News
Still Sharpening! July 06 2017
Hi Groomers . It's your Friendly Neighbourhood Sharpener. Although there have been a few changes at Cutting Edge Grooming Supplies I'm still sharpening like crazy. We're still able to pick up and deliver sharpening in the Calgary area, otherwise just pop it in the mail and we'll send it back super quickly with no shipping cost to you. It's getting to be like Christmas every time we go to the Post Office!
Anyway....wow, what a heat wave!! I hope everyone is keeping cool at work! It's probably not easy considering you spend your day standing over a warm furry creature, holding a warm clipper with hot air dryers blasting all around you!
You'll be pleased to know that my sharpening shop is sort of a subterranean lair (like Batman's) ..and is cooooool . So keep the sharpening coming otherwise I"ll have to mow the lawn or something.
Have a great summer.....Andy
587-832-5515
Thinners & Blenders January 11 2017
Hi Groomer's :-). I certainly hope everyone's new year is off to a great start!
Thinners and Blenders are invaluable tools for the professional groomer, but they are not without their quirks. Unlike conventional straight shears it seems relatively common for the straight edge to catch on the teeth of these shears. In extreme cases this can cause bent or missing teeth and deep nicks in the straight edge.
Here's a tip....at the first hint of "catching" you can close the shears by gently spreading the shear tips. Then apply finger pressure to the shear tips and slowly open the shears while applying gentle closure pressure to the tips. If you do this a few times it will usually smooth out any irregularities between the straight and toothed edges, and you should be able to continue to use the shears and not have to put them into the "needs sharpening" bin :-).
Please feel free to call me or text me at 587-832-5515 if you have any questions about this or any other sharpening, clipper or dryer questions.
Have a great week....Andy
Synchronized Team November 14 2016
Hi Groomers :-).
Well this is certainly something I don't see every day....a thinner and a straight shear so much in love that they have joined together forever. Committed to going through life together like a synchronized swim team :-).
I've always thought that grooming took a balance between patience, kindness and artistic talent, but I can't imagine the dexterity it takes to use this baby
Have a good week....Andy.
It's all in the name! July 18 2016
Hi Groomers
.There is no doubt that Groomers are very creative people...and one way that your creativity shines is in your choice of business names. I can't think of another industry where the business names have such flair!
Here are just a few that I can think of right now, but there are tons more....
Hollywoof. Muttley Crue. Atomic Dog. Itzaclip. Shampooches. Puppy in my Pocket. The Groom Room. Marvellous Muttz. Wagsmore Grooming. Posh Paws.
Wigglebums. Pawsitively Purrfect Pet Spa. Doggie Style. Four on the Floor. Twisted Whiskers. Dogtopia. Hair of the Dog. Pawsitively Pooched. Spoiled Rott'n. Paws 4 FX. Snippidy Do Dog. Ultimate Paw Spa. Canis fabularis. Round of Apaws. Raising Canine...
I could go on forever! Have a great day.....Andy
Beat the Heat! July 07 2016
Hi Groomers
.I just repaired a clipper and had it running with a blade attached for around 20 minutes. The clipper works great, but the blade was as hot as the safety briefing on a Caribbean cruise ship (long story).
There are two main factors that contribute to blade heating.....speed and friction. Clippers are getting faster and more powerful, so try clipping at the lowest speed setting that you can.
You can reduce friction and cool your blades during use by lubricating them with a variety of products such as Andis Blade Care or Wahl Blade Ice. Be sure to oil your blades as well, putting a small amount of blade oil on the contact ride lines between the comb and cutter blades, and don't forget to put a drop or two of oil on the plastic blade guide.
I know that Groomers are all super hot...but that doesn't mean that your blades have to be....Andy
Surprise Visitor! June 28 2016
Hi everyone
.A beautiful new black and white kitty showed up recently. It gets along fine with Kitty Kitty, but is a bit shy. I think I need to bring it in for grooming because it looks kind of scruffy, and it smells a bit. Any volunteers???
Have a great day.....Andy
Certified Shark Fin Sharpener! June 03 2016
Hi everyone
.The good folks at the Shark Fin Shear Company have just certified us to perform warranty approved sharpening on their grooming shears!
I have sharpened quite a few Shark Fin shears in the past, and our customers have reported being very happy with the results, but it is great to know that the manufacturer of these extremely high quality shears has inspected my work and also been pleased.
