Want to groom @ home?
 

Here's a GREAT deal on an Andis clipper, I have this one & Love it: https://www.petedge.com/zpetedgemain...c-locale=en_US

#10 leaves approximately 1/16" on hair on the body. This blade is used for tipping the ears (only the flat flap), sanitary & underbelly trims, paw pads & can be used under combs. I use this all the time, probably the most used blade.
#7FC leaves approx 1/8" of hair on the body. I like this blade for thick soft cottony hair. Leaves a very smooth finished cut. For silky hair, this is the shortest you can get w/out looking 'shaved'. I use this on cotton ball Momo during the warmer months.
#5FC leaves approx 1/4" I like this blade for all kinds of hair, leaves enough hair on the body to protect it from the sun. I use this (or #4FC) on my silky 3 during the warmer months.
#3 3/4FC leaves approx 1/2", great for silky hair. I have this one, but hardly ever use it.

For blades remember: the higher the #, the shorter the cut. The Andis blades comes in Ceramic or UltraEdge, they also have the new ShowEdge blades. Ceramic blades stays cooler & sharper longer than UE blades. I prefer UE blades bc they have a nice smooth cut, it's easy to sharpen than ceramic & more durable. If you drop a ceramic blade, it will break. I have dropped a UE blade once & one of the teeth broke, so it went in the trash. SE, I can't comment on bc I have not tried them...want to try them tho! The free blades that will come w/the package above are UltraEdge blades.

FC stands for Full Cut or Finished Cut. The blades w/out the #'s are skip tooth blades. They're mainly used for terrier cuts, cutting through mats & for blending. Novice users should be aware that skip tooth blades can get the skin caught, so you need to be very careful. For Yorkies, it's not needed, but used to blend the hair on the back of the head to the neck & rest of the body. You can use scissors for that too, whichever you're comfortable with.

YT Library has loads of grooming instructions, YouTube vids are great too. If you've been thinking about grooming @ home, grab this deal b4 it's gone, you can do it!

I have this clipper and it is a great product!!! Thanks for the skinny on the blades and how much they leave for hair!! :)

I use these all the time at my sisters grooming shop. They are an awesome pair of clippers. These comes with a 10 blade, plus a Free three pack and Free shipping.... very tempting !!

OK ...I could not pass up this Deal . . I just ordered them. At least now I wont have to load the pups un and take them to my moms house to use my sisters clippers any more. Not sure they will be happy about that but I sure am . .

Thanks so much for sharing this Jenny :)

What are the "skip tooth" blades best used for?

I could be wrong but I think they are used for a staggered look like for blending two lengths together. I don't normally use those.

Ok, I just ordered them.

I've been wanting to try grooming Lexi myself, but was unsure of which clippers to buy. Now, I have to go through the YT Library and find the grooming instructions. Wish me luck!

Thanks for sharing and for all the helpful information about the blades.

YVW, you'll be so happy to have your own clipper @ home!;)

I messed up on my description, I wrote "The blades w/out #'s" that's wrong...they all have #'s loll! It's the blades w/out FC @ the end of the #, those are skip tooth blades. For example, they have #3, 4, 5 & 7 (skip tooth) blades. #10 is not considered a skip tooth blade, it's a very safe blade, hard to cut skin w/those. A skip tooth blade is mainly used on the body of badly matted dogs but never on the legs or arm pits. It's also used for certain terrier cuts to get the rougher texture or layering, also blending.

:thumbup: GL! There's many informative YouTube vids, have fun!

okay you talked me into them also just placing my order I have just been using a walmart wahls clipper for years I am excited to have a good pair to trim my three with I would like to know more about the blending as my cairns hair is a little different then my yorkies thanks for sharing

I had no idea what blades to use for what....I was feeling very safe with the #10 blade....yes, it is a very shaved look for all over the body, but I have never cut a dog with them. I got a skip tooth blade, because I somehow envisioned it a nice "layering" blade....but when I saw that blade in person, I could just see me taking off hunks of skin and body parts, so I have never even used it! I may get a #7....maybe it will still give them a smooth, clean cut, and I wont catch them in the clipper.....you say it cuts like a #10 but leaves hair a little longer.....that would work on the body. I use those little Wahl Peanut clippers for sanitary clips and eartips.... Those boys get soooooo nervous when I am down "there" with those large clippers! Thanks for the info on blades!!

