessly through coats (provided the coat is free from tangles and mats), leaving a smooth finish at the length you need. Each guide comb has smooth, rounded tips and will fit snug to the blade for safe, snag-free clipping. 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Trimmers

 

If you are looking for a clipper to do quick trims around the face or feet then there are a range of cordless options for you.

Ranging form trimmers that fit you in the palm of your hand to more powerful trimmers.

These are ideal for in between full body clips to tidy up areas that tend to need tidying up.

 

 

CLIPPER	SPEED	POWER/WATTAGE	POWER TYPE	RECOMMENDED FOR
Wahl Brav Mini Quick Charge Trimmer	Single	3000/3700 RPM	Cordless - rechargable	trimming Face & Paws	#30 blade
Wahl Pet Touch Up Trimmer	Single		Cordless - Battery operated	trimming Face & Paws
Wahl Pet Pocket Pro	Single		Cordless - Battery operated	trimming of face, designed to be hidden in the hand when working
Wahl Super Groom	Single	5000 RPM	Cordless - rechargable	Perfect for detail work of face and feet. For dogs that are groomed regularly and not matted. If you don’t want to purchase numerous blades this clipper has a 5 in 1 blade: adjusts to sizes: #9, #10, #15, #30 & #40. Noise sensitive dogs
Wahl Arco Lime 5-in-1 Cordless Clipper	Single	5500 RPM	Cordless- rechargeable battery pack	ull clipping of small dogs, cats and touch up detail work on all dogs of all sizes. Feet, face, and all finish work on all dog breeds. Light body clipping on small and medium-sized dogs Cat grooming Trimming of horses' bridle path, ears, muzzle, and fetlocks Trimming and show cuts for goats, pigs, and cattle
Wahl Creativa Cordless Clipper w/Adjustable 5 in 1 Blade	Single	5300RPM	Cordless - rechargable battery pack	Full body clips on smaller pets.  Perfect for detail work of face and feet. For dogs that are groomed regularly and not matted. If you don’t want to purchase numerous blades this clipper has a 5 in 1 blade: adjusts to sizes: #9, #10, #15, #30 & #40. Noise sensitive dogs

 

 

 

 

IMPORTANTS TIPS

• Always use your clippers on a clean, dry coat. 
• Using your clippers on a dirty coat can dull your blades
• Never clip a wet dog
• Clean  your clipper blades with Oster Disinfectant or Oster 5 in 1 Spray when you use them around the sanitary and sterile areas.
• Store you blades in an dry, clean area free from moisture to prevent rust.
• Register your clippers warrenty with the manufacturer upon purchase.
• Read the instructions and care guide before using your clippers!
• Look after your clippers and blades as they are an investment and like anything designed to last you need to take care of them./li>

 

                                                                                            

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