Hi guys,
I'm looking for a good hair clipper and I found this http://www.feelunique.com/p/WAHL-Colour-Pro-Mains-Clipper
I just want to make sure if this clipper from UK will work here in Australia. I think it will work but I want to make sure that one of the UK people confirm me that. Also I want to know if I don't need a converter. I want to buy the clipper there because here they are bloody expensive. The cheaper I found it is for $85.
Cheers
Well, aren't you lucky…
I spent WEEKS researching Wahl clippers, so you'll now benefit from that.
After much agonizing, I decided to avoid that model. It's only a "home user" model with the lesser-quality motor. I forget the exact reason the Australian Wahl rep gave now, but Wahl Australia has some contractual agreement with Wahl USA not to sell "professional" (the best) models to the general public. So they found a way around it by importing a professional model not normally sold here. He said if I wanted the same (best) motor (i.e. the same as they sell to professional barbers here), then I should buy the DESIGNER.
You won't get the multi-coloured guide combs (just a few black ones), or the eyebrow guide comb, or the left & right ear-guide combs, or the DVD (if that's still included in that home set)… but after a couple of haircuts (and youtube videos) you won't use them anyway. If you want the full set of guide combs (that again - you won't get by buying the Designer), you can either get guide comb sets on ebay, or, they are only $4-$7 individually from haircare stores like Shaver Shop.
I decided it was worth buying guide combs separately, in order to get the pro-quality motor. You also get warranty by buying here, which you won't get by buying from the UK. (Sure, they say you do, but by the time you pay postage to return it to them for repair, and then wait weeks or months for it to arrive back…) and some foreign sellers void your warranty if you actually USE the clipper on Australian voltage… just ridiculous!
I worked out all the costs in a spreadsheet. The price difference was small enough that it wasn't worth the hassle, or risk if something broke.
Oh - and you'll probably find you'll want a smaller one for doing around the ears.
Anyway, I bought my Designer here:
Their normal price for the Designer is about $120/$130. I paid $109.95 on sale. They told me they regularly discount the Designer AND offer free shipping. So if they don't have a sale on, just wait a few weeks.
Like I said, look at ebay for guide comb sets if you want them. But I just bought a few singles I needed from the Shaver Shop.
Note:
The Wahl rep recommended this for doing around the ears:
http://www.myhaircare.com.au/Designer_Trim_Professional_Rech…
But obviously this doubles the cost! I wanted to buy the Wahl Lady Groom Personal Trimmer for $47.95 for my wife:
http://www.myhaircare.com.au/Lady_Groom_Personal_Trimmer_130…
It is the same thing as the man version, but pink, and cheaper:
http://www.myhaircare.com.au/Groomsman_Cord_Cordless_1286.ht…
We also use the Lady Groom for doing around the ears after doing a haircut with the Designer. It does the job well enough and runs on rechargeable batteries.
BTW… I was originally thinking of buying from the UK too. Australia is 240V @ 50Hz. The UK is 220V or 230V (depending on region) @ 50Hz.
After much searching, I couldn't find a definite answer. UK clippers should work here. But this is NOT guaranteed. Because the manufacturer changes the internal parts (probably using different capacitors, inductors, and resistors) so the clipper blades will vibrate in the range of voltage each country uses - with a little adjustment room.
What I'm referring to here is, on the side of hair clippers there are one or two adjustment screws. Even in the same country, mains voltage can vary from one place to another - and even at different times of the day. So if the clipper keeps "clacking" once you turn it on, this means the blade isn't oscillating correctly. You can then turn the screws to compensate for the variation in mains voltage, make the blades vibrate correctly, and the clacking noise stops.
Should it work? Probably. But on most sites I found discussing the problem, people were either silent, or, they just gave in and purchased a model from the country they lived in - which is the safest option.
Woah mate!!, what a very good explanation you just gave me!! Thank you very much for your advise, I'm still researching until I'm happy with the price and the product obviously. You have gave me some insight and I'm definitely thinking of buying it here.
As for the trimmer, I already have one so I'm gonna save this cost :) My trimmer is a Wahl too.
Thank you very much and I wish you a very happy New year.
You're welcome.
We've used ours a few times. Last time was a couple of days ago actually. We have three sons - 15, 12 & 3. I cut the youngest and eldest, while my wife watches to remind how it's done. Then she cuts the middle son while we talk about any mistakes, etc. and then she cuts mine.
So yeah, we've used it about 4 times - which is 12 haircuts - so it's already paid for itself. We've also owned a Remington cordless from Retravision, and a Conia 240V from KMart in the past. The Remington wasn't too bad - lasted a couple of years before the internal battery leaked and ruined the electronics. But the Conia was a PIECE OF JUNK that never worked properly from the start.
I highly recommend the Wahl Designer. It was nice to buy something NOT made in China for a change. It's solid and quality - and has the same motor as our (old) barber had in his unit. Our neighbours have one of the "consumer" Wahl clippers. You can definitely tell the difference in build quality. I'm pretty sure the Colour and Designer have the same clipper blades though (in Australia). So that's some comfort I guess, if you go that way and don't get the better motor.
FYI, we also bought some DVDs from this guy a couple of weeks ago:
We bought DVD 1 & 2 from here:
http://www.howtocuthair.com/clipper_dvds.html
… and this:
http://www.howtocuthair.com/clipper_dvds.html
Haven't watched them through yet. He has some clips on youtube. Search for "Bob Ohnstad". Another guy to search for is "Clipper guy". Oh - and this gal:
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=nn6tpm9B7W0&feature=fvsr
Her completed haircut looks TERRIBLE. She cuts it too high in my opinion. But she shows the steps. Just don't cut as high at the back as she does and you'll be right. It took me ages to work out what order her clips should be played in. They should be played in this order:
Oh - and forgot before - if you're concerned about missing out on the Colour DVD if you buy the Designer instead - the Wahl video is on youtube too. Just search for "Wahl Home Hair Clipping Instructional Video" and you'll see the four parts.
Remember to oil, oil, oil! When we cut all our hair the other day, I oiled before starting each new person. Shaver Shop has a spray that cleans and lubricates. But I just bought a large bottle of genuine Wahl oil from that site I first mentioned, along with the Designer. Oh - and oil just before you clip - not after. If you oil after you're done, you think the clipper is set for the next use. But the oil dries out before you go to use it again, causing wear to the blades.
Oh - and oil just before you clip - not after. If you oil after you're done, you think the clipper is set for the next use. But the oil dries out before you go to use it again, causing wear to the blades.
That's what I'd always thought, yet the dude at the blade service told me that oiling just prior to use simply attracts any particles of dirt during the cutting process.
He recommended using blade wash during the cutting process, keeps the blades cool, and lubricated. I seem to recall from my one visit to Blade Shop that that may be the spray you refer to, realfamilyman. The one he recommended was in a bottle, so is reusable after filtering through a coffee filter.
I think even the Wahl manual says to oil prior to use. It does get pretty hot though, even with oiling between our four haircuts.
Filter through a coffee filter, ey? LOL… Sounds like something a cheapskate like me would do! (Re: Being a cheapskate… The reason I bought the Wahl after years of not having a clipper - was because the woman that cut our hair - initially charged $22 in total for myself and our three sons. Then it went to $28. Then she learned our eldest had a birthday so decided to charge adult price for him, upping the total to $34.)
Yeah, I know - most people still pay that for ONE haircut. But for a serial cheapskate (we even make our own bread, KFC, and liquid soap) that was the last straw!
Now… If I can just find where to coffee filter paper dirt cheap… Ha!
I got this from the shavershop for $99, not sure if it was on special or not