Thread: What to use as Beard trimmer

All you have to do is find a barber who practiced in the 1950s and before and you will have your answer. Should be simple eh?

Oh, and when you get the clippers, like a straight you need to learn to use them. If you just plow them into someones hair you will be in for a shock-har har.

First thing would be the restore. That's essentially why I want them, I find them quite interesting and want to restore a pair out of pure enjoyment!

Actually I was thinking about this clipper thing and realized the introduction of electric trimmers had nothing to do with clippers being used less and less. The electrics were actually responsible for straights not being used for trimming anymore. It was more a change in technique by barbers probably in the early 50s. They started using comb and scissors more. The clippers were used for initial cutting kind of like a 1K hone for razors analogy. After the heavy duty stuff was done the scissors would come out. Barbers started using the Scissors and comb to do the complete job and then of course razor cuts started to become more popular where they used the electrics for those. Probably the guys starting out in the mid 50s never did use the clippers to begin with. Mostly old timers who held on to the clippers

I checked my Dorko which has the complete box and it doesn't say anything about self sharpening or replacement blades. You have to be careful because hair can get caught in them and then they pull. As I said before they were never popular with customers to begin with. I imagine that had something to do with their demise.

This guy uses his straight (starting at around 24 min).

Tonight I took my pair of hand clippers and made a test. Unscientific of course!

Made in Germany and no other markings but the blades that i am not going to remove because i believe that they wear together and if i take them apart they are not going to match together again in their wear pattern.

When I first bought them a year or so ago I asked my son to try them on the back of my neck when he cut my hair. Bad deal! Talk about being caught by the short hairs at the back of your neck.

I looked closer and adjusted them better and found that they cut belly hair fine.

I decided to do the Sharpy test and hone them on a DMT. They were very flat. Some minor rust imperfections that were easily removed. The improvement was noticeable but not huge.

I then tested it on my goatee and sideburns with good results except that i noticed that my facial hair is turning white. My wive laughed at me when I mentioned that.

I am turning into an antique!

In conclusion,

1- They don't have to be very "sharp".

2- Make sure they are put together properly.

3- Mine are right handed and it is hard to work on your own face without changing hands.

4- Go slow. Any video that shows them going fast is a ruse. Since I have milked cows by hand I have never used those muscles that much.

They are fun and have a learning curve. How steep I haven't decided yet.

Tim

Just got my hand clippers in today and have set to work on my restore job! should I post the results in this thread or should I make a new thread in the restorations section?

I use a flaming baton. Once you get used to the smell of burning hair it is quite good.

James.

Originally Posted by kwlfca

Just got my hand clippers in today and have set to work on my restore job! should I post the results in this thread or should I make a new thread in the restorations section?

Doesn't make a difference to me. I will follow it either way.

Originally Posted by Jimbo

I use a flaming baton. Once you get used to the smell of burning hair it is quite good.

James.

Flaming batons are hard to restore.

I had a neat idea of taking a little battery powered hand held fan and taping razor blades (from exato knife or w/e) to the fan blades.

DIY beard trimmor on a budget that just might work ^_^.