Recommendations for Body Clipppers?

[MoonPie730]

I am looking to get my first pair of body clippers. I have never body clipped before, but now is the time to learn since my mare is laid up and won't be going anywhere for a while.

All the information I could find suggests that I should either get the Lister Stars (medium blades) or Andi AGC 2-speed clippers.

I would love to save the money, however I don't want to purchase clippers and end up having to pay more money in the long run bc I have to purchase another pair. I am leaning towards the Lister Stars... I keep reading that the Andi AGC clippers are temperamental, but they do an amazing clip job though.

I would love to hear what people's opinions are on how the two compare, especially considering that I am totally new to body clipping. I have a pair of Oster A-5s that I was going to do the face and legs with if I were to purchase the Lister Stars.

My mare definitely gets a coat on her, I don't think it's horrible though. Do those who have used both the Andis and Lister Stars feel that the Lister Stars do an equally amazing clip job?

[Seal Harbor]

I just bought the Andis AGC 2 Speed with the T-84 blades. Clipped my horse and didn't have any issues. I did clean the blades frequently, dipping in blade wash, using Kool Lube and brushing the blades off. I also had a second set of T-84 blades and swapped them out a couple of times. His face and legs were done with the T-84 blades as well, only swapping out to 10 blades to do around his eyes and his ears. I think it really helps if the horse is very clean. Either bathed recently or vacuumed.

I haven't body clipped since 1993, and used the big Clipmasters then. What a difference! I'm 16 years older than the last time I body clipped and was really not looking forward to it at all, but with the new smaller clippers it wasn't as bad as I thought it was going to be.

[Renn/aissance]

I've never used the Lister Stars, but heard great things about them. I bought my Andis AGC Super-2s on the recommendation of a friend and have been thrilled with them. They are about three years old and clip great, despite having been kicked square by a less-than-cooperative horse.

[mkevent]

I can't comment on the Listers, but I just bought the Andis-they are great!!!!
I also have Laubes-the older ones are good but they just don't compare to the Andis-it is super quiet and it does a fantastic job. I did 3 hunter clips on 3 bathed horses the other day and the blades didn't even get hot! The T-84 blade is also the way to go-I like it alot better than the extra wides.

[skyy]

I just bought and used for the first time the Lister Star clippers. I have never body clipped before so I can't rec. the Listers over the Andis. However, my trainer gave me a tutorial on how to clip and used my Lister Stars. She loved them and said that when she needs a new pair of clippers she is buying these (she currently has the big Osters and the Andis in her arsenal of clippers). She really liked that they don't blow the hair in your face and you stay a lot cleaner.

[SkipChange]

I went for Andis clippers, the ones with a nifty light on the end that shines on the horse while you're clipping. I thought it was silly but they were the right price, and the light actually turned out to be helpful.

Not to hijack, but how many times can you sharpen blades before they need to be replaced?

[sublimequine]

I have the Andis Super-2s. Love love love love em, they're whisper-quiet, small and handy, and just a really nice set of clippers. :)

[Montanas_Girl]

I am a huge fan of the Oster Clipmasters myself. I had a pair that were 50-60 years old. They worked flawlessly until about three years ago. I took them to the Oster factory here in middle TN to see if they could be repaired. Instead, Oster gave me a brand new (well, refurbished) pair for around $125! They did the same thing for a similarly ancient pair of A5s - replaced them with a refurbished set for $25 when they finally gave up the ghost. My "new" clippers work just as well as the old ones did; if they last even 1/4 as long, I'll be happy!

[flyracing]

Well, I did get two full body clips out the the andis, but it was slow (4-5 hours for show clip). It did look fine when finished though. In hindsight it would have been better to buy the clipmaster (that later bought) and wouldn't have had to buy a new pair of small ones for legs and face. Lesson learned! I have done around 30 clip jobs with the clipmaster so far and have paid them off many time :yes:. If I didn't purchase those 2 years ago, I would have never had had the opportunity to be paid to clip other's horses. I can do a full body clip in less than an hour because the blade speed can be so much faster. Changing the blades does take about 30 seconds longer, but is well worth it because once the flipping up thing gets tweeked (don't let people borrow your clippers...) they no longer cut the hair. So many things to go wrong with the smaller ones!

