Guide · Clippers and blades
Why clipper blades get hot
A clipper blade heats up as it runs. What Andis, Wahl and Oster say keeps it cooler, what ceramic and coolant claims mean, how to check a blade and when to stop.
Short answer
A clipper blade is two plates sliding against each other thousands of times a minute; Oster rates its Turbo A5 at over 3,100 strokes per minute.[1] That friction turns into heat. The makers' remedies are simple: keep the blade clean and oiled, and add oil whenever it feels warm or dry. Andis says its coolant spray does not replace oil.[2] Check the blade on your wrist often, and stop when it feels warm.
Where the heat comes from
A clipper blade has two parts: a fixed comb blade that rests against the coat, and a cutter that the motor drives back and forth across it. Every stroke slides one plate over the other, and friction turns some of that motion into heat. The longer the clipper runs, the more heat builds up in the blade.
The strokes come fast. Andis defines SPM as strokes per minute, which "measures how fast the clipper blade moves back and forth."[3]
| Clipper | Strokes per minute (maker's figure) |
|---|---|
| Andis AGC2 | 2,700 or 3,400 (two speeds)[4] |
| Oster Turbo A5 | Over 3,100[1] |
| Andis ProClip 5-in-1 | 4,500 to 6,500 (five speeds)[3] |
We found no maker data comparing blade temperature by speed, so we don't claim that a faster clipper always runs hotter. Check the blade at any speed.
What the makers tell you to do
| Maker | What it says |
|---|---|
| Andis | Add a few drops of oil before and after use, and reapply during grooming if the blade starts to feel warm or dry. Its Cool Care Plus spray "doesn't replace blade oil."[2] |
| Wahl | After each use, remove the blade and brush out the hair. Oil with three drops across the top of the teeth and one at the heel on each side, then run the clipper for a few seconds.[5] |
| Oster | "Remove hair and apply blade lube after each use."[1] |
Andis' instruction is the one that ties blade oil to heat: a blade that starts to feel warm or dry needs oil.[2] The full cleaning routine is in how to clean and oil clipper blades.
Coolant sprays and "cooler" blades
Andis markets its Cool Care Plus as a 5-in-1 spray that disinfects, cools, lubricates, cleans and prevents rust, yet says plainly that it doesn't replace blade oil.[2] Use a coolant spray alongside oil, not instead of it.
Blade materials come with claims too. Andis says its ceramic cutter "stays up to 75% cooler than steel," and that its M-Force blades run "30% cooler."[6] Those are Andis' own figures, and we found no published test method behind them. Cooler is not cold: check a ceramic blade exactly as you would a steel one.
How to check a blade
AKC's professional grooming standards tell groomers to be aware of clipper sensitivity and burns, but they give no temperature limit or test.[7] The usual check among groomers is a simple touch test, not an AKC rule:
- Switch the clipper off and lay the flat of the blade against the inside of your wrist.
- Check at the start and every few minutes, and after any long pass over one area.
- If it feels warm to you, stop. Let it cool, and oil it before you carry on; Andis says to reapply oil when a blade starts to feel warm or dry.[2]
- Swap to a second blade of the same size if you have one, so the first can cool while you work.
- Brush out packed hair before you start again, as Wahl and Oster tell you to do after each use.[5][1]
Thin-skinned areas deserve extra care, and so does any spot you have gone over more than once. If you find yourself making repeated passes, stop and check both the blade and the skin.
Signs to stop
Stop if your pet flinches, pulls away or turns toward the clipper. Don't hold a pet still to finish the job: AVSAB warns that routines built on full physical restraint are very stressful for the pet and can easily make things much worse.[8]
Afterward, look over the clipped skin. AAHA lists red, irritated or crusted skin among the signs to contact a veterinarian about.[9] We can't tell you whether redness is a clipper burn or something else; your vet can.
Cats need the same care. VCA tells owners who use a pet shaver on a long-haired cat's mats to avoid nicking the skin and to monitor the shaver for overheating.[10] Cat mats: what not to do covers when to leave mats to a vet or groomer instead.
Next
Questions
How hot is too hot for a clipper blade?
No source we found sets a temperature limit; AKC's groomer standards warn about clipper burns but give no test. Treat any blade that feels warm on the inside of your wrist as too warm to keep using.[7]
Does coolant spray replace clipper blade oil?
No. Andis says its Cool Care Plus spray doesn't replace blade oil; add a few drops of oil before and after use, and again if the blade starts to feel warm or dry.[2]
Do ceramic clipper blades stay cool?
Andis says its ceramic cutter stays up to 75% cooler than steel. That is Andis' own claim, without a published test method, and cooler is not cold, so check a ceramic blade the same way as a steel one.[6]
Does a faster clipper run hotter?
We found no maker data on that. Speed, or SPM, is how many times a minute the blade moves back and forth, in Andis' definition; check the blade often at any speed.[3]
What should I do if my dog's skin is red after clipping?
Stop clipping that area and contact your veterinarian. AAHA lists red, irritated or crusted skin among the signs a vet should see, and we can't tell you what is causing it.[9]