Wahl KM10 2 Speed Brushless Clipper

One of the most popular clippers among professional groomers for all types of animals is the Wahl KM10 Clipper. These clippers are brushless and work well on dogs and cats. They can also be used on livestock and horses.

In the professional setting, the clippers are touted for providing top performance thanks to their extended motor life. The Wahl KM10 Brushless Clipper is one of the most popular among professional pet groomers thanks in part to its super-quiet operation.

You can opt between 3,000 NS 3,700 strokes per minute with the two operating speeds offered. The Constant Speed Control is a feature that delivers additional torque and power automatically when difficult areas are gone over.

The Family of Wahl Clippers

Manufacturing quality haircutting products since 1919, Wahl is a leading name in the grooming industry. Wahl Clipper Corporation developed its first electromagnetic handheld clipper for hair 100 years ago and has continued to be an industry leader since then. The brand is known for its ability to keep animals beautiful, happy, and healthy via the use of its products.

In addition to its vast line of clippers, Wahl also focuses on providing accessible education. The company even has a virtual classroom where groomers and anyone with a pet can learn tips and tricks for grooming.

The company maintains its reputation for creating quality haircutting products.

Brushless Motor and Why It’s Important

One of the key features of the KM10 clippers is their brushless motor. Overall, brushless motors are more efficient, reliable, and powerful.

Because of the brushless motor, the Wahl KM10 requires minimal maintenance. You also don’t have to worry about dust, hair, or dirt-clogging air vents, as there are none.

Meanwhile, the fact that the motor is more efficient means that these clippers have extended battery life. In general, clippers with brushless motors last ten times as long as conventional clippers.

The use of a brushless motor in the Wahl KM10 also adds to your comfort as you groom. There is minimal vibration, which reduces wrist fatigue.

The dogs you groom are also more comfortable thanks to the low vibration and minimal noise from the brushless motor. This makes brushless motors like those in the KM10 a great choice for noise-sensitive animals.

The animals you groom will also appreciate that brushless motors remain cooler than those with brushes. This minimizes the heat-dissipating to the blades, reducing potential discomfort from hot blades. The ability of brushless motors to stay cool contrasts with other conventional clippers that haven't been designed to remain cool with continual use.

Maintaining Your Wahl Clipper and Blades

Because of the brushless motor, Wahl KM10 clippers are simple to maintain. You will want to keep a cleaning brush on hand to remove stray fur and help prevent clogs.

There are also a few maintenance tasks you only need to perform occasionally.

Use Blade Oil Regularly

Blade oil will help extend the life of your blades. Whitmans carries clipper blade cleaners to maintain the health of your equipment. Wahl suggests using professional blade oil. Don’t use an aerosol-type lubricant, as the liquid may evaporate. If that happens, the metal may corrode, which is extremely damaging to your blade.

Wahl’s 5-Point Oiling Method

While the clipper blades and dog grooming clippers themselves require minimal maintenance, you will occasionally need to oil the blades. Wahl suggests the 5-point oiling method across its line of clippers, including the KM10. As the name implies, it only requires a few drops of oil.

Simply place a drop of oil on either side of the blade, along with three on the top. Then, run the clipper for about ten seconds (without touching anything). The vibrations will let the oil work into the blade. Finally, turn the clippers off and use a soft, dry cloth to wipe away any remaining residue.

This process will prevent corrosion, extending the life of your blades.

Sanitization

Wahl also officially recommends sanitizing the blades of the KM10 clippers if you are in a grooming setting. An antibacterial spray that is safe for dogs can kill the bacteria. You will ideally want to apply this spray anytime you use the same clippers or other pet grooming supplies to groom multiple dogs.

Changing the Drive Tip

Every once in a while, you will also need to change the drive tip in your KM10 clipper. This tip is crucial, as it moves the blade’s cutter. As such, it ensures you can clip animal fur effectively and smoothly.

Check the drive tip if you notice the blade doesn’t cut like it should, even if you replace the blade. You should also check the drive tip if the clipper pulls or drags fur with it.

The following steps let you quickly change the blades so you can get back to using this powerful clipper.

1.      Detach the blade from your clipper.

2.      Unscrew the three housing screws.

3.      Pull the clipper housing apart carefully.

4.      Remove the old drive tip.

5.      Slide the new part into position.

6.      Snap the housing back into place.

7.      Retighten all three screws.

8.      Reattach your blade.

A Closer Look at the Features of the Clippers

These clippers are ideal for working with a range of animals, from those with thick coats to those with thinner coats. You can do anything from complete shave downs to body clipping to a small trim.

Constant Speed Control

As mentioned, the constant speed control feature helps with torque and power. It automatically delivers more power as well as torque when you are clipping tough areas.

This automatic adjustment of the speed also prevents jams and stalling.

Choice of Speed

The clippers work at your choice of two speeds, 3,000 or 3,700 SPM. Either way, you get maximum power.

