Last Updated on: September 29, 2022
Shaving with clippers surely does come with ease and efficiency, especially if you want to have a trendy beard-mustache combo, keep clean-shaven all day, or have intensive hair care.
However…
Even the most modern clippers will deteriorate without proper maintenance.
Shaving with dull clipper blades wouldn’t be as effective or easy, and you’ll end up wasting a lot of time.
If you want the best quality out of your clipper blades, then you’ve come to the right place.
If you want to know more about how to sharpen hair clippers, take a moment to scroll and read the content below.
How Do You Sharpen Clipper Blades At Home?
What Materials Are Needed In Sharpening Clippers Blades?
Many contemporary clippers, thankfully include auto-sharpening mechanisms that keep them in top condition with minimal work on your side.
Sharpening your clippers on your own, on the other hand, is necessary if you want to keep them in the finest possible shape.
I know you’re curious to know how frequently professional barbers sharpen their Wahl clippers or any other clippers.
On how to sharpen hair clippers, it is important to have the right tools and equipment to get the job done. If you are a first-timer, listed below are the basic things you’ll need.
- Screwdriver – This is used to unscrew the blades off the clipper and the back.
- Sharpening Stone – A 3000 and 8000 grit combo is ideal for quality results.
- Cleaning Brush – A toothbrush is ideal than a clipper cleaning brush as it is stiffer.
- Marker – This is used to determine how much surface area has been removed off your blades.
- Rag Or Paper Towel – A microfiber cloth is also an alternative. This is used to dry or wipe debris off the blades
- Warm Water Or Any Other Cleaning Solution
The advantage of these materials is that they are easily found and available. This is why they are recommended for those who want to learn clipper blade sharpening at home.
How Do You Sharpen Clipper Blades With A Sharpening Stone?
Consider the steps listed below on how to sharpen clippers:
A. Pre-Sharpening Steps
It is important to prepare before sharpening your blades which is why you should follow the steps below.
1. Clean Your Blades
Before we begin sharpening our blades, you must first remove any build-up.
Edges can become dull merely due to dirt buildup, and they may not require any sharpening at all.
Even if you know you need to sharpen your blades, clean them first so that hair and other debris don’t get in the way of putting them in top shape!
2. Detach The Blades
Remove the screws that connect the edges after making sure your clipper is turned off and unplugged.
For the clipper blades, there are usually two connection points. If you’re not sure how your clippers are put together, take pictures of them as you go to see how they join or consult your instruction booklet.
Tweezers can help you remove the blades from your clipper if you’re having problems doing so.
3. Brush Off The Blades
After you’ve safely removed your clipper’s blades, wipe away any debris and hair.
To effectively clean up any mess, use a toothbrush, a wire brush, or steel wool.
4. Use Blade Wash For Rust And Excess Debris
Blade wash can help you get rid of rust, which may suggest that it’s time to replace your old clipper blades. Alternatively, you may soak them in a small bowl for a few minutes.
For more significant build-up, dip a cotton ball in the wash and scrape at difficult spots.
5. Let The Blades Dry
After you’ve finished cleaning your blades, make sure to dry them completely with a towel. If you still see rust, repeat the steps above.
After you’ve cleaned your blades, you may move on to the sharpening process.
You can test your blades in between sharpenings to see if they still need sharpening or if cleaning is sufficient.
If your blades are snagging hairs, not cutting as effectively as before, or still seem dull, they need sharpening.
B. Steps On How To Sharpen Clipper Blades
Now that the blades are clean, you can now proceed with the main process on how to sharpen trimmer blades.
1. Get A Sharpening Stone
You should get a honing stone for your blades if you don’t have one yet.
Fortunately, these are readily available on the internet.
You should keep in mind that different types of honing stones are required for a metal and a ceramic clipper blade.
Using the wrong stone can cause harm to a metal blade and ceramic blade alike, so be cautious when purchasing one.
2. Using The Sharpening Stone
You want to run one side of the blade along the surface with the correct honing stone at the ready.
The ideal angle is between thirty and forty-five degrees, and the only thing you want to do is move the blades forward.
