Hiring a fitter?

[herfchic]

I fit and clip mostly on my own, but I have helped a few people.  I am just trying to get into the business.  People tell me I do a good job, but I can't judge my own work, so I just want to keep fitting and clipping. 

 

[jallen]

Hey I am always looking for cliping or breaking jobs or both. If nothing else let me know if you do need one and if you pay expense plus be more than happy or just some where I am already at.
Thanks John

 

[ROAD WARRIOR]

We don't ususally pay for a fitter, we are on the "quid pro Quo" rationale.  Folks like road warrior and stumpy trade with us, works pretty good on a small budget.  When I used to be a "dirty knees" kinda guy, I would get $100.00 to $150.00 per day, that was in the late 80's early 90's.  Don't have the knees/legs/hands and body to that kind of nonsense anymore.  Same as stated above, if you hire someone, make sure they will listen to you (you are paying them), make sure they are on time and sober and can actually do what they say they can do.  When working for a large custom fitter, we had numerous "clipper monkeys" that clipped as if they were using a weed-eater, not a set of sunbeams (yes, I am old).  Those kind of folks really irked me since we were mostly making the same amount of money at shows.  They got to lead cattle to the ring and I got stuck sniffing glue all day.  I would be willing to pay $150.00 per day since ours are usually roughed out when we get to a show.  If my help won't do tie-outs, and sits on their cell phone all day, they don't get paid good.

There are a few advantages to being in the " good old boys club" ! As most of us are getting close to the big 5 0 - it is no doubt fun to watch us get up from the side of a chute. Maybe I should have said the "Geriatric club"! Missed ya in Iowa MBAR but Boat was there to represent in his typical fine fashion! RW

 

[kobo_ranch]

Ok then-- this is our first year showing, if say we are planning to go to Ft Worth, San Antonio, Houston and Austin--
how do we find a good fitter?  We'll also be showing a heifer in San Antone.
Referrals appreciated!!  <cowboy>

 

[chiangus]

we usually pay $200

 

[inthebarnagain]

You are right in my opnion some kid carrying around a set of 2 speeds is not worthy of calling himself a fitter untill the day comes when he can clip a whole calf out with a set of sheep heads.

My husband says the same thing.  He will STILL whip out the sheepheads when he is body clipping.  I would love to see a clipping contest with only sheepheads.  The youngsters would fall first and fast.

 

[Show Heifer]

I guess I think if the technology is there, why not use it? (refering to those "nasty 2 speeds")  If you can clip a calf with them, so be it. If you have to use antique sheep heads, then thats great too.
If you want to take the andis away , I would like to add to the list: Paint, "filling tubes", spray adhesive (tail adhesive, Prime time), Pink Oil, and Fluffer combs. 
I honestly don't think these kids know how to fit because they don't know how to use a glycerine bar, curry comb, and do it without a alumimun grooming chute.

 

[herefordfootball]

You are right in my opnion some kid carrying around a set of 2 speeds is not worthy of calling himself a fitter untill the day comes when he can clip a whole calf out with a set of sheep heads.

My husband says the same thing.  He will STILL whip out the sheepheads when he is body clipping.  I would love to see a clipping contest with only sheepheads.  The youngsters would fall first and fast.

Whatever  makes the calf look good imo is the best way to go, personally I like the two speeds due to the fact that they are about less than half the weight of the sheepheads and are easier to manipulate also. When you are clipping the inside of the back leg and if you're not working with a wide stanced calf, the two speeds are nice. JMO, whatever the fitter prefers is good with me, but I fit my own calves when I can so I go with the Andis two speeds.

 

[shortyjock89]

You are right in my opnion some kid carrying around a set of 2 speeds is not worthy of calling himself a fitter untill the day comes when he can clip a whole calf out with a set of sheep heads.

My husband says the same thing.  He will STILL whip out the sheepheads when he is body clipping.  I would love to see a clipping contest with only sheepheads.  The youngsters would fall first and fast.

Pshhhhh. I don't think using sheepheads is that hard.  I use them all the time when getting really serious about building legs, and I used only sheep heads when I clipped our heifers for county fairs this summer (won the ONLY one I took my heifer too).  I agree that the 2-speeds are easier, but there are more of us youngsters that can use the sheep heads than you might think.

 

[NSF]

i also like the fact that you arent def after clipping out some legs when you use the 2 speeds. i already can hardly breath through my nose when im done after a long day of fitting so i like being able to hear. having four sheepsheads rolling at once at a chute will leave your ears ringing for a while

 

[Dusty]

All i have is 2 sets of two speeds. Bought both used and get along great for a lot less money than what the sheepheads cost.  I use a blocking blade to do the body and then I slap a flat blade on to do the head.  I have less than $250 invested in clippers and blades.  I don't do a whole lot of calves maybe 30/yr, but I didn't ever see what was so great about the sheepheads other save some time.  I also like the quietness of the two speeds especially when you are doing county fair calves that have never seen a clippers before.

 

[simtal]

you clip heads with a two speed?

 

[CJB]

you clip heads with a two speed?

Not answering for Dusty, but I've seen a lot of heads clipped with 2 speeds in the past year or two.  I'd never seen it before, but it seems to be gaining some popularity now.

