Third using the ceramic blades! Just pulled my slightly rusty, haven’t been cleaned/ oiled ceramic 10 blades out and got through my horses legs (elbow and stifle down) in like an hour (sounds long but I am a SLOW clipper). They also stay cooler in my opinion.
Replace the blade drive 100%. It’s like $6 on amazon and if you or someone you know has a prime account you can get free two day shipping. I have had my AGCs for roughly 2 years and have done probably 10-15 clips but the last few times I would have to go over the same patch of hair several times before it would cut evenly, even if I used brand new blades. I was SO worried I was going to have to throw them out but the replacement blade drive fixed them and they are like new!
I also advise wet clipping! Just tried it last night and I think I will never cut dry again. Clean up was so much easier and less hair everywhere.
I have never had blades sharpened because here it costs like $25-35 to get them sharpened and I can just get new blades for around that price.
I have also never clipped a dirty horse. I worry it will put undue wear on my clippers. Right now I have access to hot water but not a heated barn so I am clipping in segments. Last night I did legs (mostly because I am SICK of mud sticking to her legs), and I plan to do her head, neck, and rump next and then her barrel on Saturday which is supposed to be fairly warm. I figure this way I can get her decently clean without her freezing, and it keeps me and her from getting pissy about clipping for hours on end.
You guys are awesome! If nothing more, commiserating is nice when you think you just absolutely failed at something! Thank you!!!
I can clip on average 8-10 full body clips to a blade. Whether it’s t84 or 10 or more heavy duty machine. I also found blade sharpening a waste of money, i wish i could find a place that offered it that actually worked.
The horse has to be clean. Entirely clean. Wash with dawn dish soap or similar. All oil and dirt have to be stripped.
For what it’s worth, the problems with T84 blades being sharpened may be that a lot of smaller blade sharpening places don’t have an automated sharpener for them. The regular small blades fit into the sharpener, which holds them still and does the sharpening without a person holding them. The T84’s don’t fit, so have to be done by hand, and then you’re relying on the technique of whomever is sharpening them. A little warp or irregularity, and they won’t be cutting anything… (I hope I got the explanation sort of correct - a family member does blade sharpening, and this is how it was explained to me. He took a bunch of my old T84’s that were past being able to be sharpened again just to play with and learn to do them properly.)
Thanks all, i ordered a ceramic blade AND the new drive assembly from Amazon, so we will see if that makes a difference! Im glad I experimented on my non-show-only-if-i-feel-like-it-local-fun-show pony and not my daughters pony 
hey since I got you all here and you know the backstory, let me ask you. We are taking our daughter to a local show in 2 weeks, and I haven’t clipped pony because of above issue. What can I do to neaten her up without doing a full clip? Trace? Just neaten up feet/legs/face/ears?
I would do feet, legs, trim the guard hairs on the back of the head, but go with the hair and just take off the longish stuff. I only trim the hair that sticks out of the ears unless its a rated show.
Small Change, Thanks for the info on sharpening T84s. I didn’t know that - it makes sense.
Not to derail, but do you find the Double K clippers are quieter than the Clipmasters? I have the clipmasters and my horse HATES them. He’ll let me use the Andis 2 speeds all day, but I don’t want to body clip him all day. I’m debating changing them for the Double K in the hopes of not needing a tranq. Are they quieter? What do you think the Double K’s compare to noise wise?
The motor is quieter than the big ones, but also it’s housed in the part that hooks to your belt (or the wall, depending on the model you buy), so the loud(er) part isn’t the part that touches the horse. My sensitive horses are WAY happier with my Double Ks.
Just a quick tip, but I’ve found that the ceramic blades don’t much like the cool lube spray. They want a drop or two of oil instead. The difference is that they make this awful screeching sound without the oil. I haven’t tried doing a body clip with them, but I have the cordless AGR+ with ceramic blades and have done some leg and jaw trimming with them so far. They do cut really well! Because I have not wanted to get quite body clip close, I have had to be careful to not overdo it.
Thanks! Great tip, because tonight I’m going to try them out.
For those looking for sharpening that actually works, try The Blade Lady: https://thebladelady.com/
Jen is local to me, but you can ship blades to her. She is marvelous!!
Brilliant!
Does she have a storefront or pickup/dropoff location somewhere in the Denver Metro? Next time I’m headed that way I may have to see if she can breathe any life into the blades that came back pretty dull from another sharpening service!
I had a similar problem with my AGC 2 clippers. Worked great the first time and then got worse even after getting the blades sharpened. I found that removing the little plastic cover over the blade drive seemed to make things easier. Maybe because the hair can’t clog in there.
I did buy some Lister Stars but they get hot really quickly and I realised I really like how small and quiet the AGC 2 is.
