Letter from WAHL re Switchblade Prof Clipper

[fireislandmuffin]

Tim,

I looked at the ears on the oster blades that slide off my wahl switchblade and I don't see that they are too far apart. The oster blades and the andis blades have all been used on an andis clipper and I only have trouble with the oster blades on the switchblade.

But today the switchblade was really giving me trouble with my andis 30 blades. It was like they weren't cutting at all. and really loud. I ended up using a 10 blade under my snap-on combs just because I didn't have time to mess around with what was wrong with my clipper or blades.

I also can't stand that plug on the switchblade. why can't it be a regular plug instead of the big black box? I'm sure it must have something to do with the variable speed switch which is of no value to me.

maria

[toomie]

I tried the Switchblade a few times, and I`m glad I did because I was thinking of buying one. I thought the housing seemed kinda, I don`t know, cheesy, I guess.... and the clipper itself really seemed to vibrate in my hand when I turned it on. Wasn`t fond of the noise, either. Some of the dogs I used it on weren`t so thrilled about the noise either.

I will stick with my Andis clippers for now. I am lusting after a Wahl Bravura, though.

[lovessharpening]

The most common problems I see with the Switchblade's are 1) hinge spring has broken and the blade latch is moving freely. A quick test is to snap the hinge shut and push up on the latch. If it has no resistance the hinge spring is broke. 2) the ears on the blade socket are weak or cracked or the socket is bent forward and the latch won't engage it to lock it on. 3) the 2 screws that hold the drive frame to the motor are loose causing the clipper to be extra noisy and the baldes to rattle more.

Rule of theumb to tell if the problem is in the baldes or the clipper is, if ALL the blades do the samething then the clipper is the first palce to look. If only one or 2 blades have the problem check the blade first. Sometimes if the heavier blades like 4's, 5's etc are doing it this is an indication of bad sockets, broken hinge and/or blade latch or another drive component.

The black box on the cord is the power supply which converts the wall power to a DC power so the clipper will run. Dc power is known for its higher torque than AC power is. This converstion can be done with an internal circuit board too, but that can be more coastly than using an external supply.

Tim Love
Love’s Sharpening®
601-529-1973
LovesSharpening@aol.com
www.LovesSharpening.com

[fireislandmuffin]

Tim, I appreciate all your tips but maybe I got a lemon because I am done using this switchblade.

More of my blades don't work than do work. I started bringing my Andis back and forth between my two jobs and am going to repair my old Andis which only needs a little glue to hold the battery in place.

My switchblade is brand new. some blades just slide off when I turn it on. some slide off when using it. The button to release the blade is so easy to push that if I just touch when clipping the blade will be released.

I understand what you're saying about torque. If the clipper doesn't work well out of the box then it's not worth the money I spent. And of course, this is a Wahl issue. I'm going to see if I can get some resolution from them.

By the way, I have the Bravura and I love it although the Bravura and the blade that fits on it are both a bit delicate so don't drop it too much.

[tropicaltails]

I have had mine for about 1 1/2 years and the cord did start falling apart exposing wires and I called them and They fixed it. Than a couple of months after that the case was broken so they fixed that and recently it wasnt as fast as it used to be so i sent it back again and its only fast now with certain blades. Mind you they did all the fixing for free. I did have to pay to ship it to them and they had my clipper for at least 3 weeks but no questions asked i told them what was wrong and they fixed it. But now I am having problems with my andis #10 blades on them. I cant say for sure its the clipper or the blades. but its only certain blades and when i use my andis clipper they sometimes work better. I love my switchblade though. I am not going to change it. Its the lightest clipper I have found that I love. I have carpel tunnel so the lighter the better. I have to give 2 thumbs up to Wahl.

[scrubapup]

I bought my switchblade about 2.5 years ago and I've used it maybe 5 times. I hate it. It's heavy, loud, clanky, to fat for my small hands...... I could go on and on. I bought the Bravura about 6 months ago - can't say I like that one much better for the same reasons. I prefer Andis, although the past couple years their product has went down the toilet also.

[petshackgrooming]

A golden kicked mine out of my hand and when it hit the ground, the silver part cracked where the little screw is. Because of this, the blade shakes back and fourth. Is that part replaceable? I dont have a proof of purchase anymore. I remember I bought it last January with tax refund money, but I no longer have the receipt!

[abandk03]

I got one In Dec and have been using it, I t is way too loud. I have not had problems with it yet but I like it besides the noise.

[Arkisage]

I do love mine but...
2 days after the warranty was over the clipper stopped working. I was pretty sure it was the cord - I called my supplier and they told me the cord isn't in the warranty any ways but I could have them fix it (for $$ of course and x amount of time). Luckily I have an electrician friend who had it fixed in 15 minuted for me (for free) - it was indeed the cord.
I also noticed that when it has been running for about 10-15 minutes it will rattle or make a weird noise especially if I turn it upside down (to groom the tummy for example). The noise doesn't seem to effect the performance. I do oil it regularly.

That same thing happened to my friends clippers. she has replaced the cord 3 times now. We also noticed a rattle after the first replacement. She keeps getting shorts in it now. I bought the same clippers, so far no issues.

[lovessharpening]

Call Wahl and they will take care of you, even if it is out of waranty. Wahl has great customer service.

Tim Love
Love’s Sharpening®
601-529-1973
LovesSharpening@aol.com
www.LovesSharpening.com

[schnlove]

I don't even use mine anymore!!

[fireislandmuffin]

I emailed Wahl and described my problems.
I sent the clipper to them and they refunded what I paid for my Switchblade without any problem.

[obeythemoo]

I've had mine for a little over a year now. I had them fixed once about 6 months after using them and recently..5 months after having them fixed the first time they were not working properly again..I sent them out 2 weeks ago asking for them to just replace them with a new pair instead of just fixing them..but I got my old ones back again..fixed..

[pinkpoodlez]

I have 2 switchblades.Both of them have been worked on.one weekend last month both of them slowed way down,,almost like the battery was dying...but no battery.I was really ticked off the only clipper i had that worked was an oster single (very wimpy).There was no way i was going to clip anything.So i ordered an ivac and got it in 2 days.I put the 2 clippers in a box and sent them to whal and about 2 weeks later I recieved 2 brand new
shinny swithcblades.I couldnt hardly believe it I had gotten them rite when they came out...3yrs?Not sure but they replaced them no questions asked..no charge...Yes they have very good customer service....now i only use them when the matts wont fit in my ivac....hehehe...I love my switchblades....but i have learned to love my ivac even more...

[ferretlov]

Oh for petes sake why didnt I see this BEFORE I just ordered mine????
so,are you all still having these kind of problems? I sure hope not.Of all the rotten luck.I buy an oster it puts my hand to sleep -I order a switchblade and then see this.