The Money Mustache Community
Learning, Sharing, and Teaching => Do it Yourself Discussion! => Topic started by: cowbellfever123 on May 10, 2014, 08:35:39 PM
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I've been cutting my own hair for a few years with a pair of $30 Wahl clippers. They are getting dull and I'm wondering if anyone knows a good way to sharpen them, or if I'll need to pick up a new pair in the near future?
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In the Wahl FAQ site (http://home.wahl.com/about/frequently-asked-questions) under "BLADES" you will find
"Q. What about blade sharpening?
A. Blades may be sharpened by sending them to: Wahl Annex, 3001 North Locust Street, Sterling, IL 61081. Attention Wahl Repair Department."
Not the most helpful answer, as it doesn't say if there is a cost, how to disassemble and package the blades, etc. - but you can take that up with Wahl if you want.
For non-Wahl Co. suggestions, google "sharpening Wahl clippers" and you'll find various suggestions (and maybe more details about the Wahl sharpening service?).
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There are lots of videos online showing how to do it.
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I've been cutting my own hair for a few years with a pair of $30 Wahl clippers. They are getting dull and I'm wondering if anyone knows a good way to sharpen them, or if I'll need to pick up a new pair in the near future?
Make sure you're maintaining the blade with oil too. They shouldn't get dull that fast.
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I haven't paid for a haircut since mid-2003.
Same here, I own a pair of Wahl Clippers that I paid around $30 for. At 2+ cuts a month, this thing has been used 250-300 times.
To date, my maintenance has consisted of taking the guard off, cleaning hair out and dabbing a few drops of oil on the blade. I've only done this twice. I have yet to notice any real wear on the blades. You have to realize we're talking about a good gauge of steel against skin and tissue - it will take some serious use to wear it down.
When they do wear down, try the Wahl route, but I seriously doubt that the blade will be sharpened - if you look online you can find replacements for less than $10. They probably just send you a new one for a cost. These are precision machined probably for a few cents each - I'd be surprised if Wahl is investing in labor & equipment when it would cost them far less to just swap out a blade.
Unless you really want to learn how to sharpen these blades, I would just invest in a new blade. It's environmentally friendly, since the old blades can be recycled.
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I've been cutting my own hair for a few years with a pair of $30 Wahl clippers. They are getting dull and I'm wondering if anyone knows a good way to sharpen them, or if I'll need to pick up a new pair in the near future?
Make sure you're maintaining the blade with oil too. They shouldn't get dull that fast.
Oil is important... but... different hair does do different things. One of my dogs has a super-fine, super-thick undercoat. He is hell on blades. In fact, he's hell on the motor of the cheaper clippers.
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Side question! Do you guys know what kind of store carries Wahl oil? It seems silly to order a $7 bottle from Amazon (I don't have prime) if I can find one within a bike ride's distance. So far I've tried Kroger and Home depot, no luck.
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any thin non-gumming oil should work pretty well. 3-in-one is a popular brand that you can find at the hardware store
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any thin non-gumming oil should work pretty well. 3-in-one is a popular brand that you can find at the hardware store
+1
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Side question! Do you guys know what kind of store carries Wahl oil? It seems silly to order a $7 bottle from Amazon (I don't have prime) if I can find one within a bike ride's distance. So far I've tried Kroger and Home depot, no luck.
See http://conspiracyofgood.com/2013/03/hair-clipper-oil-alternatives-what-can-i-use-instead/ and https://answers.yahoo.com/question/index?qid=1006022010369 for some thoughts.
You're not alone having trouble finding it locally. From one of the pages I checked: "I’ve noticed that most drugstores and discount chains in my area don’t stock hair clipper oil."
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any thin non-gumming oil should work pretty well. 3-in-one is a popular brand that you can find at the hardware store
Perfect, I already have some 3-in-1 lying around. Will use that. Thanks!
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Whal will sharpen them (I think its like $2 each plus shipping) If you ahve a bunch its worth it, not for one though, just buy a new one from amazon or Whal. They do make special blade for dogs with corse hair. (I have alwyas clipped all my dogs) they work well and last several years.