** I Posted this On Pro Groomer Network on 7 July 2023, and the amount of outreach was way more than I had expected. I plan to start adding information here to help out more often, so stay tuned, my friends.**
I like to share tips and advice as a former groomer turned sharpener.
Some groomers may say, “every groomer should know this stuff already.” But they dont! And i didnt! So if you already know, you are awesome.. (but for those who dont know, yall are awesome too!)
A groomer messaged me yesterday and said, “hey while your shop was closed for family stuff, I got sharpening from another sharpener. None of my wide blades work now. Nothing works. They may be ruined! I will never use anyone else again.” I was closed a few weeks so obviously I was not upset, but I was so worried about what I may find upon arriving. I still have groomer mentality and the thought that she may have to repurchase a whole set of wide blades made ME ill for her.
When I arrived, I first inspected to be sure it wasn’t a simple fix or obviously horrible issue. they looked normal. Then she handed me her clipper. I told her, “I hope u still decide to only use me from now on, but this is not the other sharpener’s fault. This is a maintenance issue.” The blade lever had a huge chunk worn off of each side. If it can’t push the cutter, you will get bogged down, hung up, snaggy. Maintenance is not optional, even on the most expensive clippers.
**In the Picture above, this is another clipper I have partially disassembled so I can clean the hair out of the bearing right below the blade drive. Circled, you can see a very worn blade drive. As the blade drive or lever is worn, the edges round (In this case, severely!) and it can no longer push the blade. Blade drives (Andis) should be released monthly, and Levers (all other clippers) should be changed every 3-4 months. If you notice your lever or blade drive are wearing more quickly, replace your hinge as well.**
Letting your sharpener see your clippers lets us do a few things:
-We can be sure your lever is still good.
-We can be sure your hinge still works properly.
-We can ensure no blades rattle on your hinge since some hinges are thicker or more worn than others.
If your clippers are fine, I typically just say yup looks good. Free peace of mind! If something is wrong, I will let you know too. Then you decide if you want it serviced or not. So don’t assume there’s a charge as soon as the clippers touch my hands!
Hope this helps someone!