I've never used the skip tooth blades. I just use the same blade as I use on the back (#5) and when blending in the skirt I just go straight down the side tipping the clippers outward as I get to the edge of the skirt to give it that "fade" look.

:confused: My scare factor is when is comes to using them for the legs and the pits. But now that I am getting my own clippers I need to get up the nerve to do it on my own. I normally have my sister do the pits and I do a pretty choppy job on the legs than fix them up with scissors. I know the key is to lay them flat and not tip them forward but it just scares the crap out of me. Im so afraid that I will cut one of them.

Any advise on getting in done and safely would be appreciated !!

Great resource thread, Jenny. Now I know where to point people when they ask for this info. I had been giving them your name to PM. :)

I hope you'll love the clipper (I feel partly responsible for talking you into getting one:p)!
For your Cairn Terrier, you can use the same blades you use on your Yorkies, no problem. The proper way of grooming a terrier is using stripping knives or stripping stones, but I don't think it's humane...it's basically pulling the hair off. My instructor @ grooming school never showed us how to do it (but she told us how we can do it), she said it's cruel & many pet owners will not request it anyway.

Yes, need to be VERY careful w/the skip tooth blades, it can cause major lacerations. Oh Judy, you seriously make me crack up loll!
The #7FC will be perfect for Texas humid hot summer & will leave a little bit more hair on the body than the #10 to protect it from the sun.:thumbup:
For the legs, have you tried scissoring? I leave the leg hair long but for Princess (since she has thin sparse hair), I scissor it. You just comb out the legs by combing it up (against the grain) or use your fingers, make the hair stand out & scissor straight down whatever is sticking out. That's it. For the hair under (behind) the legs, just lift up their leg & comb the hair down & scissor straight. You can trim the arm pits this way too, when their leg is lifted. I use a curved shear for everything. The professionals use the super sharp expensive straight shears...so scared I'll nick my guys! When I 1st started grooming, I've used my finger as a guide & have cut myself so many x's (I carried a box of bandages in my bag)! Besides, my instructor told us that once the shears get dropped, it's no longer the same, no need to get expensive ones. I use this one, it's sharp (but doesn't nick easily) & easy to handle: https://www.petedge.com/zpetedgemain...c-locale=en_US

Or if you want to use a clipper, you need to use a blade that is longer than the one you used for the body. You use #5FC on their body, use #4FC on the legs (or even the #3 3/4FC, but it's kinda big & clunky...when u c it, u'll know what I mean loll). Just be careful of the little fleshy stopper they have above their paw on the back of their front legs & pay special attention when you're in the flappy areas (like arm pits & hind leg connecting to the side).

For the arm pits, I trim them when they're sleepy & relaxed. I put them on their back & use a mini blunt nosed scissor to trim it. If you want to use clippers, you can use the #10 blade for that, just be very careful & avoid the edge of the flappy area, just run the clipper over the flat area.

Here's a vid that uses a comb as a guide to trim the leg hair @ 6:05:

Jenny your such a great source of info . . thanks so much !!

I've got the scissoring thing down its just getting up the nerve to use the clippers for those more sensitive areas.

Yes I had been told she should be stripped. I agree I would never do that. I let her hair grow till see was six years old. But decided two years ago to shave her. I loved her shaved. But we shear her once a year pretty short and let it grow till the next spring. I would like to try different lengths Looking forward to these clippers Thanks

My clippers arrived yesterday. Not sure how soon I will use them. But very excited to give them a try :)

Mine came yesterday, too. They shipped the extra blades separately so I haven't received those yet. I have to work up the nerve to use them. My groomer said she uses a #4 blade on Lexi. She gets a puppy cut. I'm thinking that's the #3 3/4FC you indicated in your description...or close enough. I guess I'll use that one on her. But, I'm a little concerned that you said you almost never use that one. Is that not a good blade to use for a puppy cut?

Have you turned it on to hear how quiet it is?

