Is this normal (clipper/blade question)

Casey76

Casey76

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Sorry to bring up clipping in the middle of summer!

Last year I bought myself a set of Liveryman Harmony Plus clippers. I think they're great; quiet, light, well balanced, easy to hold and manouever.

However... I only clipped my clean, 13.3hh pony once before the blades refused to cut any more. After emailing the vendor 4 times, I eventually got a reply to say that the pre-tensioned blades can and do just stop cutting.

Is this normal? I woud have thought that the blades would last more than one small blanket clip.

So for this year I'm going to have to invest in a second set of blades - anyone recommend the cheapest place to buy A5-type pre-tensioned blades?

Thanks!
 
no. they shouldl certainly do more than one clip, but of course you must set and use and maintain them correctly. you have not had them long enough to go blunt unless you mis used them, which i doubt
 
Make sure that you oil and clean the blades frequently during clipping - Blades that are hot become blunt really fast.

I know that some of the clipper people will jump up and down now - Many years ago I was clipping the Civil Services Riding Club horses at the Royal Mews when one of the soldiers from the stables next door popped in and gave me a pot of 50/50 Kerosene(Diesel) and Engine oil to use. He thought it quite amusing that I was stopping every few minutes to cool and lubricate the blades.

Hold the clippers vertically with blades pointing down dip them, still running, into the mix until around two thirds of the blades are in the mix. The mix flushes out all the dirt, cleans, cools and lubricates the blades. Take out of the mix, tilt onto side and allow excess to drain out. Wipe against a piece of towel. This can all be done in less than a minute and with the blades still running.

Recently my clippers were used by a friend - the first time in four years, the same blades that had clipped many horses for several years and they clipped perfectly.

While clipping listen carefully to the sound the blades make when they are cool and clean and notice when the sound slows and deepens - constantly check the temperature on the back of your hand, rinse in the mix frequently.
 
Liveryman blades are very very poor quality and most places won't sharpen them as u just can't do it properly. I swapped all my liveryman blades for Wolsey ones and get a far better clip and anywhere will sharpen them.
 
There should be no major problems with your Liveryman blades. However, to dispel a few myths, it is quite possible to lose the edge on blades half way through a clip, even with fresh blades. Blades of the A10W type,fitted to the Harmony are "pre tensioned", with no adjustment. A thick greasy coat, scurf,or grit, will take the edge off in seconds. As for the "dipping in kerosene/oil, WD40,diesel etc etc myths....DONT!!!! Ask yourself the question,"How many clipper machine manufacturers recommend this in their instructions"? Answer=NONE, Why=you will goose your clippers. When clipping, oil every ten minutes with a good oil,avoid aerosols if possible. Shampoo and groom before clipping. I used to supply the Household Cavalry with clippers and I recall one of the grooms telling me he clipped 20 horses with one set of blades...I was gobsmacked,until I saw the horses. Immaculate,groomed and clean. Also please be aware, IMHO of course, whilst the Liveryman Harmony is a quiet and effective machine, it is ideal for thoroughbreds, but not suitable for wooly cobs or horses with cushings of greasy coats. You wouldn't buy a mini to drive 500 miles a day, so use some common sense and ask your dealer when you purchase a machine. Any advice is free,but Admin delight in removing my posts because I am in the trade,so feel free to PM me for advice. Happy clipping.
 
TheEngineer said:
There should be no major problems with your Liveryman blades. However, to dispel a few myths, it is quite possible to lose the edge on blades half way through a clip, even with fresh blades. Blades of the A10W type,fitted to the Harmony are "pre tensioned", with no adjustment. A thick greasy coat, scurf,or grit, will take the edge off in seconds. As for the "dipping in kerosene/oil, WD40,diesel etc etc myths....DONT!!!! Ask yourself the question,"How many clipper machine manufacturers recommend this in their instructions"? Answer=NONE, Why=you will goose your clippers. When clipping, oil every ten minutes with a good oil,avoid aerosols if possible. Shampoo and groom before clipping. I used to supply the Household Cavalry with clippers and I recall one of the grooms telling me he clipped 20 horses with one set of blades...I was gobsmacked,until I saw the horses. Immaculate,groomed and clean. Also please be aware, IMHO of course, whilst the Liveryman Harmony is a quiet and effective machine, it is ideal for thoroughbreds, but not suitable for wooly cobs or horses with cushings of greasy coats. You wouldn't buy a mini to drive 500 miles a day, so use some common sense and ask your dealer when you purchase a machine. Any advice is free,but Admin delight in removing my posts because I am in the trade,so feel free to PM me for advice. Happy clipping.
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Dear The Engineer! I know you have much to do with clipping but I can assure the dipping in Kerosene/Oil mix is PERFECTLY FINE!

Apart from being advised this by a member of the Household Cavalry I have been using this method for over 30 years - on the same pair of clippers which as I have said did 25 full clips on one set of blades with no sharpening of said blades until the the end of the season.

Having done the old system of stopping, brushing and oiling and needing a new/resharpened set of blades for every clip I will continue to use the kerosene/oil mix as it keeps both my clippers from overworking which happens when blades become hot. It keeps my blades clean which in turn means they stay sharp and cut well regardless of how dirty the horse is. And I get some really grubby greasy horses to clip. With the Kerosene and oil the clippers melt through the coat meaning clipping time is shorter, therefore more pleasant for the horse..

As to your question - "How many clipper machine manufacturers recommend this in their instructions"? Of course they don't, they don't want their clippers still going strong 30 years later - they want to sell you a new pair every few years otherwise they'd go out of business.

Did you know that Hoover's nearly went out of business once as their products were made so well they never wore out. My mum had a pre war Hoover still working well fifty years later. My sister now has it and its still working. They had to lower their quality standards.
 
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