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New Clipper Blades, poor cut alpacas
Author: Kate 
Date:   05-24-05 18:21

I have premier's 3000 clippers. I use both Wizard blades and premier's course blades. I shear both llamas and alpaca. My problem is mostly with alpacas and an occasional llama.

When I find animal with dense fiber, the blades just won't cut. I'll put on new set or newly sharpened set, it will cut for maybe a foot, then whammo! it stops cutting. I don't push it fast thru the fiber. I blow them out ahead of time to minimize dirt. I try to only oil them lightly but often. I will use blade wash to wash, then reoil.

I've found that squeezing the blades together will sometimes push stuck fiber out from between blades and it will cut again for a short distance. But for the most part, It just won't cut anymore. When I remove the blades to invistigate, I don't see anything...but I wipe them off and reoil (just a few drops).

I set the blade tention about 2 1/2 turns from tightest point.

I'm getting really frustrated and end up hand shearing those tough alpacas...and that's nearly half of them!

So...are the blade too tight? loose? no enough oil? too much oil? wrong blade? user error? or bad alpaca <grin>?

Any hints would be appreciated. I'm getting really frustrated.
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Re: New Clipper Blades, poor cut alpacas
Author: Janet 
Date:   05-25-05 11:26

You didn't say which blades you are having trouble with. In the very dense fleeces the Wizard blades would work better since the teeth on the bottom comb are better suited to parting the fiber and preparing it for the cutter.

If much fiber etc. is getting caugt in the blades it is most likely that your tension is slightly loose. I tighten it "hand tight" and then back it off as much as I can and still clip.

Good Luck!


Janet

jmay@premier1supplies.com
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Re: New Clipper Blades, poor cut alpacas
Author: Kate 
Date:   05-25-05 14:14

Both blades are not cutting. I originally was only using the Wizard on the dense fiber, but when I ran out of sharp Wizards, I used a course set on a particular nasty llama, and it cut great. So, I will try both and use what ever seems to work best.

A friend suggested I use the shears instead of clippers, but I'm not ready to go there yet. When another friend who had the shear head, also had similar trouble (although, I'm thinking his blades were dull).
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Re: New Clipper Blades, poor cut alpacas
Author: Janet 
Date:   05-25-05 15:21

I think what you are running into is that the blades don't do as well on that very dense fleece when they are starting to get dull. Unfortunately this happens quite quickly with camelids!! They do love their dust bathes...

Janet


jmay@premier1supplies.com
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