Dog nail clippers are often used to cut dog nails. However, over time the blades in your pups’ nail clippers get dull and need sharpening. Sharpening also works for other dog grooming supplies like scissors, razors, and shears.
You will want to keep these tools sharp so they do not pull or rip out nails or injure your pet during grooming.
The steps to sharpen your dog’s nail clippers are as follows:
1. Unscrew the nail clipper to access the blades.
2. Take a sharpening stone and hold it against one of the blades.
3. Gently move the blade back and forth across the stone to sharpen it.
4. Repeat this process for the other blade.
5. Screw the nail clipper back together once you are done sharpening both blades.
You should now have a sharp pair of dog nail clippers that will make grooming your pup much easier!
Tools Need For Sharpening
First, here’s what you’re going to need to get the job done:
- A blade sharpener. The exact material will depend on the kind of clippers you have.
- A clean cloth to clean the blades before honing them.
- The clippers that you need to sharpen.
Steps To Sharpen Dog Nail Clippers
Did you get all the tools? Great! Now let’s proceed with the actual process.
- Before starting to sharpen the blade, you need to dismantle the clippers. These tools aren’t that complicated in their making, so the disassembly shouldn’t be that hard. If your dog nail clipper has actuating lever design, you need to remove the lever before doing anything. To do, press both sections of the clippers close to each other, and the lever will be removed easily. After that, you can separate the clipper blades.
- Once dismantled, remove the blades and clean them. You need to get rid of any dust, nails, or dead skin that may have stuck and that may get in the way while you’re honing the blades.
- Next, get the sharpener. A sharpener can be anything that – you guessed it – can sharpen a blade, be it a grinding stone, diamond tapered rod, or ceramic rod. There are also some sharpeners that are specially designed for dog nail clippers, which are tiny in size and won’t put any burden on your wallet.
- Place the sharpener on the blade while following the angle of its curve, which should be around 35° to 45°, then slide it towards you. Repeat the process for the entire edge.
- The clipper blade has a curved side and a flat one. When it’s time for some sharpening, you need to follow the direction of the natural curve of the blade. The flat side shouldn’t get in touch with the sharpener, or you risk ruining the entire blade. Follow the curve, and you’ll be fine. Do it too flat, and you’ll end up with a dull blade.
- Once you finish sharpening the blade, use a clean cloth to wipe up the residue. Then, put the blades back in place and reassemble the clippers. You can also lubricate the blades using oil to make them smoother.
If you feel that you can’t take care of the sharpening process yourself, you can get the clippers to a local knife store, where a professional can get it done for you.
You also need to keep in mind that sharpening can only keep your blades honed for so long, so be prepared to get new clippers if your old ones prove to be too dull to hone.
If not, getting a dog nail grinder can be a great alternative too.
