Signs your animal clipper blades need sharpening
- The blade pulls or snags the coat instead of gliding through it
- You're going over the same patch again and again
- Tracks or lines are left in the coat
- The animal is fidgeting more than usual — pulling is uncomfortable
- The blade heats up quickly even when it's clean and oiled
- Hair builds up between the teeth faster than normal
Blades I sharpen
I sharpen animal clipper blades only — A5-style detachable blades in all the common sizes, wide blades, and large-animal blades used on horses, cattle and other livestock. Vet clinics, professional groomers and owners who clip their own animals all send blades in.
Animal clipper blades used for cutting human hair use a different blade system and aren't something I service.
How the sharpening works
Animal clipper blades are sharpened on a dedicated animal clipper blade sharpening machine made by The Shop Inc., not on a general grinder. Every blade goes through the same process: inspection for damage, sharpening of the cutter and comb, cleaning, reassembly, testing and a final blade wash. You can watch every step in the 9-step animal clipper blade video on the home page and gallery.
Damaged blades — missing or bent teeth, cracks or heavy rust — are checked first. If a blade looks like it isn't worth sharpening, I'll let you know before going ahead.
Making blades last longer between sharpens
- Brush hair out of the teeth after every animal
- Oil lightly before and during use — a few drops across the teeth
- Use a coolant spray when blades warm up; heat wears the edge and dulls it faster
- Bathe dirty or matted coats before clipping — grit and sand blunt blades quickly
- Store blades dry and separate so the teeth don't knock together
- Keep a spare set so you're never stuck while blades are away being sharpened
How often should animal clipper blades be sharpened?
It depends on how much you clip and what you're clipping. A busy salon or vet clinic may need blades done every few weeks, while an owner clipping their own dogs might only need it a couple of times a year. Dirty, sandy or matted coats wear blades much faster than clean ones. The simplest rule: when the blade starts pulling or leaving lines and cleaning and oiling doesn't fix it, it's time.
Drop-off or mail-in
If you're near Campbelltown, Camden or the Macarthur region you can drop blades off by appointment. Everyone else can post them in from anywhere in Australia — just contact me first so I can confirm pricing and the right satchel size. Animal clipper blade sharpening starts from $15 per blade.