Clippers

All clippers should be maintained regularly according to the specific instructions that came with your clipper. Each brand is different in the way they are serviced, but there are several rules of thumb that will give direction if you no longer have your instructions.

Clippers tend to wear out where the most movement is, so the first part that should be checked is the part that moves the blade back and forth. This part tends to wear out rather quickly and should be changed on a regular basis.

If your clipper is air-cooled there will be a filter screen somewhere. It is important that this screen is kept clear of hair and dirt at all times.

Moisture and humidity will cause rust to develop on the inside of the motor and will also decrease the ease of airflow through the clipper. Clippers should always be stored in a controlled environment.

For clippers with gears and a gearbox, there is going to be grease to deal with. The old grease in the gears should be cleaned out periodically and clean, fresh grease put in. It is important to remove the old grease first and not put in too much new grease.

Clipper Blades

Some clipper blades are designed to be used and then disposed of, while others are built with quality materials and workmanship. It is the better quality ones that should be seen as a long-term investment and will be able to be sharpened over and over again.

If your blades are of the type that can be resharpened, then you will want to do your best to keep them in like-new condition.

Blades should be lubricated before use and every 8 – 10 minutes while using. The lubricant should be applied to all moving parts of the blade. Clipper oil is specifically formulated and designed for maximum lubrication while still not interfering with the cutting performance of the blade.

A top-quality blade wash is extremely good to use periodically during use in order to keep the animal dirt, oil, and hair from building up inside the blade. The “cooling” blade washes work by instant evaporation and therefore will not do as good a job of washing as others. It is still important to use oil after washing because most washes do not lubricate very well. The “H-42 Clean Clippers” blade wash is the best we have found and cleans more dirt and hair out than any other we have tried.

In order to maintain long shelf life, each blade should be cleaned every time, before storing until the next clipping job. The blade should be cleaned, oiled, and then stored in a controlled environment in order to keep moisture from coming in contact with the metal parts. Whenever moisture makes contact with metal, oxidation occurs causing rust to develop. Remember, Rusty Blades Can NEVER Be Returned To Like-New Performance.

Scissors & Shears

Scissors work when two sharp edges rub (scissor) against each other and then cutting anything coming between. Since there is sharp steel-on-steel friction, eventually the cutting edges will wear off thereby becoming dull. Whatever we can do to reduce the friction will result in the cutting edges staying sharp longer.

First of all the blades and pivot area should be kept clean at all times. As hair collects on the blades they should be wiped clean with a soft cloth.

Several drops of high-quality shear oil should be applied periodically, during usage, to the pivot area and along the inside of each blade, spread out, and then lightly wiped off with a soft cloth. Before storing at the end of each day, they should be cleaned and then oiled again.

Finally, the pivot area should be maintained with the right amount of tension. Too tight and your hand will become fatigued and carpal tunnel will be more of an issue. Too loose with too much play will mean more sideways pressure to cut the material you are cutting and this will actually cause the blades to cut into each other thereby removing the sharp edge. When this happens they become dull much more quickly and in order to return them to their original sharpness, much more material needs to be removed greatly decreasing the life of that scissor.