Good luck!

[ExJumper]

What blades (as in clip length -- I keep hearing that "#10" is what I should be clipping with) come with the Andis clippers "out of the box?" And how wide is the blade? It doesn't look that wide in internet pictures... It's good for the big wide expanses of a full sized and well fed ISH?

[luise]

I have the Lister Star clippers and LOVE THEM. I got them last year to do a trace clip on my then horse, a draft cross. So you can imagine the thick coat he got. They were so easy to clip with (and it was my first time too), and I was able to do his face with them.

[TrotTrotPumpkn]

Really like my Lister clippers. 2 thumbs up.

[Renn/aissance]

What blades (as in clip length -- I keep hearing that "#10" is what I should be clipping with) come with the Andis clippers "out of the box?" And how wide is the blade? It doesn't look that wide in internet pictures... It's good for the big wide expanses of a full sized and well fed ISH?

The T-84 wide blade that comes with the Andis clippers is probably about half to 3/4 of an inch wider than a standard blade. I believe that it corresponds to a #8. I would not clip with a #10 blade except on the face; I think it is too close of a clip. Your mileage may vary, but my well-rounded and well-fed ISH takes about an hour and a half to two hours to completely show clip, depending on how much he wants to chew on the cord.

[MoonPie730]

Thanks for all the great info! I was considering the clipmasters, it seems like those will do a good job, guaranteed. The only thing that turns me off to those is the blowing the hair thing and weight of the clippers themselves. Those who have them and like them, what do you think about the weight and blowing of the hair?

For the Lister Star clippers, do I need to purchase two medium blades and switch them out, or will I be able to get through a whole clip without doing that? My mare's coat doesn't get too bad.

How do the two clippers compare in these aspects:
-weight of the clippers
-changing of blades during the clips,
-size
-which does a better clip job
-amount of time it takes to clip a horse,
-amount and length of breaks I need to take when clipping
-reliability
-ANYTHING differences you can note between the two clippers.

[luise]

I've only handled the Clipmaster, not worked with them. I could hardly hold the Oster Clipmaster, it was so heavy and bulky. The Lister Stars are light and comfortable. You will need to buy a separate medium blade because the fine blade it comes with will give the horse a surgical clip. The clippers never got hot. I periodically put some oil on the blades, that's it. Changing the blades is super easy.

[Roxyllsk]

I have an ancient pair of Oster Clipmasters that I used to trace clip my mare. This year I bought a pair of Lister Stars, and I'm very impressed ! Very light weight, very easy to use, the blades were pretty easy to change out (no screwdriver required, just turn the knob and that's it). The shape of the clippers makes them easier to hold than the Osters. Took me about 1 1/2 hours to clip my mare, but I really take my time with it. She's well behaved and takes a nap when I clip her.

[Montanas_Girl]

I haven't handled the other brands mentioned here, so I can't directly compare them. My new Clipmasters are significantly lighter than the old ones. Neither were/are a burden for me to hold, though - and I'm 5' tall and 125 lbs; not a big girl at all. I can clip my entire horse (15 hands but very wide Arab cross) in about 2 hours start to finish, using a #10 blade. I only clip 1-2 horses per year, so I'm not as quick as those who do multiple horses on a regular basis. I use my A5s for his head, lower legs, and tricky parts (like behind the elbow), and I use the Clipmasters for everything else. If I start with sharp blades and a clean horse, I don't need to change blades in the middle of the clip. Changing the blades on the Clipmaster does take a little practice (there is this annoying nut that has to be lined up just right to get the blades all the way on), but it isn't difficult at all once you get the hang of it. I haven't had any issues specifically with blowing hair, just the normal "itch factor" that goes along with body clipping.

