Back to My Original Cordless

My very first Cordless clipper was a Wahl Arco Clipper.

I LOVED that clipper.

I used it for many years.

I told other groomers about it.

It came with two rechargeable batteries.

Each battery ran for 45 minutes before it needed to be recharged.

You charged one battery while you were using the other.

It ran so quietly that it was great for faces and feet and puppies.

It also came with a charger/clipper stand, and a 5 position blade.

Oh, and it is very light weight.

That was a big plus for my poor over worked wrists.

The only con that the clipper had was that the #9 blade setting always clogged up and did not cut, but the #10, #15, #30, and #40 blade setting worked great.

Then one year, at Groom Expo, I found the Wahl Chromado.

I liked that it ran for 90 minutes before needing a charge, and I also liked that it had lights on the front that showed the battery level.

So I bought one.

My daughter bought one.

I eventually stopped using my Arco.

I have been using the Chromado for a few years now.

I still like the clipper, but...

I have decided to go back to the Arco.

Why?

Because my Chromado's have let me down.

We have 4 in the shop.

Two old ones and two new ones.

My daughters newest one is working fine.

Her old one is used as a spare when her new one is charging. (or I am using it)

My old one is a spare for me.

My newest one?

It died!

Dead..Dead..Dead.

I am not happy.

I have only had it a little over a year.

I started noticing that it did not seem to be holding the charge as long as it should have been at first.

I always use it till it is totally dead before I recharge.

It got to the point where I could not even get two feet shaved before it lost it's charge, and this was after a full charge.

Then it died.

I have also noticed that the two older ones are also not holding their charge as long.

I am sad because I really like this clipper.

I thought about trying the Wahl Bravura.

I have heard a lot of groomers say that they really like this cordless clipper, but like the Chromado, it recharges by placing the whole clipper in  the charger.

If it stops charging you lose the whole clipper.

With a the Arco, if a battery stops charging, it is a lot cheaper to buy a replacement battery.

So I decided to go back to my old faithful, the Arco.

It does not have the same torque that the Chromado and Bravura have, but I really don't see that much of a difference.

I also really like the fact that it only takes seconds to switch out the battery and I can keep on clipping.

I don't like the comb attachments that come with the Arco clipper.

They detach to easily.

But, I got a surprise when I went to order the Wahl Arco Clipper.

Wahl has a new 5-in-1 Stainless Steel Comb Set.

If you buy a Wahl Arco Clipper now, you get the Comb Set for free. (a $37 value)

*Note: I am not a spokes person for Wahl. I just like their clipper. They don't even know that I am taking about them. :)

I have the Wahl Stainless Steel Attachment Guide Combs, but I don't use them very much.

I use them with a #30 blade but have found that the hair gets clogged a lot, and sometimes the comb rattles on the blade, scaring the dog.

You can not use them with a #40 blade because they will break the teeth on the 40 blade.

I ruined a couple of 40's trying to use those combs.

Grrrr.

They are also a pain to get off and on the blade to clean out the clogged hair.

 I saw the new 5 in 1 Stainless Steel combs at Groom Expo and noticed that they slide on like the plastic combs that come with the Chromado, and I like those combs.

The combs slide down onto the blade really nice and snug.

No popping off of the blade there.  :)

I stayed after work Saturday to groom one of my girls.

She was really overgrown and needed it.

I have bathed her several times with the intention of grooming her at the end of the day.

Then the end of the day comes...

...I don't feel like giving her a haircut.

I decided that MY dog was getting a haircut for the holiday.

I also decided to try out my new clip combs on her.

I like her full and fuzzy for the winter.

Sound like my customers don't I?

Anyway, I started with the longest comb.

It did not take much off.

So I moved on to the next comb.

I liked that length.

The comb glided sooo nicely through the hair.

The hair never got glogged.

I like using these combs on the #40 setting.

It left about an inch of hair on her back.

I used full pressure on her back, and almost full pressure on her legs.

I skimmed the bottom of her legs.

That's the great thing about using the #40 blade setting, you even get hair off when skimming with a clip comb.

I have to say that the fuzzy, overgrown look suits her personality.

But, sadly she gets too dirty too fast.

I have been letting her ears grow out, but it does not suit her.

She is such a tomboy.

I used the clip comb to clip the outside of her ears. 

I skimmed the inside of her ears with the #10 blade.

 I got her done in a little over an hour, so I didn't have to stay after too long.

I really like using these Steel combs on my Arco clipper.

I have a feeling I will be using these a lot.

Only two more Standards to go.

I don't think that I have ever had them all groomed up nice at the same time.

If I ever do, I will have to take a nice picture of the three of them together, because it may never happen again.

When does a groomer ever feel like grooming their own dog?

Let's put it another way.

When does a groomer ever have the energy and time to groom their own dog?

Happy Grooming, MFF