(Essentially they dropped a pair of shears down an elevator shaft and then ran over them with a truck and I had to repair and sharpen the shears to their exacting standards. Ok, I may be embellishing slightly...but you get the idea).
Anyway, if you are lucky enough to own some of these beauties but have been mailing them off to far away places for sharpening , give us a try
Have a great day from your friendly neighbourhood sharpener....Andy.
Big or small we sharpen them all! May 12 2016
"Lil' Nipper" gazed up in admiration at his big cousin, and hoped that one day he too would grow up and graduate from hamster grooming to the big leagues of professional dog grooming
Or alternate caption...
Big or small, we sharpen them all!
Have a great day.... Andy
Lots to do! May 09 2016
Hello Monday....it looks like I've got my work cut out for me! When we pick up sharpening it goes into blue bins, and when I get it completed it gets transferred into green bins ('cause green means go). I love a big pile of blue bins but "happiness = green bins".
I am certainly doing my best to tackle the incoming stacks of blue bins so that I can get fully caught up before I get "drunk on a plane" and go "somewhere on a beach" in a couple of weeks (I love country music....it's so relatable).
I hope you all have a good week in spite of the trying times that we are currently experiencing. Take care.....Andy
Happy Easter! March 27 2016
Feast your eyes on these yummy new Andis blades!
Happy Easter everyone .
Give us a try! March 19 2016
Hi Groomers
Whew! I just finished conquering a massive mountain of blades for a brand new customer.
They wanted to try us out...and gave us 71 blades! Yikes! thanks for the trust, you won't be disappointed
Blade Care February 28 2016
Hi Groomer's
.I'm working on (a seemingly never ending pile of) blades today, and it occurred to me that I sure seem to encounter a lot of blades that are corroded and pitted with rust. Sometimes the cutter and comb blades are actually rusted together....it's probably no surprise that they don't perform well in that condition.
There are a number of quality blade coolants, cleaners and lubricants on the market, such as Andis Blade Care, Wahl Blade Ice or Oster Kool Lube, and these products can be used throughout your grooming day.
It is very important that your blades are put away clean and dry when you are done with them for the day. Try blowing out most of the accumulated hair with a high pressure dryer. Then move the cutter blade to one side of the blade and apply a drop or two of clipper blade oil to the "ride surfaces" on the comb blade. Move the cutter blade to the other side of the blade, and apply oil there as well. Then run the blade on your clipper for a few seconds to spread the oil. You can then put the blade away, and be confident that it should work well for you tomorrow
.Happy grooming everyone.....Andy.
What are carbon brushes February 03 2016
Hi Groomers. I guess we must have been running low on words when these things were named, because they look nothing like what we all think of when we hear the word "brush". Come on people in charge of naming things...you should have called them a "glorper" or a "zelzeroid" or something to avoid confusion!!
Anyway, these little beauties are called carbon brushes, and they are a vital component of most dryers and even some clippers (the tiny ones are used in Oster clippers).
Carbon brushes are essentially a contact point for transmitting electrical energy to the rotating components of the dryer (or clipper). Eventually the carbon material wears away and can no longer provide a good contact. The dryer will provide less air, and sometimes no air as a result.
The carbon brushes can be replaced with varying degrees of difficulty. Let us know if you are having problems with your dryer, and we'll do our best to get it blowing again!
Happy grooming.....Andy
What are blade drives good for? February 02 2016
Hi Groomer's. What the heck are these things? If you answered "assorted blade drives for commonly available clippers", you are SUPER SMART.
The fact is that blade drives are often an underappreciated and sometimes overlooked part of your clipper. Your clipper is only as good as the blade drive, and it can take a seemingly small amount of wear to prevent your clipper from working it's best.
Admittedly it is sometimes difficult to determine it cutting problems should be blamed on the blade or the clipper, but if you are starting to experience vibration and poor performance from many of your blades, the culprit is very likely the blade drive.
(if I ever think I'm "losing my touch" when it comes to blade sharpening, I replace the blade drive tip on my Wahl clipper...it's amazing the difference that is made to blade performance).
The good news is that blade drives are reasonably inexpensive. You can generally install them yourself without too much cursing, or we can certainly do it for you.
Take care....Andy.
What to do if blades don't fit on the clipper February 01 2016
Hi Groomer's. Oh oh....confession time.
