Align An Andis Clipper Blade

Align an Andis Clipper Blade

An inexperienced barber may complain that his or her Andis clippers need new blades, or the blades on them need sharpening, because they're not cutting the way they used to. A change in the blades' ability to cut is completely normal with use, but it's generally not because the blades are dull. Usually, the blades only need to be aligned, so that the upper and lower blades are parallel to one another. Aligned blades make a more precise cut and they won't pinch the skin while you're cutting hair.

Instructions

1. Turn off and unplug your Andis clippers, as you should never work on an power tool while an electrical current is flowing into it.

2. Use a Phillips head screwdriver to remove the bolts that secure the upper blade to the clippers.

3. Clean the hair off the upper blade and out of the inside of the clippers with a clipper cleaning brush or a toothbrush. You'll find that the clippers work better when there's no hair stopping the internal parts from moving as they should.

4. Use the screwdriver to loosen the small cross-head screws that secure the lower blade (the smaller blade) to the clippers. Don't completely remove the lower blade, just loosen the screws.

The lower blade on some Andis clipper models aren't secured by screws. If you have one of these models, you can use your fingers to adjust it so that it's straight in its guide.

5. Place the upper blade on the clippers over the screw holes and slide the lower blade so that the edges of both blades are parallel to one another.

6. Remove the upper blade and tighten the screws on the lower blade. If there are no screws on your model, move on to the next step.

7. Place the upper blade on the clippers and insert the screws to secure it.

8. Plug in the clippers and turn them on. Run the clippers for a few seconds and turn them off. If the blades are still parallel to each other after running, the clippers are properly adjusted. If not, adjust them again until they stay parallel.

9. Place a few drops of clipper oil on the front and sides of the blades and turn on the clippers so the parts are ready for use.

Tags: lower blade, upper blade, blade clippers, upper blade clippers, Align Andis