[whicker]

Anyone try the laube clippers? They have a longer 5 year warrenty. I want something that doesn't blow hair in my face and I wear hair EVERYWHERE for a number of laundry cycles. I am looking for a top of the line, easy on my wrists and hands, ergonomic wonder that makes keeping 6 horses easier. (one of them is a mini with 9" hair and another is a sensitive 17.1 tb)

[Bravestrom]

I just finished 1 body clip and 3 trace clips in 2 days and I did it with the clipmaster - I always have a new set (or resharpened) set of blades with me, clean and oil between each horse and make sure I use the cool lube to keep the blades clean and cool. Clean with turpentine or blade cleaner, oil and put back in after cleaning out all the hair. I also always have a spare clipper head with me - I have broken two clipper heads and it is worth having the $10.00 part with you because it is usually the only thing that will break on the clippers.

And the head always seems to snap when you are half way through a difficult horse.

[lauriep]

Don't get Clipmasters. There are MUCH better clippers out there now.

You really need to decide if you want true body clippers (the BIG ones), or can get by with powerful trimmers with 10 blades. If you clip a lot, go for the big ones, as the trimmers are fine on a light coat occassionally, but you will want heavier duty for really shaggy coats or lots of horses.

I am in the Andis camp for both sizes. Andis makes a couple of body clippers that are better balanced, lighter and easier to use than the Clipmasters. They also exhaust over the blades rather than on the side, so it is MUCH easier to avoid having hair blown all over you.

The Andis Super 2 speed is great for all trimming (change blades from 10 to 40) and for light duty body clipping (using 10 or T-84). I did one today, but she had a very slight coat. I also did a shaggy pony and switched to the body clippers for him.

I have heard great things about Lister clippers, but have no personal experience. Will probably buy a pair in the future to see how they compare, but for now, am happy with my Andis clippers!

[littlecasino]

I have andis, clipmasters and the listers. HATE the listers! I went threw four pairs because the reset button kept popping out and they would stop, after thirty seconds or five minutes. Wahl would try to fix them, didn't. I gave up. Anything but those!

[JenEM]

I think most people at my barn who clip their own have become Andis converts. I'm not sure how well they'd hold up to heavy, regular professional clipping, but for clipping one horse two or three times a year, they're great. I've got a TB, so not particularly fuzzy, and get about two body clips out of the T84 blades before they need swapped out.

[Sulta]

I bought the andis clippers for body clipping my pony....they didn't work well. His fur is incredibly thick, at least twice as thick as the other horses in the barn. Even with fresh blades and clean fur, they struggled with his furriest areas.

I then got an older pair of clipmasters - they are heavy and blow hair ... ugg...but they work great.

So, I use the andis on the face/legs and the clipmasters everywhere else.

[lauriep]

When you relate what brand of clippers you got, please also tell what size/model you got, so people know what you are talking about. Sulta, I assume you mean the super 2 speeds, the trimmers, not the body clippers. If so, that is precisely the point I was making. They will clip a fine or short coat, but are NOT capable of doing a shaggy/thick/pony type of coat.

[ExJumper]

When you relate what brand of clippers you got, please also tell what size/model you got, so people know what you are talking about. Sulta, I assume you mean the super 2 speeds, the trimmers, not the body clippers. If so, that is precisely the point I was making. They will clip a fine or short coat, but are NOT capable of doing a shaggy/thick/pony type of coat.

Which model is the body clipper then, rather than the trimmer?

[Sulta]

Yes, it was the Andis ACG Super 2-Speed clippers....
http://www.doversaddlery.com/product.asp?pn=X1-1840&ids=1024945275

Somewhere it claims they can be used for body clipping. I got the T84 blade for them, and as I said, if his coat was not so thick, they would have worked fine. But, he's a grizzly bear in disquise, so the clippers didn't stand a chance.

[lauriep]

The corded Andis body clippers are HC68010 and HP68035. I have the first ones and love them. Want to get the second as they really look light and well-balanced. Go to andis.com and look under horse products and you'll find them.

The Super 2 speeds are frequently used for body clipping, but I don't think they are necessarily recommended for it. And they are perfectly fine on the right coat. But if you have to do many or heavy, the big guys are what you need.

And I think the Oster A-5 is a totally useless clipper. Doesn't even have the power to clip legs without bogging down.

