![]() ![]() There are several brands out there that are very similar. Our favorite comb is the Oster Shearing Comb, 13-Tooth Arizona Thin and the cutter we like is the Oster Shearing Cutter, 4-Point Thin Heel Diamond.Įveryone has been asking about which shears to use. Their blades are interchangeable with different brands of shears. They stay sharp longer and seem to be better than other blades we have used. One of the best blades to use are Oster blades. If the blades are kept where there is a lot of moisture and they start to rust put plain white chalk where they are stored to absorb the moisture. Store the blades with the thin film of oil left on them after cleaning. Don’t worry it’s not as flammable as kerosene or WD-40. It will clean and leave a thin film of oil on the blades. How to Clean ~įor blade cleaning we use charcoal lighter fluid. Use plenty of oil when shearing alpacas or the shears will become quite hot. Remember to put oil on the raised portions between the blades. The solution is to clean the blades as much as needed when shearing. A buildup of this varnish will separate the blades and more hair will be trapped, causing perfectly sharp blades to not cut and just bog down. When any dirt, animal oils, and hair gets between the blades it will melt and turn into a kind of varnish which will slow down the blade action. Correctly sharpened clean blades should cut through the fleece like a hot knife through butter. The fine abrasive dust used to sharpen blades must be removed. After blades are sharpened, it is even more important that they be properly cleaned. New blades should be thoroughly cleaned before use, as discussed earlier. Possible causes when your blades won't cut:Ĭlean, lubricated blades will stay sharp longer, cut better, and run cooler than dirty blades. Even perfectly sharp blades can refuse to cut! The areas that are sharpened (inside raised area of the blades) should be completely smooth and have a uniform finish with no visible marks. Only blades used for small animals and human hair should be hollow ground. Large animal blades (used on alpacas and sheep) are flat ground not hollow ground. Make sure whoever is sharpening your blades is using the proper equipment, at least an 18 inch honing disc. It sets the comb and cutter to each other. It is very important to let the shears run at least 30 to 45 seconds before cutting with them. Setting Comb to Cutter ~Īlways use a newly sharpened comb with a newly sharpened cutter. ![]() If the protective coating is not removed the blades will gum up with hair and stop working. How frustrating! We know we’ve been there too.īlades that are not sharpened correctly and cleaned will dull fast and make shearing next to impossible! Even new combs and cutters need to be cleaned prior to shearing. You reposition the blades, adjust the tension, use more oil, and still the shears won’t cut. Brand new shears with new combs and cutters but no matter what you do the shears will hardly go through the alpaca fleece. ![]()
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