Lines in clip - 'weight' of Lister blades?

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sonjafoers

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I clipped my horses last year with Fine blades and it left loads of lines and marks in the clip and I've done the same today with disastrous results. I've ordered Medium ( Standard ) blades now in the hope that it will help with this as I can't think of any other reason these marks are getting left. The blades were newly sharpened, the horses' coats had been shampooed a few days prior & they were well groomed and they weren't at all damp.

When I ordered the Medium blades the lady in the shop said these lines were a common problem with Lister clippers & the weight of the blades wouldn't make much difference. She said it was often a sign that the tension was too tight & recommended that instead of tightening the screw & then loosening by 1.5 turns I should loosen by at least 2 turns. She also said that Lister blades work better with a lot more oil than other makes. Has anyone else experienced this or does anyone have any top tips for me please?

I have clipped for years and can't remember having this problem before but last year was the first year I used Fine blades so I really am hoping the Medium ones will solve the problem.

Thank you
 
I do not like Lister clippers very much I have used them for clipping many horses.

Quite honestly the lady in the shop is talking a load of BS.
The fine blades will leave lines, they are basically for surgical use. Medium blades will be much better. You will probably get a few lines but these will grow out within a couple of days.

Majority of people do not keep the blades oiled enough. You want to keep spraying the blades down the sides with WD40 and then wipe the excess off on an old cloth. Use any light oil for oiling through the hole.
 
I clip with fine blades and I don't get a particularly liney horse. I'm pretty sure my blades are Lister blades too (my clippers take two types and I have both so can't be 100% sure!) so perhaps it is a tensioning thing. I don't know enough about it.

There is a user on here called the engineer who is the man who fixes clippers when you send them off and I'm sure he could give you a pretty reasonable answer. Might be worth a PM :)
 
I used lister fine blades last year and didnt have a problem with my yack of a connie. The only time I have had lines is if you dont go against the hair. Admittedly my masterclip ones were much easier to get an even finish with but the pony was cleaner and I clipped much earlier.
 
I clip with fine blades and do not get lines, is you are getting lines, try and overlap each row more, this should solve the liney issue. (also, if the coat is greesy/dirty, then give the horse a bath/ hot clothing before you clip as grease causes tug and pull.)

Hope your next bash is easier for you! Its a bugger when it goes rong.

Lou x
 
Thanks everyone, hopefully then the medium blades will make a difference but if she can't get them in I will buy the coarse ones as they did have them in stock. I didn't buy them because I was told they were really for clipping cows and would make a mess of a horse.

I always go against the hair but I'll start using more oil from now.
 
I have listers and can get lines, only with the fine blades and usually on the first clip, and worse on my coloureds white bits as opposed to the chesnut. I usually end up going over them a few times the other way (as in up and down) and this cures it.

I think its only because the blades are so fine, well thats what i've always thought! xx
 
Just buy medium ones online. I bet you just want standard Lister A2 blades. They're only about £30 a pop so not too horrendous :)
 
Coop the blades make a mess of both my girls but they make a REAL mess of my coloured on her white bits too - I'm glad I'm not the only one!!
 
jesstickle said:
Just buy medium ones online. I bet you just want standard Lister A2 blades. They're only about £30 a pop so not too horrendous :)
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I paid £42 today!! Got them home to find they were fine blades in a medium box which is why I've now had to order them in. Yes it would have been much easier to order on line :rolleyes:
 
LOL!! I have all 3 blades and I'm not sure the coarse will do a great clip, I only use them to hog or do coblets lets if they are long, they are great for that! The fine blades do nearly skin them, so thats why the coat can look bad with those blades. xx
 
I have Lister clippers and found that I got loads of lines too with the fine blades, so your not the only one :)

Now I went to buy some fine blades the other day, but they only had medium left! So I bought those as only had free time to clip that day...

Well I'm glad I did as there's not one line on either of my horses this clip :) with the tension on 1 and a quarter turns ;)
 
Tension makes no difference with Lister Fine blades! Trust me - 200 clips a year with the darned things and no matter what I do I still get those silly little lines! I really have tried everything! Unfortunately I don't get to clip with mediums as I am doing racehorses so I can't comment on them. The lines do go away after a about a week though so it's not the end of the world!
 
MinxGTi said:
Well I'm glad I did as there's not one line on either of my horses this clip :) with the tension on 1 and a quarter turns ;)
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That's good to hear MinxGTi - how tight do you turn them before you go back if you get what I mean. Do you screw them in really tight or just until you feel the tension?

EKW unfortunately mine don't grow out in a week, they stayed loud & proud until the second clip last year so I'm expecting the same this year - 2 months of having to look at them and I'm not looking forward to it.
 
sonjafoers said:
That's good to hear MinxGTi - how tight do you turn them before you go back if you get what I mean. Do you screw them in really tight or just until you feel the tension?

EKW unfortunately mine don't grow out in a week, they stayed loud & proud until the second clip last year so I'm expecting the same this year - 2 months of having to look at them and I'm not looking forward to it.
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Hmm tricky to say without doing the tension now to know, but I'm pretty sure I go till they don't turn any more, but not firmly that they would almost stop... hope that makes sense :lol:

You will find that the clip is no where near as close as the fine blades, but the finish is far better :)
 
Lines appear when the person clipping doesn't keep the blades flat/the same level against the coat, could just be a very slight change in angle and because they clip so fine the marks will show.

At least you won't have to clip again for some time!
 
This is moo clipped with fine Lister blades. I try and clip before they get too hairy as I find that helps with the line situation, which is why you can only just see the difference between legs and body. then I try and keep on top of it. The more hair there is the harder it is to get a good finish I think. This was the day she was done ( I don't have Lister clippers though, just use the blades. Perhaps that is the difference)

10425_562525844395_285400682_3961209_5103729_n1.jpg
 
That's such a good job compared to what I've ended up with jesstickle, I can honestly see every line & I've been so careful about which direction I go in and overlapping the lines etc.

I've got high hopes for the medium blades!
 
Don't oil your clippers with WD40
as othershave suggested - it's the wrong grade oil and if you use it and your clippers break it will invalidate your guarantee! Use proper clipper oil as I assume you already are and I think you'll be fine with medium blades, I clipped with fines and i got lines as well but hardly any with medium blades :D
 
i use the lister fine blades, yes i get a few lines left but its due to not keeping an even pressure all the time, but they can be easily sorted by going over them in a different direction
 
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