[MoonPie730]

Okay bit the bullet and bought the lister stars. For Clipper care, what exactly do I need to do when clipping. I bought medium blades for the clipper, but just one pair for now. How often should I use oster kool lube spray and how often/when should I use the oil that it comes with? What should I get to clean the blades and often how do I clean when I am clipping?

I am a newbee to clipping so bear with me!

[luise]

Okay bit the bullet and bought the lister stars. For Clipper care, what exactly do I need to do when clipping. I bought medium blades for the clipper, but just one pair for now. How often should I use oster kool lube spray and how often/when should I use the oil that it comes with? What should I get to clean the blades and often how do I clean when I am clipping?

I am a newbee to clipping so bear with me!

You do not use the Oster Kool Lube spray with the Listers. There are directions with the clippers that say how often to apply the oil--just a few drops when the blades are moving. I think it says every 10 minutes? When I am clipping, I periodically turn them off and use a medium brush to brush off the hair. To clean them when you are done, you can take them off, wipe off with a towel maybe with a bit of oil, and when you put them back on then run a few drops of oil through them and you are good to go. Enjoy! You will love them.

[MoonPie730]

You do not use the Oster Kool Lube spray with the Listers. There are directions with the clippers that say how often to apply the oil--just a few drops when the blades are moving. I think it says every 10 minutes? When I am clipping, I periodically turn them off and use a medium brush to brush off the hair. To clean them when you are done, you can take them off, wipe off with a towel maybe with a bit of oil, and when you put them back on then run a few drops of oil through them and you are good to go. Enjoy! You will love them.

Awesome. Thanks so much for all the info.

FYI for anyone thinking of buying Lister Stars. Amazon has them new for $200.

[Invite]

I LOVE my Lister Star clippers. They are lightweight and super easy to use. This being said, I think I might give the Laube clippers a try next time. I like that most of them can be corded or cordless and that you can get them with lights...not to mention the super cool bright yellow color!

[LD1129]

I have Andies they can go wireless then plug in. They are nice and small (I have issues steering the chunky Oster clippers ) They were more then I wanted to spend but boy were they worth it! I use them for everything since I can attach Oster blades for the body clipping and smaller blades for the detailed areas.

[MoonPie730]

Can you clip a horse's face with Listers or should I use my A5s? Any advice for clipping the face?

[luise]

Can you clip a horse's face with Listers or should I use my A5s? Any advice for clipping the face?

I clipped my horse's face last year with the Lister clippers. Since I only did a trace clip though, I didn't clip the entire face, just the bottom half.
Let us know how you like them!

[Montanas_Girl]

And I think the Oster A-5 is a totally useless clipper. Doesn't even have the power to clip legs without bogging down.

Really? Mine (the 50+ year old ones and the new ones) have never had that problem, even on the thickest pony coats. On the other hand, my horses have very thick manes, and all of my barn owner's clippers (4 different Wahl models and 2 different Andis models) bog down every *single* time I try to use them on Montana's bridle path. It is so frustrating that I've started keeping my clipper box by my front door so that I won't forget them and have to borrow someone else's clippers at the last minute!

Machines are so temperamental. You'd think all the clippers of the same brand/model would be and work the same way, but apparently that is not the case, judging by what I'm reading in this thread!

[Tiffani B]

My ancient Osters finally bit the dust and I'm in the market for a new body clipper. Are the Andis Delta 3-Speed (http://www.andis.com/USA/productsPopUp.asp?SP=N&Product=&Div=LG Animal&ID=68020) and the Andis Progress (http://www.andis.com/USA/productsPopUp.asp?SP=N&Product=&Div=LG Animal&ID=68035) suitable for body clipping? I like the look of them - the narrow body seems like it would be easier to hold, and they are very lightweight.

[flyingchange]

We just bought some Andis Progress clippers for body clipping hunt horses. They are great. They are big but they are light, comfortable, and much quieter than the Oster Clipmasters. A much more pleasant experience all around - for humans and horses - than the ancient Clipmasters! I like them.

[hey101]

I am getting ready to buy some clippers so I can trace-clip my mare for hunting season. I have never clipped her before, have only ever done face/ fetlocks/ fuzzies under the jaw and belly. My little trim-clipper jsut won't be up to the job of a trace clip!

