Groomer to Sharpener Insight. Week 3.
Everyday the question seems to be, “Which cordless clipper should I get?” As a former groomer, I know exactly what I like and what I can use based on my hands and preference. If you have had (or currently have) any hand damage/injuries or shoulder injuries (rotator cuff), I am immediately going to strongly urge that you are getting a lighter clipper. There are plenty of light cordless clippers, however the 3 that I strongly suggest are the Heiniger Opal, Heiniger Saphir, and the Oster Volt (Same as the Saphir!).
I have some CMC joint issues and arthritis in that joint, so the boxy smaller shape of those 3 clippers is very ideal for me. Also, having arthritic joints, you don’t want something with a lot of vibration. I can use those 3 clippers without irritating my hands at all.
If you are grooming with your strong hand (haha), I really like the Wahl KMX. It is about 1.5-2 oz heavier than the clippers mentioned above, BUT they have the fastest top speed offered on a cordless clipper. They match the top speed of the Pulse ZR2, BUT they are about an ounce or so lighter. Both the ZR2 and the KMX are LOVED by the livestock community. For this reason, Wahl often sells the KMX with a blocking blade, but all of your grooming blades will still work on this clipper. If you buy from a sharpener, most of us will sell it with a 30W instead because YOU NEVER NEED TO USE A BLOCKING BLADE ON A DOG! (This is used for cutting through adhesives in cattle fitting.)
You may want to know which clippers are the safest bet as far as durability, warranty, and likelihood of breaking. So here is the good, the bad, and the ugly.
With all things in mass manufacturing, there can always be a lemon in the bunch. Buy from trusted retailers, sharpeners, or manufacturers. That way if you have an out of the box issue or need warranty help, you will have assistance the whole way through. Also, it is important, as soon as you NOTICE an issue, let the seller know. Even if it is an issue that has worked itself out, you want that documented that there was a hiccup in case it presents again later on.
How do I pick the right clipper for me?
I got to work a booth the first time at Groom’d. I would tell folks, “You have to see how the clippers feel in your hand.” Groomers would pick the clipper up, do a lil hand jig, and say yup. I’m intrusive.. like a bad weed. Haha I would say, “no like really see how it feels.. turn it on.. hold it like you are clipping.. notice weight, balance, and vibration, and how it agrees with your hand.” I probably sound crazy but these are all important things. Some clippers are loved by my clients for the same reasons that other groomers HATE them. You have to decide if you like where the power switch is at.. does your hand comfortably wrap around the clipper? Do you notice the weight? I recommend feeling every shear and every clipper you are considering at the trade shows if possible. Or ask in your salon if you can just see how tools fit in your hand.. start a groomer swap in your area. All too often I line my clients up with each other. Those tools in your bottom drawer may be exactly what another groomer wants for their top work station area. And vice versa. I love to get sales, but I also love seeing tools not getting wasted as dust collectors in bottom drawers. lol
Who has what for warranties?
-All Andis clippers have a 1-year manufacturer warranty. You can call or email them to reach support, but I highly recommend calling. I have emailed before as a groomer, and got no response. Calling will get you fairly quick help.
-Wahl has a 5-year manufacturer warranty. The warranty center is easy to reach via phone, and you simply box items and ship them in for repair. I have utilized the warranty program, and it was a smooth process. The ONLY downside was it did take about a month to get my clippers back, and there was no call or confirmation of delivery. The service WAS free though. Simply be sure you keep up with your tracking number when you ship and get insurance to protect the value of your tools being sent.
-Heiniger offers warranty of 2 years from manufacturing date (not date of purchase). The warranty covers manufacturing defects and not damage, misuse, or normal wear.
What if I don’t want to use the warranty?
Many groomers reach out and for whatever reason they do not want to pursue a warranty repair. Maybe they want the fastest service or they do not have their proof of purchase or they just simply want me to fix it because they know me (or Facebook know me!) and they can put a face to who is servicing their tools. If you do not want to use the warranty, ask your sharpener if these are clippers they repair. If it is important to you to have a clipper that can be repaired by your sharpener, ask them what they service when you consider what you want to buy! Your sharpener may even sell the clippers you are looking for, or have a used pair for sale! When folks ask me about clippers I always tell them to see how they feel in their hands. If you do this, be sure blade and battery are attached for a realistic representation.
Which Clippers can I get parts for?
I am still a newer sharpener, but so far in my experience, oster and heiniger parts have been the easiest to get. Andis has a few parts that can be difficult to locate but they are around. Wahl has a restrictive parts list. Anyone can purchase Wahl maintenance parts such as hinges, levers, and replacement cords, but repair parts such as motors, PCBs, and batteries are restricted to different levels of their maintenance team. Wahl service centers can do more repairs, and the warranty center is responsible for battery repairs and warranty. (To my knowledge.) If you want a clipper that your sharpener can fix, be sure to ask them which clippers they repair. The only ones I do not do are the Wahl, but I have a preferred Wahl Repair Center I ship to if my clients want me to.
Hope this is helpful. I tried to cover a lot here so it may be vague. Ask questions!
Also, Special thanks to the big influx of website traffic and purchases. I am a little behind on getting everything shipped out, but I am trying to grow to keep up and be the best I can be to help everyone out. Here is a pic of my dog petey. I missed grooming so I made him a tiedye boy this week. I still suck at getting pictures. I did his nails after the picture, I promise.. lol
