How often should you sharpen dog clippers? Here’s What to Do Next

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To sharpen dog clippers, youll need a 4,000- and 8,000-grit whetstone. To get started, spray the whetstones so theres a thin layer of water on the surface. Then, hold your dog clipper blade against the 4,000-grit whetstone, and move it side to side across the stone 5-10 times. Next, repeat the process across the 8,000-grit whetstone. Finally, snap or screw the blade back onto your dog clippers. To learn how to clean dog clipper blades, read on!

  • B. H. “I really appreciated the one where it showed how to sharpen clipper blades. Very informative article, thanks!”

    • Expert Q&ASearch

  • Cleaning your clippers after every use, or during use with heavy coated dogs, will extend the sharp life of your clippers. ⧼thumbs_response⧽ Helpful 7 Not Helpful 1
  • Using clipper oil to lubricate your blades helps to keep them running smoothly. ⧼thumbs_response⧽ Helpful 7 Not Helpful 1
  • While using your clippers check to make sure they aren’t hot. If they are, stop clipping, clean, and let them cool off. Not only will this extend the life of the clippers, it will also keep you from injuring your dog’s skin. ⧼thumbs_response⧽ Helpful 5 Not Helpful 1
  • If you’ve been using dull blades repeatedly you may need to have them professionally sharpened or may even need to purchase new blades. However, good maintenance in a timely manner will help you keep the same blades for a very long time. ⧼thumbs_response⧽ Helpful 6 Not Helpful 0

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    Have you heard this rattling noise from your clippers?

    A customer sent me in some blades for sharpening because she said two of them were making a loud “rattling” noise and not performing as well as they should. Upon inspection I found that she had replaced the regular coarse cutter blades her clippers required with surgical quality cutters instead.

    This explains the rattling noise she was hearing. Some groomers will switch out cutters as their blades begin to dull but if they don’t have the specific cutter they need on hand, they’ll switch them out.

    Before you make the same mistake keep in mind that both the cutter and deck require sharpening…not just the cutter. The other thing to remember is if you are going switch out cutters it’s important to ensure you are switching out the same type of cutter blade.

    How To Sharpen Human/Animal Hair Clippers

    Customers often ask if clipper blades can be sharpened or is it best to buy new ones? The answer is yes, and maybe!

    We see a lot of clipper blades in various states of repair and can often sharpen them to restore their longevity but sometimes it’s best to replace them. I’ll get into more detail about how to take proper care of your clipper blades so you can avoid costly replacement but first, let’s talk blade types.

    There are many types of dog grooming clipper blades. The most common size or type is A5 which comes in various lengths anywhere from a #3 down to a #50 (surgical blade).

    Generally the higher the “number” of the blade the more hair it will remove. For example the #4 blade will leave the hair about 1/2” long whereas the #7 blade will leave the hair about 1/8” long.

    Other A5 blades that are available are a 5/8” and a 3/4” blade. These blades will leave the hair longer than the aforementioned blades. All of these A5 blades can be interchanged with common A5 clippers such as Andis, Wahl, and Oster clippers.

    Ceramic blades are exactly like regular A5 blades except instead of a metal cutter it has a ceramic cutter. Ceramic blades are popular as they don’t tend to heat up like metal blades can however ceramic cutters can be quite fragile and break if the blade is dropped. Replacement ceramic cutters are also more expensive than metal cutters.

    Wide Blades are generally A5 compatible and as the description so aptly states, they are a wider blade The wide blade makes it easier to work on larger areas and larger dogs.

    Another type of blade is the adjustable 5in1 blade by Wahl which has settings ranging from a #9 down to a #40 blade. These clipper blades are NOT interchangeable with any A5 clipper.

    The 5in1 blades are generally used for the face and feet as they generally don’t have the power to manage a lot of body clipping. Many groomers prefer these blades and clippers however as they are quiet and easy to manage due to their size although they don’t have longevity of A5 blades.