I've been contacted by a few valued clients who reported that several newly sharpened blades are not fitting onto their clippers.
This seemed odd to me because all blades fit well on the clipper that I use for testing the blades after I sharpen them....but I believe I've solved the problem.
The last step in the sharpening process is to make sure that the blades do not rattle on the clipper. I do this by slightly crimping the ears on the blade socket if required. The problem seems to be that the tabs on the hinge assembly of my clipper have worn over time (I often put blades off and on this clipper for 8 hours a day). Essentially I was making blades fit great on my clipper....but maybe not yours.
The obvious lesson (for me) is that blade rattle can be the result of excessive socket gap, OR a worn hinge assembly, and I've now replaced the hinge assembly on my clipper.
If you have been plagued by blades that don't snap easily onto your clipper, you can generally solve the problem by slightly spreading the ears on the blade socket with pliers, or gently forcing the blade onto your clipper so that your hinge assembly spreads the ears. If you are still having problems I would be pleased to adjust the socket gap...just send the blade back to us.
Whew...long post, congratulations to all who made it to the end ....Andy.
How to tell blades that are not usable anymore January 29 2016
Hi Groomers. All good things must come to an end, and that unfortunately includes your blades.
In general, a blade has come to the end of its useful life when there is not enough metal remaining to effectively sharpen.
The top blade in the first picture is still in great shape, and there is plenty of sharpenable material. However, the bottom blade is fully worn out, and the raised rails that the cutter blade would normally travel on have been worn smooth.
Missing teeth and extreme corrosion can also signal the end of the road for a blade. The blade in the second picture looks like it was recovered from the Titanic!
If I encounter any blades that are at the end of their life, I'll let you know (some of you are probably familiar with the "fortune cookie" notes that I include with your sharpening if I have something to report). Now if I could only find a use for old blades...hmm...jewellery , fishing weights, bookmarks, doorstops.....
Take care.....your friendly neighbourhood sharpener, Andy.
How to prep new shears for their first use January 28 2016
Hi Groomers. Well...you finally splurged and bought a shiny new pair of shears, and you can't wait to use them. Sloooow down turbo!
It may seem a bit counterintuitive, but new shears do not always work perfectly right out of the package. Many manufacturers package their shears with excessive closure tension, and the packaging and shipping process can sometimes negatively affect the set of the shears.
Before you use your new shears it is important to clean any shipping grease from the shears, and to check and adjust the closure tension and set. This will help to prevent premature wear or possible damage to the shear.
You can do these tests and adjustments yourself, or ask your sharpener to look at the shears for you. The good news is that Cutting Edge Grooming Supplies has now started testing and adjusting each pair of shears prior to sale, so you can be confident that your new shear will perform perfectly.
Have fun....your friendly neighbourhood sharpener.
How to fix blades that rattle January 27 2016
Hello to all you "Canine Coiffurist's" out there. Everyone seems to be getting quite busy, and hopefully all of your grooming is going smoothly.
I know that blades can sometimes "rattle your nerves" when they get excessively loud and rattley...it must be hard to concentrate on creating the perfect cut when your clipper is driving you crazy!
Luckily there is usually an easy fix for this problem. On the back of every blade is a component called the socket. This part has two little tabs that engage with the hinge assembly on your clipper, and if these tabs spread apart enough it will create free play, and a lot of noise.
I have a tool that creates the perfect gap, but you can try slightly crimping these tabs with pliers to close the gap as indicated in the picture. Crimp just a bit, and then test on the clipper until the blade fits snuggly on your clipper and does not rattle. Be careful not to bend these tabs too much though, or you won't be able to get the blade onto the clipper.
Have fun out there.....Andy.
How to refurbish the 5in1 blade January 26 2016
Howdy Groomers. I have noticed how popular the 5in1 blades are in the grooming world, and I can see why. When these blades are working well they work REALLY well, and are a pleasure to use. I've heard that some folks consider these blades to be somewhat disposable, but in reality these blades can usually be "brought back to life ".
One common issue with this blade is that if it is ever dropped, there is a high likelihood of breaking off one or more of the plastic retention tabs on the black backing of the blade. This part of the blade is called the chassis, and there are 3 plastic tabs that must be in place in order for the blade to secure to the clipper (see the photo). If you find that your 5in1 blade is missing tabs, and not staying on the clipper, it is not necessary to discard the blade. We can replace the chassis with a new unit for a fraction of the price of a new blade.
