Hair clipper knife sharpening options

Even the most skillful and talented craftsman cannot do without a high-quality and most reliable instrument. Naturally, this also applies to hair clippers and trimmers. It is for this reason that the features and existing options for sharpening knives on a similar modern tool should be considered. It is no secret that timely maintenance of such devices and a competent approach to all the stipulated manipulations will maximize their service life. In this case, special attention is paid to the condition of the blades of the knife block and its adjustment.

Initially, it is worth noting that some modern models of the described equipment samples are equipped with elements due to which the sharpening of knives is carried out in automatic mode. but Most hair clippers are designed for manual processing of the corresponding elements using different types of tools and equipment. At the same time, it is important to take into account the need to monitor the condition of the knife unit in order to perform the necessary operations in a timely manner.

In professional use of the device, sharpening of knives should be carried out regularly. It should be remembered that bringing the blades to a dull state entails a whole list of negative consequences.

Taking into account the loads and frequency of use of the machine, such manipulations are strongly recommended to be carried out every 3-6 months.

Sharpening is required in certain cases.

1. During the operation of the machine, the client experiences pain. It is about the slightest discomfort during a haircut.
2. The knives begin not to cut the hair, but to crumple it and "chew" it.
3. After creating short haircuts, foci of irritation appear on the head.

In addition, the state of the blades and specifically the level of sharpening is evidenced by their appearance. It is enough just to remove the block from the body and visually inspect the knives. The presence of irregularities, notches and other defects indicates the need to restore performance.

The process of sharpening cutting, that is, one of the main elements of hairdressing machines, includes several stages.

1. Dismantling knives and preparing them for further processing.
2. Directly sharpening the blades and grinding them.
3. Finishing of sharpened cutting elements.
4. Assembling the knife block.
5. Trial haircut.
6. Setting up a typewriter.

It is important to pay appropriate attention to the first point. Any manipulation should begin with competent preparation of the workplace to create the most comfortable conditions. It is important to take into account the need for sufficient illumination. All used tools and consumables are positioned so that it is convenient to take them. It is worth noting that they begin sharpening by removing the knives.

The preparatory phase involves certain steps.

1. Disconnecting the device from the network.
2. Removing the knife block. It is important to remember that different models of hairdressing machines have their own nuances. So in some devices the block can be removed by simply pressing it, while in other situations a special button on the case is provided for this.
3. Department of knives. In the overwhelming majority of cases, they are fastened with two screws, which can be unscrewed with a minus screwdriver.

When preparing the blades to regain their performance, it is strongly recommended that you pay attention to important points.

• First of all, the screws fixing the knives are unscrewed, and all dirt is thoroughly removed. It is important to remember that even blunt cutting elements, if handled carelessly, can cause quite serious injuries (cuts).
• In the process of dismantling, all parts of the machine and fasteners are best folded in the appropriate sequence. This is most relevant for inexperienced users.
• Correct and high-quality sharpening of knives provides for the cleaning of all parts. An ordinary toothbrush can become an effective tool in this case, which, in addition to dirt, can also remove traces of rust.

To remove large traces of corrosion, it is recommended to use cleaning (plumbing) products. By the way, often after a good cleaning it will be enough to assemble the knife block and put it back in place. It means that in such cases sharpening is not required, and the reason for all the troubles was the contamination of the knife block. If such manipulations did not lead to the desired results, then it will be necessary to process the knives in one of the ways described below.

You can properly sharpen the knives of a hairdressing machine at home using both a special tool and improvised tools. Wherein, having performed all the manipulations with your own hands, it is possible to achieve the sharpness of a safety razor.

This method will work for most home users looking to keep operating costs as low as possible.

To sharpen knives yourself without purchasing special electrical devices, you will need to take care of the availability of:

• sandpaper with a grain of 800 for sharpening;
• sandpaper with a grain size of 3,000-8,000 for polishing;
• a small container of water to wet the blades.

The algorithm of actions includes sequential steps.

1. Place the working surface of the knife flat on coarse sandpaper and hold it several times, making movements parallel to the point.
2. Rinse the object to be sharpened with water to remove all coarse and small particles that appear after the cutting edge has been processed.
3. Grind the blades. The procedure in this case will be similar to the sharpening itself. Only use paper with a different grain size. Processing at this stage is carried out until the working surface is as flat as possible. It is worth considering that this stage is the most laborious and longest.
4. Rinse the knives and rub thoroughly.

Naturally, in this case, appropriate skills will be required. You will also need an aluminum disc, abrasive paste, or powder. The sequence of actions in this case will look in a certain way.

1. Install an aluminum disc on a lathe, first thoroughly clean it of debris and dust.
2. Apply paste or powder to the fixed circle.
3. Select the optimal speed mode and make the appropriate machine settings. The aluminum disc should rotate at a speed in the range of 1,200-1,500 rpm.
4. Start the lathe.
5. Sharpen the blades of a hairdressing machine, then thoroughly rinse and dry them.

