Does anyone know of a site that describes how to sharpen sheep shearing and cattle clipping blades. or dog clipper blades too. And web sites or books about any kind of sharpening actually, I've a too many dull tools I've put off sharpening for too long. TIA

-- Ross (amulet@istar.ca), March 06, 2002

Answers

Ross, do you mean machine or hand clippers?

-- john hill (john@cnd.co.nz), March 07, 2002.

Machine driven blades. thx

-- Ross (amulet@istar.ca), March 07, 2002.

Hi Ross, I have only experience with machine type sheep shearing equipment, and that was some time ago, but this is what I remember.

The fixed 'comb' is ground on a flat sheet of emery paper of quite coarse grit, about 80 I think. The machine grinder is a large flat spinning steel disc to which the paper is glued. The direction of grinding is from the tooth ends toward the solid end of the comb.

The moving 'cutter' is ground on a similar device but much smaller grit although still quite coarse, maybe 250 grit although I am not sure. The direction of grinding is the same as for the comb. The cutter is concave ground, when you place a ground cutter on a ground comb you should be able to see light under the middle tooth (or teeth) of the cutter.

Obviously the grinding disc for the cutter is not the same as the grinding disc for the combs so if you have the sharpening equipment check that the convex disc is used for the cutters.

Take a look at the comb and cutter and you will see two holes of about 1/8 inch. There is a magnetic gadget that holds the piece for grinding and has small tips that engage in these two holes, I guess the holes are positioned at the point of optimum pressure for grinding.

I assume from you question that you don't have the sharpening gear? I guess it is possible to sharpen by hand although I have never seen it done.

Here are a few suggestions:

Make yourself a tool with two pins to engage in those holes I mentioned. Maybe just a block of wood that you can hold in the manner of a sanding block.

Take the coarse paper and lay it on a flat surface

Put the comb on the paper with the teeth pointing away from you, put you wooden tool on top and grind by pushing away from yourself, uses minimum pressure on the return stroke.

Do the same with the cutter but use a slightly convex surface to support the paper.

Combs and cutters are expensive so don't grind away anything more than necessary, just enough so that the transverse marks disappear.

If the comb tips are sharp they may scratch the animal's skin or dig in rather than sliding over, not good for the sheep and also makes for harder work. Work the comb tips on a softwood plank to 'round off' the comb tips.

I hope this helps

John

-- john hill (john@cnd.co.nz), March 07, 2002.

Well I do have a sharpening machine, but the instructions looks a little bizarre to me. They tell me to grind opposite to what you said (and I thought originally) and it's a flat disc not concave for the cutter. Hmmmmmm How does that scissor? Rotten part is even though it sharpens "wrong" I've crutched about 20 dirty bellies and they still glide right through. Clippers don't heat up I havn't advanced the cutter or had to tighten the tension. I got two other blades "sharpened" on a machine you describe but they've left a burr on them. I'm going to try them after the one I did dulls but I don't expect it to last. There's nothing new about my sharpener, Nasco sells a similar one (for more money) It's a heavy aluminum disc you spread machine oil on and add grit. Well I guess I'm going to keep sharpening them wrong until can see an advantage to doing it "right" Maybe I'll try one spun around they way you suggest (And I always thought) Thanks

-- Ross (amulet@istar.ca), March 07, 2002.

OK Ross, it has been a long time and perhaps there are different techniques. I guess the plate you put oil and grit on is for hand sharpening? I have never seen any sort of hand sharpening rig.

I think if you keep the cutter keen you will be able to crutch quite a few more before the comb needs attention.

-- john hill (john@cnd.co.nz), March 07, 2002.

Ross, I have found a site that seems to have everything I either never knew or forgot on the subject!

http://www.fao.org/docrep/v9384e/v9384e11.htm

-- john hill (john@cnd.co.nz), March 07, 2002.

The plate is powered, and the sparks do fly when you grind the blades, Just the instructions looked odd to me. Thanks for the web site I'll go take a look

-- Ross (amulet@istar.ca), March 07, 2002.