poodle3081

I agree with 4 Paws the Double K Airmax. It has two motors and resonably priced.

The Andis Cordless (silver case type) is not a professional clipper, they have a dedicated blade and not a detachable A5 type. There are two problems with heat, one is the blade getting hot and this will occur with any of the high speed clippers and the best solution is to change blades when they get warm. The other problem is the clipper itself getting hot and this is a problem with the Oster.

I would go for the Hydrobaths Australia fibreglass bath as I still have reservations about the plastic construction. Spa baths made for human use are made from fiberglass not plastic as there is a hygiene issue with the surface of plastic baths scratching and this allows bacteria etc to build up. Also the surface finish will deteriorate as it is softer than fiberglass. Plastic is a cheaper material and manufactures would use it over fibreglass if it were superior.

The Wahl KM2s are lighter than the Andis AGC and the Laube. Andis have the Super AGC2 which is apowerful clipper and is a better buy than the Laube. Laube are expensive to buy and very expensive to repair.

The most popular clipper used by professional groomers today in Australia is the Wahl KM2. You can pick them up for under $200.

The occupational health and safety concerns of long term exposure to hair fibres is an issue in the US where most professional grooming businesses use a clipper vacuum system such as the Taxi Vac or Romani. It takes time to get used to using them as they seem awkward at first, but finished results and lack of hair both on you and ingested make them worthwhile.

Ones ability to clip is related to a number of factors as some people will pick up the skill naturally and have confidence to tackle new tasks. The risk of cutting an animal is not great if you use the correct blades and seek advice. We all have to start somewhere. I encourage Kiki to have a go as it sounds if she has researched the task and is asking for advice on DOL.

Both the Wahl KM and the Andis AGC2 are quality clippers and would be the models I suggest. The Wahl is lighter but is vented which allows hair to enter the machine, whereas the Andis is slightly heavier but is a sealed unit thus less maintenance. PM me if you want any additional information.

I was wanting to know if the model was available here or is it only available in the US.

What brand are you considering?

Maybe you should only reply to a post with researched answers, not just opinions based on nothing.. As a rotor mould producer, I think it important that I educate people on new innovative materials like HDPE. The bulk of our rain water tanks are made from this material.... It is a strong alternative to fibreglass and does not rust out like the old galvanised tanks. If you want more information of this product do a search on poly tanks. I am not advertising here in a commercial capacity whatsoever, just giving informed information based on facts. I have no commercial interest here, my company does not sell direct to the public. In my reply I suggested buyers be wary of plastic hydrobaths and it was backed up by the posting by "workingdogs". I do not back away from my initial comments regarding plastic materials which all breakdown over time irrespective of UV stabilisers. The facts are that if I subject HDPE to intense UV light and heat there will be changes in the material's properties as there would be with fibreglass. The material hydrobaths are made from needs to be researched by consumers and they need to be wary prior to purchasing as it is a large investment. As most consumers know the materials used in the manufacture of goods are geared to the cost to the producer rather than the longevity of the product. If I were to design a hydrobath I would manufacture it using stainless steel similar to some of the bathing systems in the US.

Are you sure you are an engineer? Have you not heard of HDPE or high density polyethylene? This material is not only UV stabilised which means it does not fade or change colour, it has been independently tested to have five times the impact resistance of fibreglass. HDPE is used to make wheelie bins, pontoons, wheel barrows, plumbing supplies, polycraft boats to name a few... Sorry, just get a little annoyed by unqualified posts. GSDogs I refer you to the post by workingdogs "I have used a plastic one and did not like it as much as the Fibre glass one. Not as sturdy when dogs did move around a lot. It was old and the plastic had chiped in a few places and had to be covered as it was sharp(it was on the out side so I got scratched not the dogs). When you put a heavy dog in the bath it made the edges bend in just a little but enough to make it hard to get the door lined up and down. (make sence?)" and I also get a little annoyed at commercial interests posting replies.

