Your clippers and blades are an investment and the best way to keep your investment running smoothly is through regular care each and every time you use them.
There are many ways to do this, but the #1 thing you can do is keep your blades clean, dry, and well oiled.
Blade Oil
Blade Oil is the gold standard in rust protection, lubrication, and extending the life of your clipper blades.
Your clipper blades will have optimal friction reduction with the regular application of Blade Oil. The lubrication provided by Blade Oil is superior to that provided by Blade Ice, which further extends the life of your blades. Horse clipping becomes a challenge when the blade components are dirty or dry. This creates friction and heat, damages the cutting edges, and will start to pull and tug at your horse.
The other main function of Blade Oil is to prevent rust from forming. This happens when clipper blades are unlubricated, and most of the time you are unable to have the rust removed during a blade sharpening. Clipper blades that are stored without oil will rust.
Blade Ice
Blade Ice is an aerosol spray coolant, lubricant, and cleaner all in one. Since it is an aerosol spray, it is actually quite a powerful spray will blow hair away from your clipper blades. This prevents hair from building up in the clippers and in between the blade surfaces, which can dull the blades and interfere with your clipper’s performance.
If clippers become warm as you are using them, Blade Ice will cool them down. Warm or hot blades will slow down, and dull the cutting surfaces of the blades. When Blade Ice cools things off, your blades can live another day to clip another horse!
There’s also a fine layer of lubricant that is deposited with Blade Ice. This reduces any friction that the two parts of the blade encounter as they slide back and forth across each other.
Wahl has also designed Blade Ice with safe and eco-friendly ingredients, and it does not contain any ozone depleting ingredients.
How to use Blade Ice and Blade Oil as you are clipping your horse:
A horse’s coat is dense! And there’s a lot of surface area to cover. A fresh set of blades won’t last long during your clip unless you take a few easy steps to care for your blades.
When you are clipping your horse, stop every 5 minutes or so and attend to your clippers.
Hot blades are often a sign that something isn’t quite right. Perhaps your horse is a bit dirty? Clipping through dirty hair gunks up clipper blades quickly. The dirt and dust on your horse will also damage the blades, making them dull and prone to catching or tugging.
A good horse clip always starts with a clean horse.
Hot blades can also mean your blades are too dry. If your horse is crazy clean and your blades are still heating quickly, there’s not enough Blade Oil on your blades. It might also be a good time to use some Blade Ice to clean your blades, in which case you should always add Blade Oil afterward.
The steps above for cleaning and oiling your blades while you’re clipping are also the best way to prepare your blades for storage. Clean and well-oiled blades will stay rust free and ready for your next horse clipping adventure!
Keep scrolling to find more information and videos that demonstrate how to use these products on your favorite Wahl blades.
For more great tips and tutorials from Liv, check out her website Pro Equine Grooms.