Course 08 · Blades, Guards and Tool Care · Lesson 6 of 12
How do you oil a blade, and how often?
Oil a blade lightly before, during and after clipping, as the maker directs, so it runs cool and cuts cleanly.
Oil a blade lightly, with a few drops of clipper blade oil across the teeth and at the hinge, as the maker directs, before clipping, during long sessions when the blade starts to drag or warm, and after cleaning at the end of a session. Oil reduces friction between the moving and fixed blades, helps the blade run cooler, keeps the action smooth and protects the edge from rust. Too little oil lets friction build heat, while too much oil transfers to the coat. The skill is a light, regular application, wiped to a thin film, rather than a flood of oil once in a while.
Why does a blade need oil?
A clipper blade works by two metal surfaces sliding against each other very quickly, cutting hair between them. Without oil, metal on metal friction creates heat, wears the edge, stiffens the action and makes the motor work harder. With oil, the surfaces glide, heat builds more slowly, the cut stays clean and the blade lasts longer. Oil also displaces moisture after cleaning, which helps prevent rust on a blade stored between sessions. The oil must be the right oil: clipper blade oil, or the oil the maker recommends, which is light, clean and made to stay on a fast moving blade without gumming. Household oils, cooking oils and heavy machine oils are not suitable, because they can gum, attract dirt, stain coat or damage the clipper, and they should never be used as a substitute.
How do you oil a blade step by step?
Follow the maker directions for your blade, and use this general sequence as a guide. Switch the clipper off for the first application, or hold it safely as the maker directs for oiling while running, if that is the method specified. Place a few small drops of oil across the teeth, from one side to the other, and a small drop at each side of the hinge or rail, without flooding the blade. Switch the clipper on briefly, away from the dog, to spread the oil, then switch off and wipe away excess with a dry cloth, so only a thin film remains. Refit the guard, if you are using one, and check the fit. During a session, if the blade starts to drag or feel warm, stop, brush out hair, oil lightly again, wipe excess, and check heat before you continue. After a session, oil lightly after cleaning, wipe excess, and store the blade in its case.
How often should you oil?
Oil before every session, after every cleaning, and during a session whenever the blade has been running for a while, has cut a thick or dense section, or shows signs of drag or heat. For a short home tidy, oiling before and after may be enough. For a full body clip, oiling every few sections, or every time you clean the blade during the session, is more realistic. The exact interval depends on the blade, the coat and the clipper, so learn your own rhythm by watching for drag, sound change and heat, rather than by a fixed clock. A blade that is oiled often, lightly, will run cooler and more quietly than a blade oiled rarely and heavily, and the habit of oiling with cleaning keeps the interval simple to remember.
What happens with too much or too little oil?
Too little oil shows as dragging, pulling, a grinding or strained sound, rapid heat build up and a patchy, frayed finish. The blade and motor both suffer, and the dog feels the pull and the heat. Too much oil shows as oil on the coat, a greasy feel, hair sticking to the blade, and drips on the clipper body or the grooming surface. Excess oil can also mask a dull blade for a short while, because the blade slides more easily, which tempts you to continue with a blade that needs sharpening. If you have over oiled, wipe the blade thoroughly, run it briefly away from the dog, wipe again, and check the coat for oil marks. If you have under oiled, stop, clean, oil lightly and check heat before you continue. Both errors are corrected by the same habit: a little, often, wiped clean.
Use this oiling schedule as a starting point:
| When | What to do |
|---|---|
| Before a session | Clean blade, oil lightly, wipe excess, test briefly |
| During a long session | Brush, oil lightly, wipe excess, check heat, repeat as needed |
| After a session | Clean, dry, oil lightly, wipe excess, store in case |
| After a period unused | Clean, check for rust, oil lightly, test before use |
Stop and get help: when does oiling not solve the problem?
Oiling does not solve dullness, damage, a loose blade, a clogged guard or a coat that is not ready. If a blade still drags, heats quickly or leaves tracks after cleaning and correct oiling, stop using it and seek advice on sharpening or replacement. If the clipper motor overheats, smells hot, or sounds strained despite a clean, oiled blade, stop and seek servicing advice, because the problem may be in the clipper, not the blade. Do not keep adding oil to compensate for a mechanical problem, and do not use a different oil to try to fix it. Correct oiling is a maintenance habit, and like cleaning, its value is partly in revealing when a blade or clipper needs professional attention.
Further reading
- Pet grooming equipment guidance: manufacturer instructions
- American Kennel Club: grooming guidance