The Mars comb looks dangerous but it has the cutting edge on the inside and it is near impossible to cut the skin. You can run the blade down your arm and you will not leave a mark. It is much safer than many of the dematting combs around.

I would use a Mars Coat King as they cut through the hair rather than dragging it out and this is less traumatic for the dog.

I am a qualified engineer and have worked in product development over the years and I would be wary of a plastic hydrobath. All plastics degrade over time especially if they are subjected to heat and UV light. I am also not aware of any overseas manufacturer of plastic hydrobaths.

I have concerns about a hydrobath made from plastic. It is obviously cheaper to manufacture than fibreglass but plastic will break down in time when subjected to high temperature. As there is a 2000W heating element involved there is not a lot of margin between the temperature the element could reach and the plastic being damaged or destroyed. I am not aware of plastic being used for hydrobaths any where else in the world. Does anyone know of one???

Sorry but this groomer would use nothing but Oster. Thats crap. I really like them and still find that wahl breaks down alot quicker. The ones I have have lasted me for such a long time. Never have let me down. Curious, please dont try and clip yourself though, its not that easy and if you nick or cut the pup it will be a bugger to do with anyone. And you wont know how to handle a puppy thats frightened of the noise. If you want to try atleast wait till puppy is use to it. I am in the business of repairing clippers and dryers and have encouraged clients to sell their Osters and buy a more modern designed clipper. After they use a Wahl or Andis they thank me for the advice as they find the task of clipping so much easier. I do service work for groomers throughout Australia and rarely encounter one using an Oster. The majority of Oster users are not professionals and are persuaded by the name. I welcome anyone to ring around the grooming salons to find out what clipper they are using. If you think it is Oster then you will be suprised.

Hi Curious, Don't buy Oster as these clipper are not favoured by groomers as they overheat and use outdated motor technology. The most popular clipper used by groomers throughout Australia is the Wahl KM2. Andis AGC2 are also a good clipper although they are slightly more expensive than the Wahl.

The Wahl KM2 is the most popular model with professi0onal groomers throughout Australia. Do not go for Oster, there is not a professional groomer who will touch them as they overheat and use outdated technology. The Wahl clippers are made in Germany and you can pick them up on eBay for under $200. I purchased from Clipper World who advertise here on DOL and they matched the best price I could find.

When it comes to dryers you cant go past the Double K Airmax. It is a twin motor dryer ideally suited to large long coated breeds and is equivalent to the Oldfield twin motor dryer but is about half the cost. They are now installed in Kings Fibreglass mobile dog wash trailers and have had rave reviews.

The Dr Harry endorsed clipper is useless and is a total waste of money. You are better off spending the extra money on a professional Wahl KM clipper for around $220. I would not buy the Andis pet clipper kit; it is better than the Dr Harry but will not cut all hair types and is more of a trimmer than a clipper.

My experience with mobile groomers is that they buy the cheapest shampoo available, usually in 20 litre containers. When I have tried to introduce them to something better they say that most of their customers would'nt know the difference. Try using a Mars Coat King on the coat; this will thin it out and assist in allowing it to dry faster.

Nova 5 Stars are excellent scissors but they are no longer available as the distributor in Australia has ceased importing.

The best value for money cliper on the market is the Wahl KM2. It is used by most professional groomers throughout Australia and sells for around $230 on eBay. Dont touch Oster; as the Nicesetman said they use out dated technology and there is not a serious professional groomer in Australia that would use them. Andis are also a good clipper but more expensive than the Wahl; they have addressed the cord problems they had with the early models. Laube are over priced in Australia and do not offer value for money. Double K are the choice of some professional groomers as the will drive harder than any other clipper, but the price is generally to expensive for the home groomer. Definitely wash your dog first and if you can afford a good quality dryer then you can dry and clip a short time after. If you need any additional advice feel free to contact me.