 

[M Bar]

Us old folks aren't saying that 2 speeds are bad, they are great, but if you ever have to shear out more than a few a day, you'll like the speed of the "big dogs".  Y'all need to come out and shear 150 bulls in two days with a set of shearmasters and a torch.  That is when you seperate the men from the boys.  I have sheared out over 2000 head for sales/dispersals, and speed is what you need.  that's a little different than show clipped, but when you grew up using the old clippers, it's hard to change to the little clippers.  Anyhow, make sure when you hire a fitter they are show and not all blow....

 

[inthebarnagain]

Us old folks aren't saying that 2 speeds are bad, they are great, but if you ever have to shear out more than a few a day, you'll like the speed of the "big dogs".  Y'all need to come out and shear 150 bulls in two days with a set of shearmasters and a torch.  That is when you seperate the men from the boys.  I have sheared out over 2000 head for sales/dispersals, and speed is what you need.  that's a little different than show clipped, but when you grew up using the old clippers, it's hard to change to the little clippers.  Anyhow, make sure when you hire a fitter they are show and not all blow....

That is exactly what I am talking about.  My husband used to work sale cattle all the time, when he is grooming at a show the two-speeds are what he uses.  Only at home, the roughout clip on a wooly one is where the sheepheads come out, after the torch that is!

 

[Dusty]

you clip heads with a two speed?

Not answering for Dusty, but I've seen a lot of heads clipped with 2 speeds in the past year or two.  I'd never seen it before, but it seems to be gaining some popularity now.

Its all i've ever used.  All I had when I started clipping was a set of 2 speeds to do pigs so I just started using them to clip the heads on our calves.  I use a #10 or 15 blade and just sheared them like you would with a flathead.  I guess I did one and I thought it worked so i never bothered getting anything else until I bought another set of two speeds used for $65 just to have a spare.  Like I said before the speeds are a lot less noisy and it helps a lot on a nervous calf.

BTW my older 2-speeds once got left in a bucket and it rained on them for 2 days.  Submerged in water for two days.  I opened them up aired them out and they are still going strong 10 years later.

 

[ZNT]

Us old folks aren't saying that 2 speeds are bad, they are great, but if you ever have to shear out more than a few a day, you'll like the speed of the "big dogs".  Y'all need to come out and shear 150 bulls in two days with a set of shearmasters and a torch.  That is when you seperate the men from the boys.  I have sheared out over 2000 head for sales/dispersals, and speed is what you need.  that's a little different than show clipped, but when you grew up using the old clippers, it's hard to change to the little clippers.  Anyhow, make sure when you hire a fitter they are show and not all blow....

That is exactly what I am talking about.  My husband used to work sale cattle all the time, when he is grooming at a show the two-speeds are what he uses.  Only at home, the roughout clip on a wooly one is where the sheepheads come out, after the torch that is!

The key to any fitter/clipper is experience.  It just takes numbers to get good, and to get fast.  It is also about choosing the right tool for the job.  I have clipped well over a 1000 head of cattle for sales, both clip only and clip and torch, but when it comes to clipping out a calf for a stock show, I pretty much use my Andis solely except for the head.  The type of clipper a fitter uses does is not an indicator of his skill, but it can sometimes show a lack of experience. 

My advice in hiring a fitter is find someone that does a good job first, but a close second is to find someone you trust, and is a good role model for your kids to be around.

 

[ROAD WARRIOR]

Us old folks aren't saying that 2 speeds are bad, they are great, but if you ever have to shear out more than a few a day, you'll like the speed of the "big dogs".  Y'all need to come out and shear 150 bulls in two days with a set of shearmasters and a torch.  That is when you seperate the men from the boys.  I have sheared out over 2000 head for sales/dispersals, and speed is what you need.  that's a little different than show clipped, but when you grew up using the old clippers, it's hard to change to the little clippers.  Anyhow, make sure when you hire a fitter they are show and not all blow....

Another thing to consider especially if you are working sale cattle is the longevity of the clipper blades. I get alot more acres of fur out of my old shearmasters than any of the two speed blades. And the nice thing about them is when they get dull I can fire up my wheel and in a few minutes I can have a sharp set of blades again. I have went to the 2 speeds for alot of show clipping but I'm not going to get rid of my big motors just yet. I think if I had to I could probably still clip one from start to finish with the old "beamers" - I'm not sure how many of the youngins that are running the road today could lay a top in with the bigguns though. RW

 

[LinZ]

Personally now, I like using 2 speed andis for everything(including heads)...their quieter and easier to use in tight spots, but...up until 3 years ago all I ever had to use as far as clippers were shearmasters, so I had to learn how to use them for everything as far as clipping even the little details and areas and they work amazing but I finally was able to get new clippers and went with the 2 speeds to compliment the shearmasters when I clipped but 2 weeks later I messed up my shoulder horribly, dislocated my elbow and wrist so it became very difficult to use the heavier shearmasters and still is to this day so now I use the smaller 2 speeds. I think it's personal preference as to which you use but only experience to get to a point where your good with either.

LinZ

 

[Jill]

We don't ususally pay for a fitter, we are on the "quid pro Quo" rationale.  Folks like road warrior and stumpy trade with us, works pretty good on a small budget. 

Ok now that's just braggin!  Budgets don't get much smaller than ours and I don't know road warrior, but I want to know how you get on the "quid pro quo" thing with stumpy, for some reason he has never had pitty on this old woman! (clapping)