WOW am I doing this wrong?!?

I'm clipping Tonks for the first time, and it is NOT going well!!!!

So I have a pair of Andis clipper, and a #10 blade. At first I was using a comb attachment, and getting a pretty good length. But then I got to some matted areas, and decided I better cut Tonks much shorter, to take care of these mats.

I got one side done- and just her side. Not her legs, but her ribcage area. Its nice and smooth, and short. I went to work into adjacent areas and I cannot get the blade through! What am I doing wrong? I took it off and cleaned it. Its oiled. I let it cool. I even scissor trimmed the length off and mats out to try and make it easier for the blade to come through. Could it be dull? I started out working great; and now I can't get it through even the small tufts of hair I hold out for it to cut. Tonks looks a WRECK; HELP!!!!!! :pupeyes:
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A#10 blade should cut through about anything. Are you cutting with the grain of the hair?
Actually for a full body cut, if there are mats, you should use a #7 blade. It doesn't cut quite as close as a #10, leaves a bit more hair but will cut underneath mats. I prefer the #3-3/4 blade as it leaves even more hair but you need to be mat free to use it. I onlyh use a #10 on the private areas & the "V" in the pads of the feet.
I was using a #10, and I was cutting with the way the hair was laying. I was scissoring out the matts first. Is it possible the clipper just isn't strong enough?
That's possible. May not have enough power behind it. What kind of clipper do you have? Is the blade moving back & forth when you hold it in your hnad & it is turned on?
Make sure you are running the flat side of the blade against the body, even with body, & not at an angle. Also, you many need to take the blade off & clean out the inside of the clipper. Might have hair built up on there.
You should not need to scissor mats first at all with a ten blade. My guess you need the lube oil (not the spray) and/or if you take the blade off make sure the two screws on the actual clipper not the blade are tight. Sometimes they rattle loose.
No I applied the lube oil. And I had the blade at the right angle. AND I removed and cleaned it thoroughly. I just got back from Petsmart; the clipper I had was from when I first got the girls and I needed something for trimming a path so they didn't get poopie butts. It was an Andis, but it was a Medium strenght. So seeing that, I bought their toughest work horse clipper. I'm off to try again....
A #10 blade should slide through anything, its a bit brutal but gets the job done quick and easily.
Andis clippers are usually ok and if your going that short the motor wont have to do battle.
With the blade have you but it in blade cleaner with it running so it washes it out or slid the blade from one side then the other and cleaned the bits that are exposed? Or when the blade us running squeeze it by putting the base of the blade on the palm of your hand then press down fir a few seconds.
Are you clipping a clean coat? Sometimes bits of debris can jam up the blade oh and also get a toothbrush and clean the teeth of the blade as these can fill up.
Hope some of this helps! X
Once in a great while I get a dud blade that fails quickly.

First make sure you are going under the mat, not through. Take your time, nibble in from the sides and hold the hair vertical from the skin......that often helps. Yes, check to see the blade is moving when on, it is properly seated. Oil is necessary as is cleaning the blade while working, I use the cleaner in a wide mouth jar, dunk it in the cleaner while running. Cools and cleans at the same time. Have several blades (investment!!). Yesterday I did Jack and at the end I had 7 blades to clean before storage :twitch: I switch them constantly before they get too hot. Blades used: 3 3/4 blade on the body, several 5s and a seven on the head, chest, belly and upper legs and ended up using the 10 on the lower legs which are always my weak part......the dogs don't care for leg work. Curiously with Jack, he loves having his feet done, but not the lower leg.....silly guy.
SheepieBoss wrote:
the dogs don't care for leg work. Curiously with Jack, he loves having his feet done, but not the lower leg.....silly guy.


Funny guy! :hearts:
On that note... Does anyone want to make a recommendation for a quality clipper. I have been eyeing an and is but I am not sure which model is best?
Thoughts?.
I bought what I was assured was a good one. And it really doesn't matter if you don't know what you are doing. I'm fairly certain from the look on Adam's face that I have butchered the girls. And NO I won't post photos.
Come on give us a picture, I know we've been there in the past when we did our other two sheepies, it does grow out and they only look at you in horror for a few days. We're too old now to do Butchy, he goes to someone that has some idea of what she's doing.
Most new clipper blades have a rust inhibitor applied to them at the factory that needs to be removed to give a good cut. Try running the clippers for a minute with the blade on and the teeth dipped into blade cleaner solution. If not readily available at a pet supply story you can find a jar of this at a beauty supply house like Sally's.
Andis two speed is what I'm using now and go with the slower RPM.......too fast and it heats up too quickly.
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