Talk:Hair clipper

Electric clippers became popular in barber shops and beauty salons in the 1930's. In male only Barber shops, electric clippers were used in short, tapered men's haircuts to establish the taper of the cut. The barber would select a closeness setting for this. Some electric clippers such as the Wahl clipper, or the Andis clipper had a lever that could be moved back and forth to change the closeness from "000"which left the hair stubble length, or "1" which left the hair about one eighth of an inch. External attachments called "Guards" are attached to the clipper to make it cut from "1" to "4". The latter was the longest, and what closeness was appropriate would be determined by the texture of the individuals hair. Other electric clippers had removable cutter heads that provided cutting lengths from "0000" to "31/2". These type of electric clippers were and are powered by standard or universal type electric motors driving a transmission system that levers the cutting or moving blade back and forth. The advantage of "motor" type clippers is that they provide a positive power stroke in both directions of cutting (as the blade moves back and forth); The other type of clipper motor is the "vibrator type" clipper which, instead of having a rotating armetured motor, has a magnetic vibrating strip that pulls the blade to one side, and, as the AC current alternates, allows the blade to retract against a spring. There are advantages to both "motorized" and "vibrator type" clippers: Motorized clippers are much more powerful generally and can cut acurately even the most coarse hair. On the other hand, vibrator type clippers are much quiter and uninvasive in noise level. Some vibrator clippers are so quiet that they can barely be heard. Vibrator clippers make a "humming sound" whereas motorized clippers sound more like a typical motorized appliance such as a hand mixer. Companies such as Andis, Oster, Wahl, Sterling, and many others manu facture both motor and vibrator clippers. Beauty salons use small trimmers that are sometimes re-chargable, to trim the neckline of a woman's style. The electric clipper industry suffered somewhat during the era of the nineteen seventees and the advent of longer blow-dry styles for both men and women. Almost all these haircuts were performed with shears and/or straight razor. Some companies picked up manufacturing blow dryers in addition to clippers. In the mid-eighties through the ninteen-nighties up to the present twenty-first century, electric clippers, particularly motorized clippers, came back with a vengance. With different political statements and changing values, and ememrging subcultural styles, the short hair cut for men and women came on with a vengeance. Today in both cosmetology school and barber college, proficiency with clipper cutting and blending must be demonstrated by graduating students. The boom of franchize type salons specializing in haircutting (only sometimes) brought on huge demands for the old clippers! So, the electric clipper is a continuing aspect of the American fabric and culture. 68.12.156.215 (talk) 03:40, 17 October 2008 (UTC)

Electric hair clippers and brain cancer
There are studies about cellular phones, but is there studies about hair clippers and their relation to brain cancer? The relation seems logical. I've found this about Electrical Appliance Use and Risk of Adult Brain Tumors, it says "In men, meningioma was associated with electric shaver use (odds ratio = 10.9, 95% confidence interval: 2.3, 50), and odds ratios increased with cumulative minutes of use". Thoughts? --89.226.117.72 (talk) 20:10, 11 March 2010 (UTC)
 * References also says "although they were based on only two nonexposed cases" and "extremely low frequency electromagnetic fields from commonly used household appliances are unlikely to increase the risk of brain tumors". Pol098 (talk) 11:16, 31 October 2010 (UTC)

Electric clipper differences
The difference between home and professional models depends highly on the manufacturer. Wahl home clippers and their professional models are mostly as defined in the article. On the other hand Andis and Oster home vs professional models shows serious differences. Not just in the material used for certain parts, but the overall quality of those parts. The home models are slower and less powerful for one. The blades are more often stamped rather than machined, the range of adjustment in adjustable blade home clippers is very narrow just to touch the surface of the issue.

There are also two primary types of clippers. Rotary Clippers - The side to side motion is generated with a cam attatched to a rotary motor. Magnetic - The blade moves based on the oscillation of the armature which to which the moving portion of the blade is attatched which is influenced by the frquency of the current (60hz). Within those types you can have adjustable fixed blade clippers or changeable blade clippers like the Oster 76/111 Turbo or the Andis BCG/Excel/Excel 2-speed

Rotary clipper types are almost non exsistant almost for home use. Especially the detatchable blade type since the blades expensive ($20.00 to $30.00 USD) a full set can cost between $200.00 and $400.00. Certain rotary models like Oster's 76 and 111 Turbo models require greasing of the cam assembly and the replacement of carbon brushes (graphite) to lubricate the motor shaft in order for the clipper to function properly.

Perhaps I am biased as a barber, and there are some "deals" to be had out there on less expensive personal grooming equipment. However, there is a reason that Barbers and Cosmetologists do what they do and a reason we pay so much for our equipment. — Preceding unsigned comment added by 173.80.224.147 (talk) 21:47, 26 August 2012 (UTC)

Guards and blades
Some of this may be useful here: Regular haircut

Anna Frodesiak (talk) 16:20, 4 August 2013 (UTC)

Some history would be great. hello.
67.243.4.94 (talk) 23:20, 28 September 2013 (UTC)

Manual Clippers and gaurds
Are there any gaurds that are made for these manual gaurds? — Preceding unsigned comment added by 98.142.115.63 (talk) 23:22, 7 October 2014 (UTC)

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