A5 clipper blades are the top choice among professional dog groomers due to their versatility. They offer a variety of cut lengths, sizes, and finishes to suit different dog breeds and coat types. The Masterclip A5 clipper blades are crafted from high-grade toughened steel , ensuring a smooth and comfortable clipping experience with a professional finish.
Whether you're an experienced dog groomer or beginner wanting to groom your dog at home, investing in Masterclip's A5 clipper blades will make your grooms easier and more efficient.
How To Use A5 Clipper Blades With Your Clipper
A5 clipper blades are incredibly user-friendly. Here’s why:
- Easy attachment : Simply snap on and off the clipper handset in seconds, with no need to unscrew the blades from the handset in order to detach them.
- Conveniently Pre-tensioned : No need for manual adjustments for use, other than the regular application of clipper oil.
- Compatibility : Suitable for all A5 clippers that use the snap on, snap off A5 blade system, including Masterclip’s Pedigree Pro, MD Roamer and Royale clippers, and other top grooming brands such as Andis, Wahl, Oster, Liveryman, Laube, Lister.
Types Of A5 Clipper Blades
Standard A5 blades are the most popular clipper blades with a ‘standard’ blade width of 5cm. They offer a range of clip lengths from very close surgical blades (for veterinary use), to longer cutting blades for use on the body.
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Standard A5 Blades :
- Have a standard width of 5cm .
- Available in a range of cut lengths, from very close surgical blades to longer body clipping blades .
- Blades are numbered from a No. 50F to a No. 2F, with higher numbers offering shorter clips (e.g., a No. 50 cuts shorter than a No. 30 and and a No. 7 clips longer than a No 9 blade.). Our blades are engraved with the number and the cutting depth in millimetres on the front so that you know the precise clip length of each individual blade.
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Specialist Narrow & Wide Blades :
- 5/8 toe blade : with a width of just 2cm wide, specially designed to clip the hair in the small space between the dogs pads
- Wide blades : With a wider width of 7.5cm - a similar size to A2 horse clipper blades, perfect for grooming larger dogs and horses. The wide blades start at a close cutting No. 30W (0.5mm) and longer cutting blades up to a No. 5FW (6.4mm) blade. The longer cutting wide blades (7FW, 6FW and 5FW) are perfect for efficient clipping of larger dogs to reduce clipping time.
Close Cutting Blades
Ideal for veterinary use and detailed grooming:
- No. 50 (0.2mm) , No. 40 (0.25mm) , No. 30 (0.5mm) : Best for surgical preparation and wound care.
For everyday grooming:
- No. 15F (1.2mm) , No. 10F (1.6mm) , and No. 9F : Ideal for trimming around feet, pads, face, and ears. The 10F blade is a very popular blade choice. for general trimming and clipping the tummy and sanitary areas. The 10F can also be used with comb attachments to achieve longer clips with a single clipper blade. Due to the versatility of this blade, it is usually offered as the standard blade with most clipper handsets and is included with all of our Grooming by Breed dog clipper sets.
Body Clipping Blades
- Body clipping blades: From the No. 7 (3mm) upwards to No.2F (16mm). For clipping the main trunk of the body, and legs and sometimes the top of the head.
- Available in two different finishes: F blades and skip tooth blades.
- Ensure a smart, easy maintenance clip: Avoid using a shorter cutting blade than the No. 7 as it may cause skin irritation. Clipping to 3mm or above ensures that your dog has enough covering of hair to protect the skin from the elements and keep warm.
Deciding which body clipping blade to choose for clipping your own dog may come down to lot of different factors including ease of managing their coat, the look you want for your dog and the current climate.
There are general guides for certain breeds, such as No. 4 (9mm) blades are great for giving a short trim that is still on the fluffy side, ideal for Shih Tzus and Lhasa Apsos. Whereas the No. 7 (3mm) and No. 5 (6mm) blades leave a smoother cut and are more suited to spaniels and terriers.
F Blades vs Skip Tooth Blades
Body blades (from the No. 7 (3mm) and longer) offer a choice of finish with either a smooth cut or textured look by using a skipn tooth blade.
- F Blades : Ensure a smooth, crisp finish (e.g., No. 7F gives an even cut). Denoted by an F after the number meaning fine cut or finishing cut.
- Skip Tooth Blades : Offer a natural, textured finish, ideal for dogs with thick, curly, or slightly tangled coats. skip tooth blades do not have any letters after the number embossed on the clipper blade or they may instead have a # symbol. The finish with a skip tooth blade is similar to using thinning scissors.
