3/4HT blade

[Adrianne Matzkin]

I am looking for a longer blade so I do not have to use combs over the blade. I longest one I have found is the 3/4HT for Andis. Anyone suggest something longer?

[Lucy & AnnaBelle's Mom]

I've given this some thought as well thinking it would be great.  However, if you aren't using a comb attachment then there is the huge issue of the blade getting hot and having to constantly stop.  Even when I spray the blade it seems still warm.  I'll be watching the responses and hoping to learn something here.

[Adrianne Matzkin]

I am going to order the ceramic blade - supposedly 70% cooler. 

[Debb, Lucy & Oscar]

I'm interested in hearing others' opinions on this, too, as I'm gearing up to do my own grooming. The Andis clipper I ordered comes with a free 5/8 HT blade, but all along I've been planning on using the Wahl Stainless Steel comb attachments. Just curious, why don't you like the combs, and what kind have you used?

[Adrianne Matzkin]

I have Andis plastic combs. They pop off all the time on Charli, my curly doodle. I just want to keep her about an inch for the winter because she loves to roll in the snow. The summer she is kept at 1/2".

[Debb, Lucy & Oscar]

Well, I'll let you know what I think of the stainless steel combs (they snap on, so hopefully they won't pop off). Lucy has a wooly coat, Oscar's is more wavy/curly and less dense.

[Lucy & AnnaBelle's Mom]

I just have the old pastic type that clip on that came with our Oster clippers probably over 20 years ago.  They don't pop off, but I do have to sometimes take them off and clear the hair under them.  I'm guessing it could be Charli's hair though as I'm sure with the curl it is thicker and harder to go through, but I'm just guessing on that.

[Debb, Lucy & Oscar]

What size blade are you using with the combs? I've read a 30, 40 or 50 blade is best to use with the combs and anything longer (like a 15 or 10) will catch hair under the comb.

[Debb, Lucy & Oscar]

Back to your original question as to if there are any blades longer than the 3/4HT, I found this blade guide which indicates the 5/8HT is the longest available:

http://www.progroom.com/catalog/Clippers_Combs_Blades.html

 

Its important to note that when you use the blade 'with the grain', or in the direction the coat grows, the cut will be about twice as long as it would be if you cut against the grain. The blade cut lengths are always shown as going against the grain, so with a 5/8HT blade you could get about a 1-1/4" cut going with the grain.

[Debb, Lucy & Oscar]

One more note: On a doodle with a poodle coat, that stands straight up and has no discernible 'grain', the cut would be the same going with or against the grain (it would be the shorter cut).

[Debb, Lucy & Oscar]

Okay, on further investigation, I found the 3/4HT blade is actually longer than the 5/8HT blade. The blade guide I gave a link to above didn't have the 3/4HT listed. On grooming sites I've heard good and bad things about the longer blades vs the combs (but everyone agrees there's no comparison between plastic attachment combs and Wahl's stainless steel combs - stainless steel are far superior!).

[Adrianne Matzkin]

I am going to try using the 3/4HT for the curlies fall haircut. If I can actually keep them at 3/4" long I think that would be good for the colder weather since they love to play in the snow and get tangled so quickly and there is not not enough time to dry them and comb them out every day like they would need it if they were longer.

Out of curiosity, why would a very short blade work better with a comb attached? If I need to use combs, I would have to purchase another blade and the steel combs. Just don't want to send more then I have to. 

[Debb, Lucy & Oscar]

The Wahl stainless steel combs I ordered from PetEdge.com came with a free 30 blade. They may have a dollar minimum though. I'm not sure . I placed an order totalling over $250 with them. They say the combs work best with 10, 30, or 40 blades, I think because hair can collect under the combs with longer blades (that's just a guess!).