Hiring a fitter?

[shortdawg]

I guess I'm cheap but I use the same clippers for everything.

 

[chambero]

I have more than a little hearing loss from spending too many hours around sheepheads - a lot more watching, scratching, and holding tails as a kid than doing.  But I can still do as smooth a job with them than I can the little clippers.  I do mostly use the little ones now, except for heads and I just can't break myself from using the old flatheads.

I think the little clippers are a lot easier to get kids started on though just because they are easier to handle. 

We do all of our slick shearing with sheepheads and "Texas" blades still.

And anybody needing some help in Texas couldn't do much better than getting "ZNT".  He does groups of heifers for us and show steers.  I've got "dibs" for Fort Worth though!

 

[bcosu]

I learned on a set of andis 2speeds but always had a couple sets of shearmasters around at the house. I've been clipping for about 5 yrs now and have been hired to fit at a few big shows from some breeders that get around quite a bit. I am at that stage where i clip for alot of people at the county level for cheap because i feel bad about charging them cause they are friends and just take what i can get when i get hired at shows. I figure the amounts mentioned will come eventually but they haven't come yet, not even for jr. nationals lol.

but anyways, the 2 speeds are nice all around for show cattle but when i shear off calves for summer i use the shearmasters and it takes about 5 minutes to do a calf.

 

[BCCC]

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.

Gona have to go with Justin, I can put a pretty nice clip job on a wooly(or even not so wooly) calf with a set of sheep clippers. Have also clipped about 200 head of Sale Bulls with sheep heads, and the ole beef heads, and getting the hang of the whole Torch thing.( I know not a whole lot but its a work in progress lol)  However if I am clipping show calves I would much rather use my Andis 2 speeds, they will leave alot more hair on the calf, than my sheep clippers when that silly heifer jumps at something.

 

[stumpy]

It's not pitty Jill, I just haven't had the chance. Grab me sometime and I'll help with what I can!

 

[Jill]

I just may take you up on that someday, hopefully before my kids are grown construction will be back to normal and we'll be able to afford a great one from you!

 

[fsncattle]

Youve heard bout it bein a hard life and the toll it takes on your personal life.  Its not to great on your body either.  Ive been free lancing since I was 17, I just turned 30 and feel damn near 50.  Long hours, little sleep, leaving out of a bag is no way to leave.  But they are right it is a heck of alot fun and you meet a lot of great people, but is it really worth it.
  I wouldnt trade it for anything but its a hard life.  But hell its all Ive ever know.

 

[ROAD WARRIOR]

For all of us "old timers" that have spent way too many years on the concrete, nelt down beside a chute for hours on end, a little advice from Old Road Warrior - try Glucosamine Chondroitin MSM. Almost 2 years ago my knees were a major problem, when I got down beside a chute I had to have a pad to put my knees on or the pain was unbearable and I almost had to have help to get up. A friend of mine that has worked concrete since he was 14 was telling me about the huge difference it made for him and even though I was really sceptical I decided to try it. Plain and simple - it works. Within 6 weeks I could tell a noticable difference not only in my knees but other problem joints as well. A year plus later I'm back to doing pretty much anything I want. I don't know how or why it works but it worked for me - TRY IT! RW

 

[rtmcc]

Started on the Glucosamine about 10 years ago and I am a BELIEVER!  If I run out you can start to feel it after about a 10 days.

A couple of years ago the kids got me a set of "old man pads" from Sullivans for next to the chute.  One of the best Fathers Day presents I'v ever got.

Pretty much just work on our own cattle and for a couple of friends any more.  But I am glad to say I had the "green taken out of me" on the road by guys like Bob Brink, Harry Stephans and John McBee.  They broke me in from the bottom up.  Didn't hardly know what a little clippers was back then.  Still do a lot more with a sheep heads than a lot of them.  But I to am using the Andis more and more.  The kids have been lucky enough to win a pile of them the past few years and they are pretty handy.

On hiring a custom fitter, I suppose if you have that much invested in the animal and don't feel comfortable doing it yourself a $150 or $200 is about what it would cost.  Check with the breeder or who ever you got the calf from about helping you.  I help a lot of the kids we do business with.  Also practice, practice, practice!!  Not many shows up here in the mid winter for the kids to go to so I tell them to practice clip then so they have an idea when its show time.

Good Luck!
<cowboy>