How to Sharpen and Maintain Your Combs and Cutters

Mobishear Australia Comb & Cutter , Crutching , Shearing Handpiece , Sheep Management
How to Sharpen and Maintain Your Combs and Cutters

Keeping your combs and cutters in top condition means faster workflows, sharper cuts, and longer-lasting equipment, while also protecting the wellbeing of your animals. A key part of proper maintenance is knowing when it is time to replace your blades, as well as how to care for your cutters so your gear runs smoothly and efficiently for longer.

Why Maintenance Matters

Proper maintenance is key to both efficiency and animal care. Sharp, well-kept combs and cutters glide easily through dags, stained fibres, and tough wool, making crutching quicker and less tiring, especially for contractors working long hours.

Clean, sharp blades also improve animal welfare by delivering smoother cuts that avoid discomfort or skin nicks. At the same time, reducing unnecessary pulling and strain helps extend the lifespan of your tools, saving you time and money in the long run.

Quick Benefits of Regular Maintenance

  • Performance: Sharp blades deliver smoother, faster shearing with less effort.
  • Animal welfare: Cleaner cuts minimise pulling, nicking, and stress on sheep.
  • Gear longevity: Consistent care prevents premature wear and saves on replacements.
  • Safety: Well-maintained blades reduce operator fatigue and lower the risk of accidents.

How to Know If Your Blades Need Sharpening

Taking care of your blades makes shearing faster, safer, and more comfortable for you and your sheep. Watch for these signs to make sure they keep working well:

  • If blades pull through dags or dirty wool instead of cutting, they aren’t sharp enough. This slows you down and hurts the sheep.
  • Getting too hot quickly: Blunt gear makes blades hot after only a few sheep because it adds too much friction.
  • Cuts that are uneven or jagged: Sharp blades make clean lines, but if the cuts are rough, it’s time to sharpen.
  • You have to push harder: If you’re pushing harder than usual, your gear isn’t working right.
  • Chips or wear that can be seen: Damage to the teeth makes them less effective and can hurt the animal’s health.

Sharpening Essentials for Crutching

Keeping your combs and cutters sharp is the key to fast, efficient crutching. To do the job properly, you’ll need a few basic tools:

  • Shearing grinder – designed for precise sharpening of combs and cutters.
  • Emery papers – to maintain the correct hollow grind.

When sharpening, keep these quick tips in mind:

  • Sharpen combs and cutters together – this ensures both are working in sync for the cleanest cut.
  • Use a specialised grinder – a proper shearing grinder maintains proper blade shape, extends lifespan, and delivers consistent results.
  • Sharpen at the right time – if you notice dragging, sparks, or visible wear, it’s time to sharpen before the problem worsens.
  • Sharp tools not only make crutching faster and easier, they also protect your sheep and your equipment.

Proper Handling

Before using your equipment always remember to sufficiently lubricate the combs and cutters with oil. Regularly oil your equipment during use. The blades are fragile, and even a small chip in them can affect their performance so you should always handle your combs and cutters with care.

Cleaning and Storage

Once finished using your tools, brush any excess wool off of your combs and cutters, along with any residual lanolin and dirt. Followed by a thorough wash and dry. If possible, place them in protective covers and ensure they are stored in a dry, protected container to avoid any unwanted rust.

Our Range

Explore Mobishear’s full range of shearing tools and maintenance guides, which are specifically designed to help you have the knowledge to get the best performance and longest life out of your equipment.

FAQs

How often should I sharpen my combs and cutters?

It depends on the wool type and cleanliness of the wool. As a rough guide, your blades should be sharpened every 50-100 sheep in clean wool, but this amount is very subjective. Really dirty sheep will blunten blades much quicker.

What’s the difference between sharpening and replacing?

Sharpening the combs and cutters restores the cutting edge of your blade. Once the combs and cutters are too thin, chipped or cracked then they should be replaced. Overusing damaged tools can harm both your machinery and sheep.

Can I sharpen blades myself or should I send them out?

Most professional shearers sharpen their blades themselves, however the grinding equipment is quite expensive. For smaller amounts of blades there are services available to have your blades professionally sharpened. Mobishear Australia also offers this service for our customers.

Why is lubrication so important?

Oil reduces friction, prevents overheating and extends blade life. Remember to always oil before, during and after usage to keep your gear performing at its best.

How do I know if I’ve sharpened my combs and cutters correctly?

A properly sharpened blade will glide smoothly through wool without dragging, overheating, or leaving uneven cuts. If the blades still pull or require extra pressure, they may need to be resharpened.

What equipment do I need to sharpen blades at home?

The essentials include a shearing grinder, emery papers to maintain the hollow grind, and lapping compounds for polishing. Using the right tools ensures consistency and prevents blade damage.

Are there any other maintenance tips and tricks?
  • Keep a rotation of multiple combs/cutters. 6 cutters for every comb is a good rule of thumb.
  • Stick to a regular maintenance schedule.
  • Invest in quality gear to begin with.

If you are following all of our above tips then you are on track to get the best performance out of your blades.

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