Also, we can fully refurbish these blades by sharpening the comb blade and replacing the cutter blade. This brings the 5in1 blade back to "as new" condition.
Take care everyone......Andy
How to adjust spring tension January 25 2016
Hi Groomers. I talked last time about the importance of tension between the cutter and comb blades.
Even freshly sharpened blades will not cut properly unless there is sufficient blade tension. As I mentioned, the spring should be applying enough tension on the cutter blade that it will take 3-4 lbs of pressure to move the cutter blade.
If you suspect that a blade isn't working due to inadequate spring tension, the following technique may help make the blade usable again.
1)First Picture: very carefully push the cutter blade out of the blade assembly.
2)Second and Third Pictures: using locking pliers to ensure that both sides are even, gently bend the spring to increase downwards pressure. Press down in the area indicated in the pictures...crimping in the wrong area can actually loosen the blade or destroy the spring.
3)Fourth Picture: using a flat blade screwdriver, gently lift up in the centre of the spring to provide enough of a gap to re-insert the cutter blade.
This may help you get some more use out of a blade that has stopped working. Although, when in doubt, your "friendly neighbourhood sharpener" always adjusts spring tension as part of the sharpening process.
Happy grooming, and may all your blades be sharp....Andy. :)
How to check cutter blade tension January 22 2016
Hello to all of you hard working professional Groomers out there. It's your smokey neighbourhood sharpener again. Are you all tired of the smoke? It's been like living beside a campfire for the last few days in the Calgary area , and it would sure be nice to be able to see the horizon again.
Oh well, things will get better soon, there's no point getting tense about it. It's a good practise to try to avoid tension, but in the sharpening world tension is very important (whew-that was a bit of a long winded segue :-)).
Last time I talked about shear closure tension, and cutter blade tension is equally important. In fact, a perfectly sharpened blade will not cut at all if the spring is not applying enough tension to the cutter blade.
I use a small kitchen scale, and press the cutter blade into the blade as indicated in the picture. I aim for 3-4 lbs of pressure. Too little pressure and the blade won't cut properly, and too much pressure and the blade will heat up during use. It takes a bit of practice to get a feel for the proper pressure, but it should take some effort to move the cutter blade on your blades. A poorly functioning blade can simply be a matter of inadequate spring tension. I'll talk about adjusting spring tension next time.
Spring tension is just one of the factors that contribute to the effectiveness of your blades. In fact, the difference between a blade that works perfectly, and one that doesn't work at all can be somewhat mystifying at times. There are a variety of factors that must be perfect, and I will admit to spending a heck of a lot of time on a single blade trying to "unlock the mystery".
Anyway, all for now. I have a bunch of blades that need sharpening, and hopefully I have no tension related tension...Andy.
How to drop check shears January 21 2016
Hi Groomers, it's your friendly neighbourhood sharpener again. I'm just finishing up some shears as the snow falls...weird Southern Alberta weather for sure.
My very last step in the sharpening process is to adjust the closure tension of the shears. Correct tension is quite important to the proper functioning of shears, and I have noticed that many of the shears that come to me are either very loose or too tight.
It is a good idea to periodically check shear closure tension. I do what is called a drop test (I know, you all try very hard to not "drop test" your shears...this is different. :-)).
What I do is hold the shears in one hand with the blade that I am holding facing straight up, and the free blade is then lifted up, and dropped.
The shears should close as shown in the second picture, with the shear tips closed only to approximately 80% of the length of the shear. If the shears close all the way to the tips they are too loose, and if they stop lower then the shears are too tight. Adjust the set screw as required.
Take care, and I hope it's not snowing wherever you are....Andy.
Another "selfie train" submission! July 22 2015
Woohoo Jeanette from A Royal Touch Pooch Parlour in Calgary joined the fun too! Check them out if you're near Tuxedo Park, Jeanette's website is www.aroyaltouch.com
Cutting Edge Grooming Supplies Selfie train July 20 2015
The team at CEGS wanted to have some fun so we decided to be a little goofy and doing a selfies train!
Brenda Goodbody at The Ultimate Paw Spa in Chestermere started us off, and then Adrienne from High Tails Pet Resort in Airdrie followed suit.
Let's see how far this selfie train can go! So send us your pic with your name, biz name and where you're from and we'll feature you on our page. Also tell us any quirky things you wanna share!
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