best "low cost" dog clippers

[FoxyWench]

Im realy interested in getting started in grooming (i have a long way to go) and have gotten fairly good over the past 4 years at clipping my parents cocker using a 6yr old dog clipper.
well it finally gave out and now wont start and dad (whos good with the electronicle stuff says its dead *RIP it served me well*) so im looking for a good set of dog clippers that arnt too expensive (im a poor currently jobless student) are reliable, long lasting, comfortable to use (the old ones got VERY HOT and the heavy vibrating made my hand go to sleep lol) and good for general all around clipping. primarily for grooming my parents cocker, but will also withstand lots of "practice use" if i do get into grooming on a higher level.

Also any advice, tips tricks and best bets on "how to learn" would be great, the closst "grooming school" is 2 hours away and being jobless i dont have the gas to get to (or join) the class, ive seen many of those online courses but im worried about gettgin scammed, and ive seen ones that you buy the videos and learn from that...my goal is to actually find a groomer whod be willing to teach me and lots of hands on practice, but a course would be good too (as i need to see somehting before i do it) any books and things would be great too!

right now i only have a cocker to work on as the chis are pretty much wash and wear, im planning on getting a dane in the future too which of course is again wash and wear, but sometime in the distant future id love a standard poodle so advise on working up towards poodle cuts woudl be great!

ok im done now...i promise lol.

[tessa_s212]

You don't have any nearby grooming places nearby? I have plans of learning a bit, but I've mostly heard of people apprenticing, not going to any of those fancy schools.

[RD]

When I apprenticed with a groomer, she let me use her spare equipment while I was learning. Maybe you could do that instead of going to a trade school?

I haven't seen any cheap clippers that are worth it. I have a wahl cordless clipper that I got at Walmart and it SUCKS, even for the little stuff I use it for (trimming pads of the feet and sanitary clips) Not nearly enough power to even cut through poodle hair, much less Cocker hair which is very thick and hard on the clippers. I prefer to stick with the brands I know are good, like Andis, Oster etc.

[FoxyWench]

yeah ive been looking into the andis, im trying to gather some cash, mabe if i can meet my dad halfway hell help me buy a good set of the andis!

unfortunatly the only groomers within a 2 hour radius of me are petco, in which point you have to get a job there and take thier course, and since i quite there because i dont like their treatment of their animals (selling ich infested fish to people without clue and telling them the fish is supposed to look that way was their idea of customer service!)
the other is choice pet supply, ive aplied there multiple times but there not hiring for the grooming dept and dont offer aprenticships *sigh*
then theres the 3 "local" groomers one of which is a little old guy, hes awsome weve taken charlie there, but hes not taking on "help" as he doesnt want the tie down, this is his retirement and i respect that.
the 2 intown are also both "not hiring" (i told them i wasnt looking for a job Just to learn and ill work for free/experience) but ones not willing to take me on because there worried about brinign another groomer into the area *yeah i understand the want for no more compertition but talk about selfish especially when i told her i have plans of moving out of state within a year!*
the other is just not very good at returning my calls or treating me like a real person...i whent in and talked to them about what i wanted to do, and the owner said "ill have to talk to my groomer" (its a supply/grooming) took my number never called me back, whent back in got the same responce...been giving me the run around for a while now.
its amazingly difficult to get into the feild in this town *sigh*

but ill keep looking.

[RD]

I think the Andis would be a good way to go, I sold mine after I stopped grooming (had no need for them with my two dogs, and I needed the money) but they were great. Sucks about the groomers in your area :( keep looking though, I had to search around for a while before I found a groomer I was willing to learn from. Some were taking on bathers, but hardly anyone wanted an apprentice for that reason - they didn't want to train more competition.


Good luck!

[ejabarnes]

www.dezynadog.com is very good place although www.simpsons-online.com is cheaper slightly andis is very good clippers they do not heat up as quick as oster but you can also use the oster blades on an andis clipper they are priced around 60 pound for the one speed ones and 120 for the 2 speed one you will need to buy the blades though which than comes expensive as some blades are 30 pound or more definitely recommend andis though