If your dog needs clipping and you require dog grooming clippers then you will also need clipper blades. There are different brands of blades with different numbers which cut to different lengths of coat and it may be worthwhile checking that the blade you are purchasing are compatible with the brand of clipper you have. For clipper blades to cut well they need to be well maintained and kept sharp. You will notice when blades go blunt as they simply will not cut through the coat. We will give you a little more information on the various types of clipper blades that are available.
Fine Tooth vs Skip Tooth Blades
Fine tooth blades give a finer finished look to the coat. These are best used on a fine and soft coat, for example any of the small fluffy breeds. The final clip will be very even looking and very smooth. Fine tooth blades are distinguished by the letter ‘F’ after the number, for example 4F, 7F, 3F. These blades will work beautifully for dogs whose coats are reguarly clipped and/or brushed however they will not work on a dog who is matted or very thick undercoat near the skin. This is because the coat is just too thick for the blade to cut through.
A skip tooth blade leaves the dog’s coat with a more layered look but it still looks neat and tidy when finished. It will probably be necessary to use a short skiptooth blade on a dog who is matted or very thick close to the skin.
Clipper Brands
The most popular and recommended brands for clipper blades are: Andis; Oster; Shear Magic; Wahl. The link for each brand will take you through to their direct website for further information however if you are looking for a place to purchase blades online then we recommend that you purchase them from the following reputable companies:-
Vet Products Direct USA/Canada
What Size Blade for What Length of Cut
Blades come in a variety of numbers which indicate the length of the cut. Clipper blades are generally labelled with a hash symbol before a number, for example Blade # 7, or Blade #4F or they may have variations of that. Each number indicates a different length of cut. The lower the number the longer the cut and the higher the number the closer the cut to the skin. For example, a Blade # 3 will leave approximately 13mm of length on the coat while Blade # 10 will leave approximately 2mm of coat. The very high numbers such as Blade # 40 or # 50 would only be used by veterinarians for surgical purposes.
Generally for pet dog clipping you are better off by using middle of the range that gives a medium cut. It is not necessary to have more than a couple of blades, unless you decide that you either want to clip your dog to show standards which requires different lengths of coat, eg a poodle or schnauzer, or perhaps you may prefer to have a shorter blade which will keep your dog short during the hot summer months and a longer blade for a longer clip during the cold winter months. You might decide to have a Blade # 10 for clipping around the anal area to keep it clear and clean and also underneath the hind leg area which sometimes can get knotted.
Below is a list of the different clipper blade numbers and lengths of cuts. Each brand of clipper blade may vary slightly in length but they all are pretty much the same.
Blade #3 or #3F …………. Cuts and leaves 1/2″ or 13mm length of coat on the dog
Blade #4 or # 4F…………. Cuts and leaves approximately 3/8″ or 9.5mm length of coat
Blade #5 or #5F …………..Cuts and leaves approximately 1/4″ or 6mm length of coat
Blade #5/8 Toe Blade ……Is specifically for clipping between the toes and feet
Blade #7 or #7F ………….Cuts and leaves approximately 1/8″ or 3.2mm length of coat
Blade #7/8 Toe Blade …..Is specifically for clipping between toes and feet
Blade #8 1/2 ……………….Cuts and leaves 7/64″ or 2.8mm length of coat
Blade #9 …………………….Cuts and leaves approximately 5/64″ or 2mm length of coat
Blade #10 …………………..Cuts and leaves 1/16″ or 2mm length of coat
Blade #15 ……………………Cuts and leaves 1.2mm length of coat
Blade #30 …………………..Cuts and leaves 0.5mm length of coat
Blade #40 & #50 ………….Are specifically for short surgical cuts
Different brands may have slightly different blade numbers however generally the lengths will be pretty much standard as the guide above.
Recommended blade numbers for different lengths of cut for pet clipping:
Summer: Blade number to use over the body - # 7; blade number for clipping around the anal area and underneath the dog’s hind leg area - #10.
Winter: Blade number to use over the body - # 4 or #5; blade number for clipping around the anal area and underneath the dog’s hind leg area - # 10.
If you use any shorter or longer over the dog’s body you may find the cut is too close to the skin and doesn’t look that nice or it is too long and it means you have to clip the dog more often to keep it tidy.
If you are doing specific breed clipping then you will need to follow the recommendations for that particular breed and it may be necessary to purchase more dog grooming equipment.
How to Put the Blades on the Dog Grooming Clippers
It is quite easy to put the blades onto the clippers. Slide the blade onto the metal holder of the clipper. Make sure it is secure. Then line up the plastic clasp on the clipper so that it slots into the corresponding gap of the top blade. Then snap the blade and the clipper together so that it is secured firmly together. You are now ready to start clipping.
Clipper blade
Clippers with no blade
Fitting the blade onto the clipper
Clippers and blade ready to do the job
Never have your clipper motor running while you are putting a blade on or taking it off. Always make sure your clippers are switched off. Leaving the clippers running and putting the blades on or off will ruin the motor in your clippers. The blade should just slot on the end of the clip area and then snap into place. You will need to line up the space on the blade with the hook on the clippers so it snaps into place properly. If you have trouble you may just need to adjust the top slide of the blade until it lines up.
Before grooming your dog make sure that the dog grooming clippers are working properly and that the blades are sharp. If the blades are blunt you will notice that they don’t cut through the fur. This is when they will need to be sharpened.
How to Clean Dog Grooming Blades
It is important to regularly maintain the clipper blades and keep them clean. If they are not cleaned after each clip the dirt and fur remains in them and if they are used again in that condition this will cause them to go blunt quicker. Clean blades will require less sharpening and the more sharpening the less life-span they have.
Clipper Blade Maintenance by Oster provides you with all your blade cleaning and maintenance requirements and using these products will enhance the life of your grooming blades and clippers. The pack includes Blade Wash, Kool Lube for cooling blades down and Lubricating Oil.
Blade cleaner and oil can be purchased through our above recommended online retailers.
Not only do blades need regular cleaning, it is also important to remember that the metal can tend to heat up very quickly, especially in hot weather. If the blade gets too hot then spray the blade with coolant – this will help to cool it down before you hurt your dog. Or, alternatively, give the clippers a rest and work on another part of the dog’s body, ie trimming the dog’s nails; or even change blades if you have a spare blade of the same length.
Blade cleaning solution is best utilised by tipping a little solution into a small container. Run the clippers with the blade in place and dip the blade into the solution just enough to cover the blade area while they are running. This will get rid of any hair or dirt stuck between the two plates of metal. Wipe them down with a rag and then squirt a small amount of oil on both end edges where the two blades move against each other. By keeping the blades free of dirt and well oiled they won’t blunt so quickly. When the blades do finally go blunt you will need to get them sharpened by a professional sharpener who specialises in dog clippers, blades and scissors.
Blade Sharpening
Depending upon how often you use your dog grooming clippers and blades and how often they are cleaned will determine how many clips you get before they need to be sharpened. Sharpening must be done by a professional – it is a specialised service and like any service you can get good and bad service. If you are not sure where to find someone who will sharpen blades you might want to ask your local dog groomer where they get their equipment serviced and sharpened or any pet shop who sells clipping equipment if they know of a reputable service.
Need information on other dog grooming supplies? Refer to our related pages on:
Dog Grooming Rakes and Shedding Tools