Clipper blades running but not clipping, thoughts?

[skipollo]

I have a set of the Andis Xperience body clippers. I got them in the spring (2019.) I’ve clipped my QH 2-3 times with them and my OTTB twice with them, so they’ve seen very minimal use. They’ve been wonderful clippers until today.

I was clipping my OTTB (not yak hair, average winter coat), and I got about 70% done with him when the blades started pulling hair and not clipping. The motor was running, blade was moving, not hot, sufficiently oiled.

I tried increasing the tension, and I would get one swipe clipped and then it started pulling hair. I tried decreasing the tension, same thing. One swipe, then pulling hair.

We looked in between the blades, and there isn’t much hair in there that could be making the blades not be in contact with each other. The blades themselves are also still very sharp and were clipping great until this happened.

I was able to finish his clip with another set of clippers that I have, and I emailed Andis customer service for assistance. I figured I would check here as well because they will probably be out for Christmas Eve/Christmas Day.

Any thoughts on what I’m missing or doing wrong? He is clean and dry when being clipped.

[mmeqcenter]

What makes you say they’re very sharp? Sounds like dull blades to me.

[skipollo]

@mmeqcenter

What makes you say they’re very sharp? Sounds like dull blades to me.

I’ve only used them 4-5 times and they were clipping really well until this happened today. It was going great great great great OH NO, very sudden. It wasn’t gradual.

I do have a brand new set I could put on and try that. When my blades on other clippers are getting dull, they were never all of a sudden not clipping at all.

[poltroon]

Wouldn’t surprise me to have dull blades after 5 complete body clips.

[skipollo]

I suppose I will try putting new blades on next time I use them. I hope that’s it and the only real problem is me 😅 that’s easier to deal with that truly broken clippers.

Thanks for the input!

[Melissa.Van_Doren]

Dull, dull, dull. I’m happy if I get 3 clips done on small horses with one set of blades. I usually sharpen after 2.

[OneTwoMany]

First thought would be dull blades or a dirty horse.

[alibi_18]

@skipollo

We looked in between the blades, and there isn’t much hair in there that could be making the blades not be in contact with each other.

Have you ever cleaned your clippers correctly?
With these bigger clippers, you usually have to remove the blades apart and clean them so there is no hair at all stuck - that’s why it comes with a little screwdriver tool.
They are not like the clip-ons.

[skipollo]

@alibi_18

Have you ever cleaned your clippers correctly?
With these bigger clippers, you usually have to remove the blades apart and clean them so there is no hair at all stuck - that’s why it comes with a little screwdriver tool.
They are not like the clip-ons.

Yes, they get a deep proper clean after each use.

[Libby2563]

Yeah, I had that happen with a different Andis clipper and T-84 blades that had only been used for one or two previous clips on a medium pony. They stopped cutting suddenly, mid-clip. I was clipping on a Sunday morning a few hours before I was supposed to go foxhunting so it was a bit stressful to have a half-clipped pony! Thankfully I had some old 10 blades that I was able to finish up with. I bought new T-84s and the clippers worked fine again so it was definitely a blade issue.

[skipollo]

@Libby2563

Yeah, I had that happen with a different Andis clipper and T-84 blades that had only been used for one or two previous clips on a medium pony. They stopped cutting suddenly, mid-clip. I was clipping on a Sunday morning a few hours before I was supposed to go foxhunting so it was a bit stressful to have a half-clipped pony! Thankfully I had some old 10 blades that I was able to finish up with. I bought new T-84s and the clippers worked fine again so it was definitely a blade issue.

Phew that’s a relief that it’s only a blade issue and not an actual clipper malfunction or anything. I’ll be putting the new blades on today for sure. Thanks!

[DiamondJubilee]

For sure dull blades. Mine never give me any warning. They just work perfectly fine, and then all of a sudden they start pulling on hair and not cutting anything…

[mmeqcenter]

@skipollo

I’ve only used them 4-5 times and they were clipping really well until this happened today. It was going great great great great OH NO, very sudden. It wasn’t gradual.

I do have a brand new set I could put on and try that. When my blades on other clippers are getting dull, they were never all of a sudden not clipping at all.

That’s always how they’ve told me they’re dull. Suddenly stop clipping in the middle of a clip. I’m lucky to get two full clips out of one blade.

[Jo]

@DiamondJubilee

For sure dull blades. Mine never give me any warning. They just work perfectly fine, and then all of a sudden they start pulling on hair and not cutting anything…

100% this, for me too. Super annoying when I don’t have a spare on hand. (You’d think I’d learn one of these days…)

[KnockedOut]

Definitely agree with all the prior posters. Same thing would happen to me when they got dull. I could maybe get 2 body clips out of a set of blades IF the horse was actually clean. Dirty horse then game over. Using blade wash and oil throughout the clip will also help to extend the “shapness life” of the blades.