The Ultimate Guide to Sharpening Wahl Clipper Blades

A hair clipper will only perform well if the blades are clean and well-maintained, even if they are from a world-renowned brand like Wahl. Such a clipper will have dull blades which stick to clients’ hair and possibly cause injuries. Therefore, barbers and groomers should make it a routine cleaning and sharpen their blades frequently. 

Although some Wahl clippers and trimmers have self-sharpening blades, they still need maintenance. A sharp, clean blade ensures even cuts and glides easily over the hair without straining the barber. 

Here is a step-by-step breakdown for sharpening clipper blades for anyone using Wahl clippers. 

Step 1: Remove Blades from the Clipper

In this step, you need a screwdriver to loosen the screws holding the blades to the clipper. Clipper blades from Wahl have two screws on the base. Gently remove any other pieces holding onto the blade, and remember the order for reassembly.

Step 2: Cleaning the Blades

Clear out any hair and debris sticking on the blades for smooth sharpening. Use a fine Wahl hair brush to brush out visible hair and a coarse brush to remove hair sticking between the blades. In a small bowl, pour isopropyl alcohol with 90% alcohol concentration and soak the blades. This process removes any visible rust and gunk after soaking for 5 minutes.

Use a clean towel for drying the liquids, rust or particles left on the blade. With light pressure, run the towel back and forth to ensure the entire blade is clean and dry.

Step 3: Sharpening the Blades

Use a whetstone with a 3000-4000 grit surface to sharpen the Clipper blades from Wahl. If your Wahl clipper has a ceramic blade, it is advisable to use diamond sharpening stones. Use your hands or a magnet holder to position the blade on the stone. Hold the blade at a 30° or 45° inclination and push it forward on the stone four to ten times.

Avoid moving back and forth since it may ruin the blade. Instead, after the blade turns shiny with an even surface, sharpen the other side with similar angles and motion. Once both sides are covered, refine the edges to be sharper with an 8000-grit whetstone. However, sharpening with a finer whetstone is optional since the first sharpening cycle still gets the job done.

Step 4: Reattach the Blades

Place the blade on the clipper appropriately and use screws to tighten them. After that, apply a few drops of Wahl hair clipper oil to control overheating and reduce friction that damages the 

clipper blades from Wahl. Also, barbers and groomers should consider using two or three drops of hair clipper oil after three shaving cycles. 

After oiling the blades, plug in the Wahl clipper to a power source and turn it on. Let the shaving machine run for a few minutes to hone the blades before use. The next time you cut hair, you will notice the blades are sharper and cleaner.

Bottom Line 

Hair clippers are the foundation of a hairdressing or grooming profession. These tools must always be in perfect condition to cut hair consistently. Any barber shop or grooming service should stock the essential sharpening tools to maintain the longevity of their equipment. This guide provides the steps to follow to achieve the appropriate blade sharpness and edge fineness.