Running Smoothly

Prepare and maintain your clippers to insure their best performance.

To help ensure that your newly purchased clippers will serve you well into the future, follow the maintenance and repair instructions provided by the manufacturer. In addition, several other measures will contribute to clipper longevity:

Don't spare the oil. Most manufacturers recommend oiling the blades prior to use, frequently during clipping--as much as once every three minutes--and again after the job is done.

“When you first get the clippers out of the box, the blades are oiled in the factory. That's the first time, but it shouldn't be the last,” says Fred Koeller, vice president of marketing for Andis. “Anytime you clip, oil the blades and then frequently as you use them. It helps keep the blades cleaner, it keeps them from getting dull and keeps them performing longer. When they aren't clean, they cut slower and leave streaks and lines.”

Clip only clean horses. The presence of dirt, even minuscule dust particles on the hair coat, accelerates blade wear. Dirt also increases the workload on clipper motors. If you are planning to do a body clip or partial body clip, first bathe the horse and allow him ample time to dry before starting.

Clear away hair and debris as you clip. Hair and debris caught behind the blades can clog up the clippers, slowing the motor or stopping the blades. When debris builds up, the motor may sound more labored and the blades function less effectively. (However, not all motors change in tempo when clippers get clogged up.)

Store equipment wisely. When you're done, remove the blades to clear out dirt, debris and hair. Then replace the blades, apply oil and store your clippers in a location where they are protected from moisture and cannot be jostled or dropped.