what blade to use???

[Davis Shorthorns]

I have just started clipping my cattle and was wondering if anyone could give me some pointers on what blades to use on the neck, topline, shoulder, legs, etc...  Thanks.  I have a andis 2 speed set of clippers.

 

[ROMAX]

the four major blades are SUPER BLOCKER,SUPER BLENDER,T 84,5/8  blade.that should get you started,if you had to do without one i would say the T84 is not a necessity.

 

[ShowmanQ]

I have just started clipping my cattle and was wondering if anyone could give me some pointers on what blades to use on the neck, topline, shoulder, legs, etc...  Thanks.  I have a andis 2 speed set of clippers.

I've tried several different blades, and basically the only 2 that I even use are the Super Blocking (or X Blocks) and the Medium (blending) blade. I can clip a calf out without using anything other than these two blades, aside from the head which I use a set of flatheads on.

 

[shortyjock89]

Ditto Q, I learned how to clip one out with a set of sheepsheads though haha.

 

[ba]

  We use x-block optiblock and10 wide most of the time then flat heads
for the head but if you do not have much experience go with
blocking or med blockingblades until you feel comfortable.

 

[ba]

Just a warning . If you use the x-block or the opti-block if the
calf flinches you might get a big gouge out of the hair.

 

[ROAD WARRIOR]

Clipping has gotten so much easier in the last few years. "Back in the day" we clipped with the old Oster sheepheads and 7120 blades, those will leave a "nick"! Today alot of clipping that I do other than bull/female sale cattle are done with the Andis 2speeds. I seldom if ever use anything other than an X-block blade. I sure don't miss shearing 12 to 14 hours a day with the old Osters, sure is a lot easier on my back and shoulders.RW

 

[yousesteers]

ShowmanQ is right I only use the sheepheads on cows that need roughed out quickly hardly ever use them on show calves that are washed first I use the mediums on everything but the head then put the blocking on once we have glue in the legs and such the mediums wont gouge near as bad as the blocking will and leaves fewer lines

 

[cowz]

Besides a medium blade, which is really slow and harmless, my favorite is to get a HT 5/8 Ceramic blade.  Use it on the hairy ones for necks, wont get hot, wont let you take off toooo much.  (Run from bottom to top)  Those are really fun to experiment with....and trust me...the guys don't let me clip with anything that takes out chunks...haha.

 

[tlcattle]

personally these are the blades we have to choose from for various parts:

head,tail,brisket: medium, t-84
rest of the body: blcking, super blockking, x-block, opti-block.
[theres also a 5/8 blade for the neck]

mess around witht them and see what one's you like the best. i like the x blocks where my dad likes the supers.

 

[rtmcc]

Clipping has gotten so much easier in the last few years. "Back in the day" we clipped with the old Oster sheepheads and 7120 blades, those will leave a "nick"! Today alot of clipping that I do other than bull/female sale cattle are done with the Andis 2speeds. I seldom if ever use anything other than an X-block blade. I sure don't miss shearing 12 to 14 hours a day with the old Osters, sure is a lot easier on my back and shoulders.RW

I too  learned with a set of sheep heads, either 7112's or 20's.  When we were in Australia working for a Hereford show cattle outfit we got a lot of strange looks when we got the sheep heads out at a show.  All they used was a flat head.  Can't imagine what they would have thought if we pulled out a set of the old aluminum Andis.

After working with a lot of these younger guys, they even have me convinced to use the little clippers for most every thing.  I like X-Blocks for everything.  I will still use the sheep heads to rough one out or when we have to mow thru a bunch of breeding cattle at a bigger show.
<cowboy>

 

[ROAD WARRIOR]

Clipping has gotten so much easier in the last few years. "Back in the day" we clipped with the old Oster sheepheads and 7120 blades, those will leave a "nick"! Today alot of clipping that I do other than bull/female sale cattle are done with the Andis 2speeds. I seldom if ever use anything other than an X-block blade. I sure don't miss shearing 12 to 14 hours a day with the old Osters, sure is a lot easier on my back and shoulders.RW

I too  learned with a set of sheep heads, either 7112's or 20's.  When we were in Australia working for a Hereford show cattle outfit we got a lot of strange looks when we got the sheep heads out at a show.  All they used was a flat head.  Can't imagine what they would have thought if we pulled out a set of the old aluminum Andis.

After working with a lot of these younger guys, they even have me convinced to use the little clippers for most every thing.  I like X-Blocks for everything.  I will still use the sheep heads to rough one out or when we have to mow thru a bunch of breeding cattle at a bigger show.
<cowboy>

When I started we used the old Sunbeam "brownies" I still have two motors and three heads for them - the flatheads and a 2inch and 2 1/2 inch sheepheads. They are tucked away up on a shelf and both still run. RW

 

[BCCC]

I can actually clip a calf out with a  X-Block and a X-Blend(including their head) I normally wouldn't advise it but sometimes you just gotta do whatcha gotta do. I like the new X-Blend better then the other blending blades feel they have stayed sharper then all my other blending blades(think I have about 15 by now) I have had this set of X-blocks for about a year and they still are sharp, while my opti blocks shat out after a couple months of use. I wouldn't advise the 5/8's blade it just makes me mad when I use it, I cant ever get the darned hair to feed through, just take some extra time and use your blending blade to clip the neck. Also I haven't found a real use for the T84 besides its a good blade ot have when all your others are dull. I also used to use the 10 wides for heads, but I stopped after I went through 4 blades doing it......One of these days I am gona send all my blades into sullivans to have them sharped because other people dont do the blades any good, have actually had some come back duller. I will probally have 10 pounds of blades to send in. Hope yy jibber jabberinn helped ya out a little bit

 

[Davis Shorthorns]

Thanks everyone. 

 

[Dero]

I sometimes will still use nothing but my sheepheads, my theory is 2 speeds are for trimming and sheepheads are for mowing.

 

[ROMAX]

I mostly use my sheepheads for removing cling-ons in the spring from the dirty cows,they're my most expensive clippers and they get the crappiest job.

 

[CAB]

  If you don't have a flathead, you can use a 10 wide for the heads. They work good enough and are quiet if the calf is nervous.
  BCCC, you may want to ck in town @ a hair salon for sharpening blades. Some salons have a sharpening service that comes around every so often. If you are lucky enough to run across this situation, they are usually very good @ what they do, meaning they specialize in sharpening blades. Depending on who gets ahold of your blades @ Sullivans can make a big difference on the results. JMO.

 

[bcosu]

you really need a set of thinner blades to do most of the clipping and then something like medium (5/8) for the brisket and tail as well as the neck if you aren't comfortable. when i clip i only use the mediums to do the tail, trim the navel and blend the brisket. i will use either wahl's x blocks or andis superblocking blades for everything else.

 

[jtho3c]

Any blocking blade that says Andis will work.

 

[tlcattle]

I sometimes will still use nothing but my sheepheads, my theory is 2 speeds are for trimming and sheepheads are for mowing.

isn't that the truth!!