Confused by Mars Coat King blade sizes

[tena]

I am trying to find away to keep Sophie groomed, heck even tidy would be nice. The Mars Coat King seems to be used by lots of members. What 2 sizes would be the best? Or what difference do the number of blades make to the coat.

[savannahsmom35]

I think most people either use a 12 or a 16 blade.

[Cairns2]

I use a 16 on Eric but his fur is soft. I believe the coarser the fur, the lower the number. So as mentioned above, 12 or 16 depending on the coarseness of the coat you are grooming.

[bradl]

I have a 16. Haven't tried any others.

[Eliz222]

We have the 16 too and it works great.

[tena]

Thanks for the information, I was really confused. :-) Perhaps this will help tame Sophie's 'wooly beast' hair do...:-)

[FitzCairn]

I use a 12 on Duncan, along with stripping knives to tidy up. I have the small stripping knife for his ears, and it's great.

[Guest Darcy's Mom]

Speaking of stripping...I need to know from some of you who do your own hand stripping...please tell me how I can "do" Darcy's muzzle without pulling out her wire (sharp as little needles) whiskers. When I get the flea comb to her face, it tends to pull out the whiskers too. And a wider comb doesn't get the tangles, food, etc. out as well as a flea comb but I know it has to hurt to comb those whisker out. Any advice is appreciated.

[Tracy A.]

Darcys mom:

I do the head while they are sleeping--- Laying my hand on the face, I allow a line of hair to come through- then I start pilling a bit at a time until i've worked the line.

This way you can move pass the wiskers... and I am also holding the skin down with my hand at the same time while the hair is through the fingers.... make sense? Then I just progress to the next patch over....

Tracy

[Cairnmania]

I bought a 16 blade, which I did not find very effective. I went to a dog show and asked at one of the stands selling grooming tools. They looked Cairns up in the manufacturer's leaflet and it recommended an 8 or 10 blade Coat King. I bought the 8 blade and I find it much better than the 16 blade.

Stacey

[Guest bink]

Does useing a coat king make them loose the wonderfull wire texture of there coat

[chrissysb]

This may be a stupid question but hey - that what we are here for -right?

Doesn't the Mars Coat King just cut the undercoat? I got one a month or so back and saw the blade on the hook part of the tool. I guess I was under the assumption that it pulled the dead hair out like an epi-lady. <OUCH!> Perhaps I'm using it wrong? I gave up and just hand strip a little bit a night when the beast is sleeping.

[bradl]

As near as I can tell it rakes out undercoat like a conventional rake; with outer coat it appears to both cut some and pull some.

[kjwarnold]

We use the #16 Mars Coat King. I didn't even pay much attention to the size when I ordered it -- just ordered what they had on the Col. Potter Rescue site. It seems to do a fine job on Packy. I can't believe how much hair it gets off! I use a small stripping knife for his legs, some of his face and ears. I use the larger stripping knife for his back end and tail -- he hates that part! Once I've finished, he's very soft until the hard outer coat grows back. Don't you love the different stages of their coats?