Any other way will not sharpen the blades sufficiently for use in your clipper.
This sharpening process should be repeated five to ten times until the blades are even and gleaming. Wipe away the ground-off shavings using a dry towel.
The operation can then be repeated on the opposite side of the edge.
You can use a magnetic blade holder or a flat magnet for metallic clippers if you’re having difficulties holding onto your blades. Take careful measures if you plan on using regular magnets to prevent the blade from falling off and cutting you.
3. Using The Fine Sharpening Stone
While a honing stone can help you sharpen your blades, a good whetstone can help you fine-tune them even more.
Apart from replacing your sharpening surface, repeat the steps from the previous procedure, being sure to clean between sides.
C. Post-Sharpening Steps
Now that you’re done sharpening, follow the steps below to help maintain the quality of your blades.
1. Reattach Blades To Clippers
You may now reattach your blades to your clippers after cleaning and sharpening them.
Make sure they’re in the same place they were when you first put them on.
To keep your blades secure while using the clippers, make sure the screws are tightened.
2. Apply Hair Clipper Oil
Apply some hair clipper oil to your hair clipper blades to help them stay in good shape.
This product is great for reducing friction and preventing overheating.
Make sure your oil is safe to use with your clippers, just like you would with a honing stone, to avoid clogging up your blades.
3. Run Clippers
Allow your clippers to run for a few minutes without using them once everything else is in place. Several self-sharpening clippers will be in use; hence, most blades will sharpen even more during this procedure. You should notice a change in the clipper blade’s sharpness the next time you use it.
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How To Sharpen Clipper Blades With Sandpaper
If the rust on your hair clipper blades is visible and the techniques above do not remove it, it may be time to replace them.
Before you sharpen hair clipper blades, keep in mind that they must be clean. You can now resurrect your blunt infants if they are noticeably clean.
If you want to know how to sharpen clipper blades without a stone, simply follow these steps. But first, get your materials ready:
- Your primary sharpening tool is sandpaper.
- Any oil to keep the blade lubricated
Step 1: Place the blade of your clipper on a flat surface.
Step 2: Using sandpaper, rub the clipper blade. Repeat this rubbing motion on all of the blade’s surfaces several times. Do it for around 20 seconds.
Step 3: Do the opposite this time: place the sandpaper flat on a surface. Hold the clipper blade and sandpaper all of its surfaces. This aids in the polishing and gleaming of your clipper blade.
Step 4: When you start using the clipper again, oil the blade so it glides easily.
Step 5: Check to see if you’ve sharpened the blade sufficiently. To do so, reattach the clipper blade to the clipper body and practice on hair. Repeat the sandpaper sharpening step if the clipper blade still feels blunt.
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Frequently Asked Questions
What is the best way to sharpen clipper blades?
The answer to this depends on how you sharpen hair clippers. It is mostly based on what suits you and the clipper most. However, I would recommend clipper blades sharpened with sandpaper.
This requires fewer materials and easier steps for beginners.
How often should clipper blades be sharpened?
It all depends on how frequently you use your hair clippers. It’s best to do it every six months as a rule of thumb. Hair clippers should be sharpened every two months if they are used often, such as many times each week.
How much does it cost to get clipper blades sharpened?
Depending on the blade, the cost of having your clipper blade sharpened by a professional clipper blade sharpener ranges from $5.25 to $9.00 per blade set.
Your blades can be sharpened up to five times for the cost of a new one. These work the same for any type, even a dog clipper blade.
Conclusion
It’s no comfort cutting hair with a dull blade. They don’t always cut smoothly and tend to pull hair. It’s the same as attempting to use a dull knife to cut through a beef tenderloin.
I hope this information gave you insights into the two methods of sharpening your clipper blades using a sharpening stone and sandpaper. Whichever approach you use, be careful with your equipment, and don’t hurt yourself! If you need help, then feel free to reach out to a professional who will guide you through the basics of sharpening your clipper blades.
Don’t be intimidated if you’re new to sharpening clipper blades and this is what the article is all about in the first place. This is an integral part of keeping your hair clipping equipment in good working order and maintaining them is your responsibility.
Don’t fret and just do it instead!
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