I posted a query last week about manual hair clippers. I generally try not to use electronic devices when they don't provide any advantage to a non-electronic device, mainly because I think non-electronic devices will last much longer, and I don't like "disposable" products.
A board member, nemo, generously offered to send me an McGraw-Edison model 12 at cost. I received it on Christmas Eve, and used it for the first time today.
God knows how old this is, but it still operates rather smoothly. It works by squeezing the levers like a pair of scissors, which causes the blades to sweep through the teeth. There must be some kind of spring mechanism inside, because the levers return to their original position when you release the pressure after squeezing them.
I trimmed my beard with it today. It took a few tries, but I got the hang of it. The trick is to squeeze the levers while keeping the head stationary.
I used a comb to prevent myself from trimming to closely. It was pretty hard to coordinate both hands. I think a guard, like you find on a pair of electronic clippers, would be very useful. However, the head on these clippers is 4.9cm, and I have no idea where to find guards that big. I went to Walmart and Target, and none of the clippers they sold had guards anywhere near that big. I noticed the bottom of these clippers were labeled "000", which a lot of 1/32" guards seem to have written on them. Perhaps the bottom of the clippers are meant to be unscrewed and swapped with different sizes? I'm not sure.
Summary: This cuts through hair very well. If this had a guard on it, I think it would work just as well as an electronic beard trimmer. I'm going to look for either a guard that fits them, or try to make something that could function as a guard. It's pretty hard to use accurately without one.
I'd like to thank nemo and B&B for facilitating this experience. It's amazing that I can ask a question about a relatively obscure device and one week later I am trying them out at home.
A board member, nemo, generously offered to send me an McGraw-Edison model 12 at cost. I received it on Christmas Eve, and used it for the first time today.
God knows how old this is, but it still operates rather smoothly. It works by squeezing the levers like a pair of scissors, which causes the blades to sweep through the teeth. There must be some kind of spring mechanism inside, because the levers return to their original position when you release the pressure after squeezing them.
I trimmed my beard with it today. It took a few tries, but I got the hang of it. The trick is to squeeze the levers while keeping the head stationary.
I used a comb to prevent myself from trimming to closely. It was pretty hard to coordinate both hands. I think a guard, like you find on a pair of electronic clippers, would be very useful. However, the head on these clippers is 4.9cm, and I have no idea where to find guards that big. I went to Walmart and Target, and none of the clippers they sold had guards anywhere near that big. I noticed the bottom of these clippers were labeled "000", which a lot of 1/32" guards seem to have written on them. Perhaps the bottom of the clippers are meant to be unscrewed and swapped with different sizes? I'm not sure.
Summary: This cuts through hair very well. If this had a guard on it, I think it would work just as well as an electronic beard trimmer. I'm going to look for either a guard that fits them, or try to make something that could function as a guard. It's pretty hard to use accurately without one.
I'd like to thank nemo and B&B for facilitating this experience. It's amazing that I can ask a question about a relatively obscure device and one week later I am trying them out at home.
