Why isn’t my brand new blade cutting well?

If you've been using the same clipper with the same blades for a while, you might notice problems when you try to swap old blades for new ones.  A clipper’s blade drive will become weaker or looser with age, which is normal expected wear and tear. The blade drive is (or should be), the most frequently changed part on clippers.

Your old blades may continue to cut well because their tension also loosened over time. However brand new blades with the original, tighter, factory tension, might appear not to cut as well or seem dull - however it's likely you may just need to replace your blade drive. 

Another factor that can cause blades to seem dull is their coat condition. If you are clipping on a very matted dog, or clipping on a dog before the bath, your blades could feel dull. Matted and dirty coats are very hard to clip through, and both can cause blades to become dull faster. Shaving on a dirty coat can cause even a brand new blade to go dull within minutes. For more information, read our other article: How Long Should A Dog Blade Stay Sharp For?

If you don't think the reason is an old clipper with a new blade, you have already changed the blade drive recently, and your dogs coat is thoroughly prepped before grooming, then search our help section for 'why blades chew' for more solutions.