Rounded Front Housing

The rounded front housing of the KM10 clippers is excellent at reducing hair from clogging the blades. This lets you ensure the clippers continue to work correctly without having to pause to clean them as frequently. It also helps prevent stalling.

Adjust the Blades to Fit Your Needs

One of the nice things about the Wahl KM10 is that it features detachable blades. This gives you the ability to get the cut length that you want. This is also a feature that makes it such a versatile clipper for all animal coats.

When you buy the KM10, it comes with a #10 blade. For reference, this blade’s cutting length is 1/16 of an inch. However, you can easily swap it out for other Wahl blades.

You can choose from Wahl Competition or Wahl Ultimate Competition series blades, with a full range of sizes between #3F and #50.

The KM10 is also compatible with Wahl stainless steel attachment guide combs. These are ideal for anyone who wants a bit more confidence while cutting at shorter lengths. Choose from eight sizes between 1/8 of an inch and an inch.

The bottom line is that the Wahl KM10 lets you use your favorite Wahl clipper blades, regardless of which ones they are. This lets you adapt the clippers for the animal you are currently grooming.

Incredibly Versatile

Because of the ability to adjust the blades and the quality cutting, this powerful clipper works well for a full range of dog breeds and other animals.

It is especially popular for those with thick fur, such as Great Pyrenees, Golden Doodles, Golden Retrievers, Australian Shepherds, Poodles, Pomeranians, Labradoodles, and Pekingese.

But at the same time, the clippers are gentle enough to work on smaller breeds, such as Yorkies, Malteses, Bichons, and Shih Tzus.

With patience and by adjusting the blades, you can even use the Wahl KM10 clippers on matted coats or in other tough situations. Of course, depending on the type of tough situation, you may need to combine the clippers with another grooming tool.

As mentioned, they are also great for trimming horses. Use them for body clipping or maintenance clipping of the fetlocks or bridle path.

Extremely Quiet Operation

As mentioned, the brushless motor in the Wahl KM10 helps ensure that it has an extremely quiet operation. This is particularly helpful when grooming animals that are skittish or sensitive to loud noises.

It also makes the Wahl KM10 clippers more comfortable to operate, as the strain on your ears is reduced. The lack of ear irritation is one reason that many professionals choose a quiet clipper, even if it has more power.

Just 12.3 Ounces

The design of the KM10 clippers is nice and lightweight, at just 12.3 ounces. This low weight means that the clippers reduce wrist fatigue compared to heavier options. That is especially helpful for professional groomers who use the clippers for hours on end. It is also useful for any pet owner looking to give their dog a full clipping.

The reduced wrist fatigue is enhanced by the low, balanced vibration.

Ergonomic Design

The lightweight nature of the Wahl KM10 is not the only trait to reduce wrist fatigue. This professional clipper also has an ergonomic design. This helps ensure that your hands and wrists are comfortable, even when grooming for several hours in a row, such as with a complete shave down.

This increased comfort is useful for anyone who uses the clipper, including professionals and at-home users alike. It is especially helpful for those who groom many dogs in a row.

Simple Storage

You have various options for space-saving storage with the KM10 clippers. You can place them in a drawer or dog grooming bag. Or you can use the convenient loop to hang them. This hanging loop is sturdy and just the right size to fit on convenient hooks in your grooming area.

5-Year Warranty

Wahl products are known for their utmost dependability, and these quality clippers are no exception.

Wahl is so confident in its products that the KM10 clippers feature a 5-year limited warranty.

Is the KM10 the Right Choice? KM10 vs KM5

While the Wahls KM10 is an excellent choice for most groomers, beginning groomers may want to consider the KM5.

The two clippers have a lot in common, including:

• Constant speed control
• The ability to trim dogs, cats, horses, or livestock
• The ability to tackle thick coats
• Quiet operation
• Two-speed operation
• Ergonomic design
• #10 Ultimate Competition Series Blade at purchase
• Compatibility with other Wahl blades

But the two options also have a few differences that make the KM5 ideal for learners and the KM10 better for professionals.

Motor

To start, the KM5 features a rotary motor. As mentioned, the KM10 has a brushless motor that runs cooler and quieter. The KM10’s motor also delivers more torque and power.

Speeds

Both clippers have two speeds, but they are slightly slower on the KM5. The KM5 lets you choose from 3,000 or 3,500 SPM. By contrast, the KM10 lets you set it to 3,000 or 3,700 SPM.

Weight

Both clippers are lightweight, but the KM10 is just 12.3 ounces. The KM5 is 0.6 ounces more at 12.9 ounces.

Warranty

While the KM10 comes with a 5-year limited warranty, the KM5 only features a 2-year limited manufacturer warranty.

Select the KM10 If It Is in Your Budget

Either of these clipper choices will be a good option, but you will typically want to choose the KM10 if it is within your budget. While the KM5 is good for beginners, you may quickly find yourself wishing you had the lighter KM10 with its more powerful speeds. The combination leads to increased comfort and makes quick work of grooming any animal.