Dog grooming equipment is costly, but aside from your grooming training course fees, your tools of work are the most important investment you will make.
Nowadays there is a vast range of tools and equipment on the market, and most expensive doesn’t always mean the best.
As a new dog grooming business, and assuming that you will be working alone, you will need some of the essentials.
Beware the fads……
It’s a good idea to shop around for the larger items such as tables, driers and crates….these items are expensive and rushing into a purchase can lead to frustration and being out of pocket if the item isn’t suitable for your needs. Even more important is to avoid things that are currently fashionable…..a pink grooming table isn’t going to be any more use that a traditionally coloured one, but you may pay more for fashion !!
Here at Abbfabb Academy of Dog Grooming Training, our students are supplied with a small grooming tools kit that is designed to last for their training course with us. But most students choose to expand their small tools kit by purchasing additional clipper blades and scissors and possibly invest in some cordless clippers.
Scissors can be a minefield and can be marketed and sold by people with little experience of actual dog grooming. We ALWAYS recommend Abbfabb Dog Grooming Scissors……the quality and range is exceptional, and the prices are always competitive. Sian, the proprietor, has won many awards for her products and exceptional customer service, and she maintains her personal contact with her many satisfied customers.
Visit the website www.abbfabbgroomingscissors.com or click on the grooming scissors page on our website.
Be smart with sharpening and maintenance.
Scissor and clipper blade sharpening is an area of expertise that few people have, and you should only trust yours with a sharpener who actually knows what they are doing. A skilled sharpener will dismantle scissors and blades to identify where they are blunt, and will be able to replace or repair the small parts that are integral to blades and scissors. It’s incredible that some groomers try DIY methods such as rubbing their scissors up and down on a stone, or using a kitchen knife sharpening tool….this will almost always result in damage and a clipper blade or scissor that doesn’t function at all…..and no money has been saved because the equipment has either been damaged beyond repair or will need to be sent to a skilled sharpener in the hope that it can be rescued.
Apart from the natural grooming process that over time dulls sharp edges, there are the accidents that occur…..dropping your scissors, standing on your scissors and spilling products on your scissors will all mean that they need a trip to the sharpener.
Also working on dirty, greasy dog coats, and cutting through mats and knots will dull your scissors quickly. You should always try to use your scissors and blades on clean, properly prepared coats……keep some old scissors and clipper blades for doing the dirty work !
A skilled and experienced sharpener will have the ability to sharpen and service your equipment, or if it’s beyond salvage, the sharpener should tell you and not try to repair the unrepairable……and charge you for the privilege!!
The Gay Blade Professional Scissor Sharpening.
We recommend one sharpener who we consider to be the very best in the business…….Andrew at The Gay Blade. He has a lifetime of experience as a tool maker and working with metals. Andrew is meticulous in his work and it isn’t often that he is defeated by a clipper blade or a pair of scissors. He is sometimes at U.K grooming shows, but prefers to be able to work from home so that he has all the necessary tools at hand.
Andrew uses the very best sharpening equipment that is available, which is designed for the specific job of honing dog grooming scissors and clipper blades…you won’t catch him using a belt sander or the back step 😳
All dog grooming scissors and clipper blades that are sent to Andrew are completely taken apart…..then they’re inspected, sharpened, cleaned, lubricated and put back together. Then they’re tested to make sure they are sharpening properly and are balanced. He can normally replace small missing or damaged parts.
Andrew at the Gay Blade knows all about the different edges that dog grooming scissors have…bevelled, semi-convex and convex…and he sharpens all types of scissors…..straight edges, blenders, fluffers, chunkers, curved and in all sorts of sizes. He sharpens scissors for many hairdressers and barbers.
Andrew also services and repairs ( where possible ) driers and clippers, and he sharpens knives, chisels and a range of gardening tools.
He normally has a turnaround time of 48 hours….that is he will complete your sharpening and repairs over a 48 hour period then return everything by tracked post. Naturally this can depend on availability of parts.
He can be contacted on 07939 363800.
Or find him on Facebook….The Gay Blade Professional Sharpening Services.