Skip tooth blades can be easily identified as they have every other tooth ground back on the comb of the blade. This allows dogs with hair that is long, very thick, curly or mildy tangled to feed into the cutter more easily. These are perfect for blades breeds like Poodles, Poodle cross breeds, Shih Tzus, Lhasa Apsos and fluffy terriers such as the Airedale terrier where a softer finish is preferred.
Skip tooth blades are also used for blending smooth clipped areas into the skirts and into the feathering the legs for breeds such as spaniels. They are also great for removing some of the bulk out of heavier coats of thick coated dog breeds to facilitate grooming.
Grooming Tips
A5 clipper blades do have sharp edges to the teeth of the blade and it is possible to catch the skin of your dog when clipping. For this reason it is essential keep these important pointers in mind:
- Prep your dog : Always bathe and brush your dog before clipping to remove as many mats and tangles as possible to give the best results and most comfortable clip experience for your dog.
- Use blades flat : Keep the clipper blades flat against your dog's body to avoid any nicks and digging into the skin.
- Be cautious in tricky areas : Areas where the skin is loose such as the armpits must be gently stretched taught by lifting the legs to avoid accidentally digging the blades into the folds of the skin.
- Patience : Some dogs can be very wriggly to clip, so it’s essential to take your time and if necessary, seek expert guidance.
- Never use a skip blade on a matted coat : Matts in the coat should be removed before clipping the body and as a general rule, never use a skip tooth blade on a matted coat. Instead, matts can be removed prior to body clipping with a close cutting blade such as the 10F to get underneath the matt, close to the skin. The small spaces between the teeth are safer to use closer to the skin.
- Seek expert guidance : If your dog is very matted, it’s best to contact your vet or a professional groomer for advice as you don’t want to end up with a bald dog!
Comb Guides
Comb guides (sometimes called comb guards) are another method of achieving clips of different lengths using a single clipper blade. Combs are very easy to use, being sprung loaded they simply clip over the top of a close cutting No. 10F or No. 30F clipper blade.
Want longer clips with the same blade? Try using comb guides :
- Clip lengths from 3mm up to 32mm (1 ¼ inches) using one clipper blade.
- An inexpensive way to offer a varied choice of clip if you like to change up your clip length often.
- Ideal for poodles and crossbreeds, offering a plush, manageable finish .
- Great tools for novice groomers who prefer a longer, softer look for their dog. and are worried about using their clippers with direct clipper blades alone.
- Leaves a smooth finish, but those wanting a superb crisp, clean cut, or a more natural, textured look, it’s better to opt for standard A5 clipper blades in the depth of choice instead.
Comb guides are a useful tool to have in your grooming kit, but clipper blades or comb choice is essentially down to your preference based on the look and finish you want for your dog.
Caring for Your Clipper Blades
Care of your A5 clipper blades is relatively simple. To keep them in top condition:
- Oil regularly : Lubricating your clipper blades is essential for smooth operation and offers a degree of cooling too. Apply oil to the blade’s sides, cutting surfaces, and teeth every 5 minutes during the clip and before and after each use.
- Clean your blades : Use the cleaning brush supplied with your clippers or or an old toothbrush to remove clipped hair from the teeth of the blade and cutting surfaces. Watch our video guide below.
- Cool down blades : At routine intervals during the clip, stop the clipper and test the temperature of the blade is comfortable for your dog by placing them on the back of your hand. If your blades do not have enough oil applied, they will generate too much friction and heat. For extra cooling, use Andis 5-in-1 blade care to prevent overheating.
- Store properly : The Andis spray can also be used to clean your blades providing additional cleaning and disinfectant properties and prevents your blades from rusting. Store clean, well-oiled blades in an oily cloth or airtight plastic box to avoid moisture and rust spots.
- Sharpen when needed : Your Masterclip A5 clipper blades are readily re-sharpenable. Our premium blades are made from high grade toughened steel, meaning they require less frequent sharpening and will last for many years with good care.
Summary
Why should you choose Masterclip dog grooming clipper blades?
Versatile Options : Masterclip's A5 clipper blades come in a variety of cut lengths and widths, perfect for different dog breeds and coat types
Easy to Use : These blades snap on and off the clipper handset effortlessly, requiring minimal maintenance and fitting all brands of A5 clippers that take snap on blades.
Durable & Re-sharpenable : Made from high-grade toughened steel, Masterclip blades are built to last and can be re-sharpened for long-term use.
With these tips, you’ll get the best performance out of your Masterclip A5 clipper blades, keeping your dog looking great with minimal effort!
To explore our full range of dog clipper blades, or if you need more information, feel free to contact us. We're happy to help!