There is a gal at my barn selling a practically-new set of Oster Clipmasters for $200. I've read all the reviews on here for that model.

She also has a Wahl KM2 #9757 for sale for $100. Any thoughts on how these two models compare? Keeping in mind that I will at most body-clip twice a year and it will be a trace-clip at that. Will the Wahl work for me, do you think? I just can't get a sense if its more of a finish trimmer rather than a body clipper from the websites I've found by googling it.

TIA!

http://wahlanimal.com/ax_commerce/shp_detail.cfm?category=C0CA1DB3-F88E-BAE8-0158EDED4150C055&productID=0A98B9B5-0180-4781-6320626EA5F33510

[jse]

My husband and I clip A LOT (we clip between 5-10 horses a week, possibly 30-40 horses in the winter) and we use the Andis 2-speeds and they hold up perfectly.
It takes about 45 minutes a horse for us with those clippers. If ever it takes any longer it's because of the horse's behavior. We also have done fuzzy ponies with them as well. As long as the horses and ponies are clean they give us no problems at all.

[ljc]

I clip miniature horses with my andis 2-speed clippers -- if they'll get through that hair, they'll get through anything!!!! I love that the clippers are light and quiet.

[SBT]

Has anyone ever body clipped with Andis AGR+ or Oster PowerPro cordless clippers?

My horse is spooked by power cords on the ground, and if I hold/hang the cord up, he will find a way to chew on it. :rolleyes: He fried my A5's doing this and is probably lucky he didn't get electrocuted. :sigh: So we need to be cordless...but I cannot stomach $400 for the cordless BIG body clippers.

Thoughts? (Besides the obvious fact that my horse is a nutter ;))

[Tiffani B]

I have had to clip horses who were cord chewers. I would put a light sheet or cooler on them (they're probably going to need one anyways if it's cold outside) and use a cooler clamp or three to attach the cord to the sheet in a spot they can't reach it. Shorten up the cross ties a bit if needed.

Saves your cords, and your horse.

[mbhorse]

I have a set of each. I use the Lister Stars (medium blades) to clip the body and the Andis AGC 2-Speeds with the T-84 blades to clip the legs and head. The Lister is heavier than the Andis, but is still much, much lighter than the big Osters. Honestly, I don't think I'd want to use the Andis for clipping the body, unless it was a subsequent clip or the horse had a fairly light coat.

I found the Listers to run a bit hotter than the Andis, but I think that's because I've made the mistake of using blade wash. I've now learned to use a can of compressed air (like the kind used to clean electronic equipment) to periodically clean out the blades when clipping, then oiling frequently (every 10 minutes or so).

[esdressage]

And I think the Oster A-5 is a totally useless clipper. Doesn't even have the power to clip legs without bogging down.

I have to agree with Montanas_Girl who said, "Really?" I completely disagree.

I have a pair of those that are a good eight years old and still going strong, and they've never had trouble doing anything I've asked of them (thick/coarse coats, etc.)

Actually, I just body clipped my mare today and she looks fabulous, and the A-5s again performed flawlessly. They're not overly heavy, they are hardy as can be, the blades are easy to swap out, they are comfortable to hold, not very loud, they hardly vibrate at all while you're using them, they run relatively cool, the two speeds are handy… I really like them. That's not to say there aren't better ones available today, but I certainly wouldn't say there's anything at all wrong with the A-5.

My advice regardless of the clipper used is to make sure that with whatever clippers you use, you clip a freshly bathed horse, or if that isn't possible because of extreme weather at least as clean a horse as possible. That makes a huge difference and makes the clipping quick, easy and really minimizes having to go over areas to get rid of lines. Plus, your blades stay sharper. I also show sheened my mare today and the clippers just glided through her clean, slick coat like it was hardly even there.

[JSwan]

I had a love/hate relationship with my Andis clippers for a few years.

Tried Lister Stars - nice but loud. Tried the big Osters - but they don't get in the tight spots, they're loud, and too heavy for my poorly healed broken fingers/hands.

