*Note: This was written and posted on Groomies prior to the release of the AGS 3FW and the Zolitta 3FW. All of them are amazing blades from amazing folks, so I am adding this note to give credit where credit is due. Enjoy!*
Anyone who has followed any of my writing on my website or across the grooming networks knows, there are a few things that I harp on all the time: Oil, Levers/Blade Drives, and Hinges. Proper lubrication and scheduled maintenance routines will save you so much time and money in the long run. Also, knowing what you NEED helps you avoid overpaying on repairs that you may not need. Most of the sharpeners I know are great, honest people, and there are sharpeners I do not know that are great people too. I am just trying to protect you from sharpeners that may be out to make a profit from someone who doesn’t know their tools. I am here to protect you, help you save money, and help you learn things that maybe were not part of your initial training as a groomer.
One question I get weekly, at least, is, “Do you sell wide blades?”. There are a dozen questions after I say yes such as what’s the longest length, do I have the guard combs, and what good deals exist on them. Up until very recently, the longest standard wide blade was the 4fw, but now Bucchelli has released the 3FW. Yes! I will stock these! With that said, my first question to the manufacturer was, “What does that thing weigh?” He took one out of the packaging, weighed, and responded that it weighs 4.1 ounces. As dog groomers, you may be asking, “why would THAT be your question?!”, but the answer is easy. *
The more weight that you continue to add onto that hinge, clipped down on your clipper, the more things are affected:
1. 4.1 ounces is a lot of weight to add to your tool weight. More weight means sooner hand fatigue, more wear on your wrist, potential irritation for those with current or previous shoulder injuries/damage, etc. Self-preservation should always come first when considering new tools. Sure a wide blade will add it’s own conveniences in cutting down time on a groom, and for some that time difference will justify lugging the extra weight. Just know this will not be the case for everyone.
2. 4.1 ounces is a heavy weight to set down onto your hinge, and as the blade is engaged on that hinge, it is going to cause wear faster than say a regular sized blade would. Also, hinge issues will usually present first on your heavier blades, so those standard blades that are 5/8” or longer, wide blades (especially the 5’s, 4’s, and now 3’s). These are the blades that truly test the integrity of your hinge, so if it is compromised in any way, these blades will struggle.
3. We all act like we understand the blade drives and levers, but the fact is, as groomers, “understanding” it means we know it is a part that gets replaced more than the other parts. Honestly when I was taught to groom, my instructor got ill part-way through my training (cancer sucks), and a lot of information was missing so I had to ask questions and learn the best I could. The information I managed to gather on blade drives was, “if you really have to push your blade, replace your blade drive.” My friends, that thing should be replaced MONTHLY. If you have a clipper using a lever, replace that every 3-4 months. As that drive is moving side to side to push your cutter, it is taking on wear. A wide blade is going to have a larger friction area because it IS indeed wide. This means a longer rail getting oiled at the top and bottom of the cutter on the blade comb. This also means failure to oil, or the false belief that cool care is an oil substitute will result in quick wear on blade drives/levers and excessive wear on your clipper motor.
So the take away here: use oil, pay attention to if your body is struggling with the extra weight, and prepare to change parts more frequently.
Andis blade drives swapped monthly may need to be changed sooner if you see the edges rounding off. Levers may need to be every 2-3 months instead of 3-4 months. With proper oiling, you may be just fine, but inspect them and do not go beyond the suggested maintenance timeline.
Usually for hinges I say replace them annually. In some cases, they will need to be replaced sooner if you notice wear, so do checks on your hinge. Does it wobble side to side? When blades are “locked down” does it still easily lift? Are your blades all starting to sound loud? These are all signs it may be time to replace this part. An added benefit of always stocking a new hinge is for troubleshooting purposes. If you suspect your hinge is bad, it is very simple to put on your new one and see if that fixes your issues, or if another issue may exist. When changing a hinge, it is very important to get those screws tightened down securely. Failure to screw the screws in tight will result in a ruckus. Literally. They will run so loud you will want to cry, and you will pay a sharpener who probably just does an extra quarter turn on the hinge screws.
Oiling the blades will make the parts last much longer, so how often should you oil? When I was a groomer, I wouldn’t even stop grooming to eat or use the restroom so if you told me to oil my blades I would scoff. Now that I have been sharpening a while, if I groom a dog to teach other groomers or to help a family in need with their pet, I oil regularly. By regularly I mean every time my blade warms up and I swap it out, I oil the rails before I set it down to cool off. I never thought this would make a huge difference, but by doing this, I do notice the blades stay cool way longer while I am grooming. I used to really think the added step would slow me down, but since I have to change my blades less frequently, this oiling technique actually saves me time. I recommend asking your sharpener if they have needle oilers if you do not already have one. This will ensure you are not making a giant oily mess and minimize oil that transfers to dog fur. I use a needle oiler, and just brush the face of the blade off on a towel at my station or on my pants before taking it to a coat and I never have an issue with oil getting on the coat.
When I say to be mindful of if you are “noticing the weight”, I mean to listen to your body as you change up your tools. Overuse can cause muscle failure in your hands just like any other muscles. I have personally experienced this, and luckily I was able to switch tools before permanent damage was done, avoiding a carpal tunnel surgery. The clippers I was using were about 17 oz, and I switched to one that was closer to 14.9 oz. Every ounce makes a huge difference if your hands are compromised, (and let’s be real, most groomers have sustained some degree of hand damage). The weight of the 3FW is 4.1 oz in comparison to a regular 3F blade which weighs 3.2-3.6 oz depending on the brand. To me that is a significant weight difference. While I know the 3F leaves a more desired finish on certain coat types, I do strongly urge groomers to use a guard comb instead when possible just to have the lighter weight and lesser wear on their tools and hand.
While on the topic of wide blades and how they wear on a clipper, many groomers also ask which clippers are suitable for wide blades? This leads groomers to think some clippers will not make the cut, or that since wide blades are a newer craze in the grooming market, that older clippers must not be strong enough. I am here to tell you, livestock folks have been using wide blades a long time, and many of them have ancient Oster A5 clippers, Andis AGC 2 speeds, and Andis Excel 5 speeds. So yes, there are clippers that have been around forever that these folks use wide blades on. Yes the Andis Pulse ZR2 and the new Wahl KMX are new preferred picks in livestock, the Andis Excel 5 Speed is still a forerunner too. Those 3 clippers are the top 3 sellers for me at livestock shows.
Any heavy-duty PROFESSIONAL-USE clipper will support your wide blades if the blades and the clippers are properly maintained. With that said, I will say if you know you do not maintain your tools properly, a corded Andis 5 speed clipper can absorb a lot of abuse. (In saying that, I am not supporting abusing your tools. Haha) If you go out and buy the newest cordless clippers and then never oil or do regular maintenance, I can assure you, they will be mailed in for repair.
If you have a clipper you think may need repair, I like helping folks DIY via video calls to save you money. I also accept mail-in work so sharpening, repairs, etc. I am here for it.
If you would like to purchase a 3FW, find them on my website, here:
Bucchelli 3FW | MY CLARK PLACE
Take time to look around and see what other awesome products I carry. I carry All For Groomers, Groomer Supply House, and Bucchelli products.
For more information on sharpening and repairs:
Sharpening And Repairs | Clark’s Precision Sharpening (myclarkplace.com)
Jessica Clark
Owner of Clark’s Precision Sharpening
www.myclarkplace.com