PetGroomer.com Pet and Dog Groomer Resource with Grooming Schools

"As a professional colleague, I thoroughly enjoyed most of the Clipper Shacks' narrative (see page 1 of this Menu). A terrific sense of humor is of vital importance to maintain some sense of sanity in this world; however, I shudder at the thought of the perilous scenarios that surely exist when you might choose to dip any running electrical device into a liquid such as water OR kerosene."

"Compounding this potentially grievous error by the fact that at the same time you might be dipping your way into possible electrocution, you may even be introducing an excellent ignition source to a very volatile source of fossil fuel; But, then again, the initial blast and ensuing flash fire would probably get the hair out of your blades! Even in a worst case scenario, where you weren't electrocuted in addition to be burned in the flash fire, surely the high pressure hoses the firefighters used to dowse the remaining embers of your way of life would finish cleaning the hair from your blades. I recommend blowing them clean with a dryer nozzle or use a bristle brush and a powerful vacuum cleaner."

Edwin Frederick

Ed. Note: Mr. Frederick makes a good safety point. In nearly 40 years in this industry I cannot tell you how many groomers I have seen immersing the blade portion their running clippers in liquids, and I am happy to say I know no one that went to pieces. Take heed!

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Where to Find Grooming Products

PetGroomer.com provides you with easy access to many suppliers of pet grooming products, including mail order catalogs. The PetGroomer.com Resources Directory lists many product distributors.

Pet industry trade shows are a terrific way to see pet grooming products and talk with product representatives. Look in the PetGroomer.com Calendar for a show near you. Don't forget that many products are advertised in leading trade magazines. Members of the pet grooming industry often receive complimentary subscriptions.

When Sharpening Isn't Enough

One of the easiest and least expensive ways of making sure your clippers are working well is also one of the most overlooked. It's the BLADE DRIVE or LEVER that moves the blade back and forth. It should be replaced on a regular basis. This relates to all brands of clippers; Andis, Laube, Oster & WAHL. Faster and more powerful clippers need the drive lever changed even more frequently. Also remember, the more pets you groom, the more often the drive lever needs to be changed. Grooming an average of 24 pets a week usually requires the drive lever to be changed every 1 to 2 months.

It will not necessarily look worn to you. When it's not working properly there are other signs you may notice. Your clipper, even though it's running fine, will seem to lack power. The blades will have a tendency to pull the hair, leave hair behind, stick or leave streaks. Blades may also be noisier, and you may find that some blades work on your clippers and other don't. All of these conditions are signs of a worn blade drive or lever. Even the sharpest blade may cut poorly, or not at all when the drive lever is worn.

A drive lever typically costs less than having one blade sharpened, so it's an inexpensive way to optimize clipper performance. It's a good practice to keep an extra drive lever on hand. Repeatedly having your blades sharpened, when you really need to replace a worn drive lever, unnecessarily increases your costs and shortens the life of your blades.

One Final Note:

Because of today's faster and more powerful clippers it is more important than ever to regularly oil your blades (spray coolants are not a substitute). It is recommended to oil each blade before every use. Also, running your clipper continually on the highest speed is usually not necessary. Run on lower speeds unless you get into heavier coats and matting. This reduces blade heat and extends the life of your blades and clippers!