Back to the Andis I went. Takes a bit longer to clip than with the Osters - but they're might quieter, very light, and I get about 2 clips per blade (VERY clean draft crosses).

I usually do hunter or full clips, and I sharpen my blades at home.

In the end - I think it ends up being a matter of personal preference - the clippers I tried were all quite nice - just not nice for me.

Hope that helps. :)

[TBPNW]

SBT, I was trying to decide between those two. I only Irish or bib clip, but have many horses, and cordless (if they had enough power) was what I wanted. I had used A5 and the bigger Osters, and found them "quirky". My vet carries around the Oster powerpros and seen them in use, had no experience but wanted to try Andis brand. I have been happy with Andis so far. I also have the cord/converter pack for it. It's nice the charger has a refresh feature, to recondition battery. It does only run for about 45/60 minutes on a charge. Charges again in about an hour. The power pro (as far as I know) did not have the cord conversion, so another reason bought Andis AGR.

[Renae]

Andi AGC 2-speed clippers

I love my Andis AGCs but they are not body clippers. I would never body clip an entire horse with a clippers that uses A5 size blades, even if you get the extra wide blades.

For body clipping I use an Andis Progress for all the heavy work- all of the body and the tough hair on the lower legs. I then use an Andis AGC with a #10 blade to get all the little nooks and crannies on the legs and to do the head.

I used to mainly use Oster clippers, the good ol Golden A5 and the Clipmasters, but I noticed their quality was getting lower and switched to Andis and was just talking to a clipper repair guy at the last horse show I was at and he agreed that Oster clippers made in the last 5 or so years are junk.

[Renae]

My ancient Osters finally bit the dust and I'm in the market for a new body clipper. Are the Andis Delta 3-Speed (http://www.andis.com/USA/productsPopUp.asp?SP=N&Product=&Div=LG Animal&ID=68020) and the Andis Progress (http://www.andis.com/USA/productsPopUp.asp?SP=N&Product=&Div=LG Animal&ID=68035) suitable for body clipping? I like the look of them - the narrow body seems like it would be easier to hold, and they are very lightweight.

The Andis Progress are geart Tiffani! This is my second season using them and I have body clipped over 50 horses with them in the last 2 years and they always run cool for as long as you use them, even when I do 3 horses in a row they are still running nice and cool. They are so much lighter and quieter than the old Clipmasters its amazing!

[Tiffani B]

Thanks Renae! Which blades do they use? Are they wider than a normal A5 blade? I can't find any info on them.

[Renae]

Thanks Renae! Which blades do they use? Are they wider than a normal A5 blade? I can't find any info on them.

They use the same blades as a Clipmaster, or here are the Andis ones http://www.fleetfarm.com/mff/browse/productDetail.jsp?productId=0000000003620&categoryId=01142&navAction=jump

[Tiffani B]

Very cool - I have an ancient Clipmaster that just died, and it has brand new blades.

Quick question - what does the red dial on top do? Is it a multispeed clipper or is that just the on/off button?

[Renae]

Very cool - I have an ancient Clipmaster that just died, and it has brand new blades.

Quick question - what does the red dial on top do? Is it a multispeed clipper or is that just the on/off button?

The red dial is the tension. You adjust as the blades get duller to keep them clipping well. Don't over tighten it (this applies for any clippers with a tension adjustment) or you risk burning out the motor.

[Tiffani B]

Thanks for the info! I'll be ordering one now.

[wsquare]

I love Laube clippers! I have three pairs as I clip many horses each season. I like to switch them out to keep things moving swiftly. I use several blades while clipping and/or lots of bladewash. Normally I clip the body with a #10 or 10W fine and the lower legs with a #15. There are several models of Laubes but the Lazor group is best for body clipping. They clip amazingly smooth ...no tracks, are pretty quiet and fairly light and easy to handle. You can purchase a cordpak version which can later be upgraded to a cordless with the purchase of a battery pak and charger if desired. Of my three pairs, one is a couple of months old and the others are nearly 10 years old and run great! For newbies at clipping....a clean horse is really essential to a pro looking job....scrub/wash the rump area particularly well...dirty horse = grit in your blades which dulls them faster and heats them up quicker.