TheEngineer
Well-Known Member
Well, that time of year will soon be with us and those clippers you chucked in the back of the tack room last season, will be dragged "kicking and screaming" into the light of day. Therefore I decided to put a few posts together, as I did last year to be of assistance with any clipper problems or questions.
For those that didn't read any of my posts last season, my background is, that I work for one of the "big four" clipper companies as an engineer, with nearly 17 years experience in sharpening, repairs and clipper related problems.
I don't say who I work for, because i am not here to generate business or plug my "brand", merely to offer advice or try and answer queries. Please feel free to PM me with any questions and I will try my best to answer.
For starters a little free advice before the season leaps into top gear!
1) Get your clippers out now, check the mains lead, check they run and send them in for a service/safety check before the rush starts.
2) Clean your blades off and get them sharpened fresh for the new season, check for damaged teeth, rust and corrosion, all of which will hamper your clipping.
3) Get you power sockets, trip switches and extension leads tested, ready for the season.
4) Throw the WD40 in the bin and buy some proper clipper oil, then you are ready to go, with a clean, safe machine, the correct oil and sharp blades.
Most repair firms have a busy workload once the season kicks in, so be an "early bird" and you wont be panicking, with a half clipped horse and a dead pair of clippers when you need them most.
Just a little advice if searching for new clippers.
When you are looking, be aware of what you want to do and how much clipping you will do each season. Also bear in mind the thickness of your horses coat and his/her sensitivity to noise etc.
Fashion of late, is for many of the big trimmer manufacturers to sell trimmers with "wide" blades as suitable for clipping. Whilst some of these are suitable for clipping clean dry, well groomed horses occasionally. They are still not up to heavier jobs and thicker coats. Remember the old adage, "Clippers clip, Trimmers Trim"!
Also, look for a renowned Brand, Wolseley, Lister, Liveryman, Hauptner, Heinegar etc. There are many clippers on E Bay and discount web sites which are poor quality copies of well known makes, with inferior quality blades, which are made in china and sold on the net. These clippers may look a bargain, but next season when the warranty is out and you need service and spares, you will find no one will be able to, or want to service/repair them.
Whilst you may see these cheap bargains on the net, remember that the well established companies, will usually have an in house service dept, for sharpening and service/repairs, plus technical advice and spares backup. Thats why their machines may cost a bit more, a price well worth paying.
The other thing to bear in mind, when purchasing clippers, is "READ THE INSTRUCTIONS", in the course of my work for a large UK clipper manufacturer, I see so many clippers sent back, with minor, "user related" problems. Many of which are caused by "a know it all attitude" and an inability to read the instructions. You may be able to clip with "brand x" but that does not mean that "brand y" works the same and your "mate" may have used WD40 to lubricate his blades for years, but that doesn't mean that it is the correct thing to do!
Overall, buy a clipper which is comfortable to hold, a recognized make, powerful enough for your needs (both today and next year), fitted with the correct blades for the job. (it is worth buying a set of A6/coarser blades to accompany the standard A2 blades, for slightly thicker or matted coats)
But most importantly, look after your blades!!!!! The number of machines I see with rusty, damaged and dirty filthy blunt blades increases every year. If you bought a car, you wouldn't dream of running it on bald tyres, so why buy a clipper, then run it with blunt blades? Have them sharpened regularly, by a suitable firm, who come recommended by other users, or return them to the manufacturers own service dept.
Overall, you will find whatever brand you buy, if you follow the above tips, you will have safe, hassle free clipping...