The operation of the lathe requires strict observance of the relevant safety regulations. Particular attention should be paid to the availability and mandatory use of protective equipment, namely gloves and glasses (masks).

It is possible to sharpen the clipper's knives efficiently and quickly enough using two types of grinding equipment. We are talking about tape devices and equipped with special circles. The main disadvantage of the second option is the lack of adjustment of the speed of rotation of the grinding disc. Most often, this technique is used for rough (rough) cutting of the cutting edge.

The device can be fixed with clamps, clamps or ties. This will require:

• attach a sheet of paper to the device;
• circle the contour and mark the location of the fasteners (bolts);
• transfer the resulting scheme to a sheet of plywood and make holes along it;
• insert the bolts into the holes and fix the equipment.

After high-quality fixation of the device in the indicated position, you can start sharpening. This method of using the tape machine provides the most comfortable conditions at all stages of sharpening.

Another easy way to sharpen the cutting edge of your hair clipper is to use a conventional drill and a special attachment. At its core, the algorithm is almost completely identical to working with grinding equipment. The increased risk of injury should be taken into account. The algorithm of actions includes the following steps:

• remove and thoroughly clean the knives;
• install a grinding disc on the drill and turn it on;
• sharpen the cutting part of the blades to a mirror finish;
• remove the remnants of the abrasive;
• replace the knives.

It is important to take into account that this sharpening method has a number of significant disadvantages. And we are talking about the complexity of the process, the cost of equipment and the relatively low quality of processing.

The well-known bar, with which kitchen knives are sharpened and straightened, is also suitable for processing the blades of a hairdressing machine. To quickly and efficiently sharpen knives, you will need to perform a number of actions.

1. Fix the blades. Magnetic holders are often used for this.
2. Walk the bar along the knives 5 to 10 times. It is important to control the angle of sharpening of the cutting edge set by the manufacturer. As a rule, we are talking about 30-45 degrees. To do this, you can mark the edge with a marker.
3. Remove dust and abrasive residues by rinsing.
4. Wipe the knives thoroughly, completely removing moisture.
5. Grind the blades with a fine-grained stone.
6. Rinse the knives again and wipe them dry.

Initially, it is worth focusing on the fact that such sets are relevant for professional hairdressers. If the machine is used in everyday life, then the purchase of the machine can hardly be called profitable and justified. This set includes:

• machine body;
• disc (most often made of aluminum alloy);
• butter;
• abrasive paste;
• magnetic holder.

The equipment case can have different dimensions. The machines are in the form of small bedside tables, as well as large devices (up to the waist for an adult).

The sharpening process is carried out in several steps.

1. Assembly of the machine in compliance with all the requirements of the manufacturer's instructions.
2. Lubrication of the disc with the oil supplied with the equipment.
3. Applying an abrasive paste to the disc. It is recommended to use rubber gloves when doing this. Four strips of paste are applied along the radius, which is then distributed evenly over its entire surface.
4. Fixing the blades of the machine with a magnetic holder. It is important to take into account that the cutting edge is sharpened against the direction of movement of the blade. The teeth should point to the right as the disc moves clockwise. In this case, the sharpened knife is located sideways in relation to the center of the disc.
5. Start up the device.
6. Moving the blade from the edge of the disc to its center.
7. Sharpen each knife for two minutes.
8. Rinsing processed blades and removing abrasive paste residues.

It is important to remember that the performance of the knife block of a hairdressing machine depends not only on the sharpening (sharpness) of the blades.

For this, both a professional lubricant, which is sold in specialized stores, can be used, as well as a conventional silicone solution for electrical devices.

By the way, it is not recommended to lubricate the blades with sunflower oil! If it is not possible to apply the relevant material, then it is best to abandon this paragraph. Today, the leading manufacturers of hairdressing equipment specialize in the production of knife block lubricants.

To apply grease, you need a container with a narrow "nose". The best option would be to use a disposable syringe. Lubricating the clipper blades involves the following steps:

• dismantling the knife block;
• cleaning the blades using brushes;
• removal of dirt and dust particles, you can use microfiber, as well as glasses wipes;
• applying a few drops of oil to the cutting edge of the knives, in parallel, the lubricant is applied to both sides of the knife block itself;
• fixing the block in the body of the machine;
• test run of the device, in which the oil is evenly distributed over the entire surface.

Lubrication of the blade unit, according to the recommendations, should be carried out periodically. To maximize the life of the hairdressing machine, this should be done after every 2-3 haircuts. In addition, it is necessary to adjust the knife block after sharpening. It is about positioning the knives relative to each other in the transverse and longitudinal planes.

Several options for sharpening knives in a hair clipper are described in the video below.