The #4F/ FC (3/8") leaves a little more hair than the #5FC (1/4"). You can use the #5FC or purchase the #4FC separately.
The #3 3/4 is a huge blade, kinda like a comb style blade. Here's a pic of it: Attachment 393649 You can use this blade too, it's not as intimidating as it looks. It leaves a good amount of hair on the body, about 1/2". I don't personally use it bc it leaves a 'shaggy' look on my guys & I like them trimmed w/the #5FC or #4FC.

I got mine yesterday just waiting one the free 3/pack of clipper to arrive so that I can get started using them. Cant wait !

Thanks again Jenny for posting this. It saved me a ton of money. :)

No I have not plugged it in yet. I am waiting for my blades also

I certainly don't want a shaggy look. And, I probably would have thought the shagginess was me instead of the blade. :rolleyes: I'm going to use the #5FC and if I don't like it I'll buy the #4FC.

Thanks, Jenny, for taking the time to help an amateur like me.

Plugged mine in to take a listen and wow . . so much quieter than the once my sister has. The pups will love that. :)

Ok... Who else's mouth dropped open when he took out that #10 blade and started cutting that beautiful long coat at 6:30????? :shocked7q
LOL! :aimeeyork

I know what you mean..... Ruby still had her long beautiful coat the first time I cut her using the clippers I used a #10 blade and just about sh** myself !! :eek: and that was my one and only time using that blade. Now that I have a few years of experience and now know the blades I know now that that was totally the wrong choice.

Jenny, do you know if Andis blades are the same as Oster blades as far as the length per blade number?

I use the Oster #10 on all 4 of mine, and it is a bit short the first week but by 4-5 weeks they are ready for a cut again. I also have the Oster 7F and for me, it was a little choppier and longer than I like. But, with warm weather here all year, I like them short.

I'm tempted to get the new clipper just because it looks sleek and comes in purple. I have had my Oster Golden A5 Clipper for 18 years (yikes can you believe it). It worked fine for my mini Schnauzers and still good for Yorkies & Morkies in a modified Schnauzer cut.

What is the advantage of a 2 speed over a single speed? Do you use both speeds?

Wow... this women just butchered this dog with those clippers ! :eek:


She just seems so harsh... plus she is using a #10 blade which in my opinion and from my own experience is way to short for a Yorkie. Also, I would not consider what she did to be a modified Schnauzer cut this is more of a Joey cut with some very choppy looking cut on the legs.

If someone did that to my dog I would be pissed.

Another very interesting site with some god awful hair cuts on Yorkies. Some are ok but the majority of them are not.

Explore Yorkie Haircuts Pictures And Select The Best Style For Your Pet

Just sharing and giving you all something to think about before diving into that first do it yourself hair cut on your pups. They may not be the best at first but with practice you can master the perfect look for your babies.

Happy Grooming !! :)

Wow 18 years, that's a great investment! Yes, the Oster & Andis blades are the same #'s. You can use Oster blades on Andis & vise versa. How short you like your dog is a personal preference & their hair does grow faster in warmer climates (an inch a month).
To clean up a choppy look when using the #7FC or #5FC blades, brush the hair against the grain/ opposite of hair growth & make it stand up. Go through it w/the clipper & it will be smooth.;) It also helps if you hold their skin taut where you run the clipper.
I never use the 2nd high speed on my guys. It's especially helpful when shaving down bigger dogs w/thick double coats.

Haha! My mouth dropped & stayed open, a fly could've flew in loll! The model did have gorgeous hair...if 1 of my guys had that hair, I wouldn't cut it.

Ugh, I don't like this chick.:thumbdown I saw one of her grooming vids & she was so rough w/her 'teacup' yorkie. Poor dog was hunched over bc he was so scared, poor baby.

PetEdge has other clipper specials going on, doesn't come w/blades (except the #10). For those that only want the clipper & you can buy the needed individual blade(s). Right now they have free shipping + $15 off coupon code: CMBD (minimum $150 orders, until 11/19)
https://www.petedge.com/zpetedgemain...ale&minPrice=0

I have the Wahl ARCO in pink & love it too!

I know, when I saw this I was shocked at how she twisted that babies back legs the way she did. I wonder how many people would continue taking there pups to her if they saw this video? :confused: