Andis Power Groom+ 5 Speed AGRV
Why Is This Product Here?
Five speed, professional clipper great for heavy duty work, as well as small dog touchups
Specification
Motor: 5 speed, 2500-5000 strokes per minute (SPM)
Blades: one included (#10 UltraEdge Blade), A5 compatible
Weight and Ergonomics: 10 x 8 x 2.5 inches, 2.59 pounds
Cord/cordless charge: Comes corded; however battery pack and charger are available for purchase to convert between corded and cordless
Maintenance: Is it easy to clean/Oil/sharpen? Yes
Heat and noise: Blades heat up; pretty quiet on lower speeds, quite a bit noisier on higher speeds.
Check Carefully because…
The clippers have a new lockout feature that is not mentioned in the published material that comes with the clippers. Essentially, when the clippers are removed from the box for the first time and plugged in, they may not run, or they may run intermittently; it is possible that the clippers feature this new lockout.
The clippers will need to be turned off and have the blade then removed. Once the blade is removed, the clippers will need to be turned on and then have the blade very carefully snapped into place; this should work around the issue.
Of course, if there are any concerns about this or how to do it specifically, the company’s customer service should be contacted to ensure this is the problem and to confirm how to remedy the problem. Before you assume they are broken out of the box though, it may be worth looking into the presence of this feature.
The MUST Know, True Facts about Andis Power Groom+
These clippers come with one #10 UltraEdge Blade, and clipper oil. The purchase does not include guards or combs. One particularly nice feature of the corded clippers is that they feature a 16ft long, tangle-free cord; so the cord has the ability to swivel around, 360 degrees, making it very easy to move around a dog on the table while grooming.
**In most cases, these clippers are sold as the corded option, and the battery and charger to go cordless are sold separately.
What to watch out for with this product
The biggest problem with these clippers is how much and how quickly they heat up. Due to their five speeds, these clippers command a lot of power, and with that power is the risk of heating up. Super hot clipper blades can make for an unnerving or uncomfortable experience for the dogs at best and risk burning them at worst, which will likely make subsequent grooming experiences with that dog much more challenging.
Run at higher speeds, these clipper blades can become dangerously hot within 15 minutes and with continued use, even the body of the clippers can become uncomfortably warm for you, the groomer. Putting aside the potential harm that the hot clipper blades can bring to your dog, continuing to run the clippers at a higher temp also puts strain on the clippers and can potentially reduce their longevity.
The other big thing to watch out for with this product is their condition upon arrival. There were many instances wherein coming straight from the box, the clippers simply did not work upon being plugged into the wall. It is possible that this apparent flaw was due to misunderstanding of the the lockout feature discussed earlier;
however, when purchasing this product, it is worth looking into whether or not a warranty is available, for how long, and under what terms. In the majority of cases, the clippers work well out of the box and quickly become a staple in the grooming arsenal, but in the rare case that they do not work well right away, a warranty will save you a lot of frustration.
Crucial Tips
This is a really nice product with one consistent flaw: due to the power available in these clippers, they heat up a lot, and quickly. Therefore, really all of the crucial tips for these clippers deal with the problem of overheating clipper blades.
• Use Combs: In order to use the clippers a little longer, even in the setting of a heated blade, is to consider purchasing and using the combs or plastic guards in order to protect your dog from the heated blade.
• Use cooling spray: Across the board, the use of cooling spray is felt to be quite helpful at minimizing the heat buildup and allowing for a longer groom time before a break is needed.
• Take breaks: In conjunction with regularly using cooling spray and plastic combs, simply take breaks to allow the blades and body to cool down. This time can be used to clean your dogs ears, trim nails, brush out his or her coat, or simply praise her and offer her a treat or two for her excellent behavior.
• Switch out blades: Another option would be to consider purchasing multiple blades. This option would be well suited to professional groomers, but could work for at-home groomers as well. By purchasing multiple blades, they can be rotated out so that you don’t need to pause as much, but can instead keep grooming in order to get finished as quickly as possible.
• Consider ceramic blades: Lastly, you can consider the purchase of one or two ceramic blades. Ceramic blades don’t heat up nearly as quickly as metal; so this can be an excellent option for clippers that tend to overheat, or when grooming heat sensitive dogs. CeramicEdge blades are compatible with these clippers, as are ShowEdge, and all other standard A5 blades.
Benefits and Features (Pros)
• Fast, powerful, 5-speed clipper can tackle the toughest of grooming jobs
• Variable speeds makes it suitable for all coat types
• Durable and crack resistant
• Can be corded or cordless; if using corded, cord is long (16 ft) and tangle-free with
• Has a quick release, detachable blade; blade is interchangeable with all other standard A5 blades by Andis, or by other brands
• Quiet on lower settings
• The weight of this powerful clipper is reduced by housing the power transformer in the plug at the wall, rather than in the body of the clipper
• Memory feature remembers last speed used, even when clippers are turned.
Problems (Cons)
• Overheating blade and clipper body
• Faulty or doesn’t always work well right out of the box which may be a flaw or may be due to the lockout featu
• Loud at higher speeds due to the higher power being used
• Battery pack and charger do not usually come with the product; they are often sold separately and cost quite a bit extra
Conclusion
Overall, the Andis Power Groom+ is a great product. It offers five different speeds which makes it suitable for all coat types and sizes of dog. As a result of this power availability, however, the clipper blades and sometimes the clippers do tend to over heat; so it is important to be keenly aware of this and exercise methods to reduce or slow down the overheating, such as cooling spray, or switching out blades (see above for more detail about this under Crucial Tips).
As a result of the potential for overheating and the loud noise at higher speeds, these clippers may not be great for skittish or hypersensitive dogs. Those details aside, these clippers get the job done, they seem to last, and they don’t get tangled while working. These clippers can be used corded or cordless, and they use detachable blades which are interchangeable with all compatible A5 blades. All in all, the Andis Power Groom+ are excellent clippers that I would strongly recommend.
#speed
Question: Are there multiple speeds on this?
Answer: There are multiple speeds on this; it is a 5-speed clipper.
Question: Is battery replaceable when it dies for good? If not, can you shave with use of corded plug?
Answer: The battery is replaceable, though the manufacturer specifically warns against trying to manipulate it or replace components of it yourself. They recommend contacting the company directly for battery replacements. Having said that, if the battery died and you simply weren’t interested in replacing it, the clipper can easily be used without the battery pack and instead corded and plugged into a wall outlet.
#charger
Question: Can I get a replacement charger?
Answer: Generally speaking, the clippers usually tend to come only at the corded version. Therefore, the battery pack and charger would already be a separate purchase and an additional cost. As that is the case, additional battery packs and chargers can again be purchased if needed. If you only wanted to replace the charger, you may need to contact the company to see if that can be arranged; however, I would suggest just re-purchasing a new charger and an additional battery pack. This way, you’ll always have a charged battery on hand, hence never needing to pause grooming for a charge.
#blade
Question: Does this clipper work with detachable blades?
Answer: Yes, this clipper works with detachable blades. It is compatible with all UltraEdge, CeramicEdge, and ShowEdge blades, as well as all A5 blades.
Question: Can you use different brand blades on this clipper
Answer: Yes, other brand blades can be used with this the Andis Power Groom+ clipper as long as they are A5 compatible
Question: Can I use Oster blades?
Answer: Yes, Oster’s A5 compatible blades can be used with the Andis Power Groom+ clipper
Question: Is there an adjustable blade that comes in course instead of fine? I need to cut with a 3,4, or 5 blade. Will the wahl non adjustable blades work?
Answer: Any A5 compatible blade can be used on this clipper
#Thick/Thin hair
Question: My poodle/Shih Tzu has very thick, curly hair. Trimming her the thick hair gets caught in the teeth and I have to start over. Will this clipper work on her?
Answer: Every dog is different; however this clipper is designed to be able to tackle all grooming jobs. With a variety of speeds to chose from, and all interchangeable clipper blades available to you, I would think that this clipper could trim her hair without much trouble.
Question: Is this a good clipper for dogs with very fine hair?
Answer: With its variety of speed options, and its ability to work with all UltraEdge, CeramicEdge and ShowEdge blades, as well as all compatible A5 clipper blades, I would imagine this blade should be perfectly acceptable for trimming your dogs hair. It’s really just a matter of finding the right speed and blade combination. As with all grooms and hair types, it is recommended to bath, dry and comb out your dog before a trim, as this will help the grooming process to be as efficient and stress-free as possible for both you and your dog.
Question: Does this work well on Pomeranians?
Answer: The Andis Power Groom+ is designed to work well on all dogs and coat types; so as it often the case, it is really just a matter of finding the right speed and blade for your dog’s hair. It is crucial to be aware of the few cons with the product, however. If you have a particularly anxious dog, it is important that you are aware of this clipper’s tendency to be louder at higher speeds, as well as to heat up significantly and rather quickly. The heating clipper blades can be alleviated with cooling spray, breaks, or clipper blade rotation as discussed above, but if you have a very anxious dog, you may want to consider a quieter or cooler running clipper.
Question: Can this clipper do a full body clipping for a dog or is it just for trimming?
Answer: This clipper can tackle a full body groom; however it is important to be aware of the clipper’s tendency to heat up rather significantly and take steps to alleviate this problem, as discussed above in the Crucial Tips section.
#combs
Question: Are there clippers with adjustable height or only comb set to switch?
Answer: Though they are available for purchase separately, the Andis Power Groom+ does not come with any combs.
#wet hair
Question: Can this clipper cut when the pet’s hair is wet?
Answer: The manufacturer recommends keeping the clipper away from water sources, as electrical shock can be a risk. As with most grooming jobs, it is recommended to bath, dry, and comb out your dog prior to grooming; it’ll be much less stressful or painful for your dog and therefore much easier on you in the long run.
Question: To minimize the necessary clean up, can I use this clipper outside?
Answer: It is recommended by the manufacturer that this clipper is not used outdoors.
Question: If I am using the battery pack, how will I know that I have power?
Answer: Unlike other models which do not feature a battery indicator light, the AGRV battery pack has a “power indicator light”. It is located on the underside of the cord pack, and when it is lit, the unit has power.
Question: How do I adjust the speeds on the clipper?
Answer: With five speeds, there are a variety of options. Knowing how to use your clipper is key to a successful groom. The speeds of the clipper can be controlled with the buttons that are located on the bottom of the cord pack. To adjust the speeds, you simple press the button to reach the speed that you would like. It is important to note that there is no problem with shutting off the clipper at any speed, and in doing so the clipper’s memory will kick in; the next time you start your clipper, it will start on the same speed that it was on when you turned it off.
Question: How do I charge the battery pack?
Answer: One nice feature of this clipper is that the battery pack can be charged either alone, or attached to the clipper. This means that you can potentially have a backup battery pack charging while you clip, and simply swap them out when the battery on the clipper begins to run low. This way, you never need to stop grooming. In order to charge the battery, simply align the battery pack and charger, and then press the battery pack into the charger; you may hear a click when the battery pack becomes properly seated in the charger. **Before initial use, the battery pack must be charged for a minimum of one hour.
Question: What is the Refresh feature on this clipper?
Answer: The Refresh feature is designed to allow a battery pack which has developed a “memory” to perform like new. The manufacturer suggests running the Refresh feature overnight once a month; doing so will allow the battery pack to last much longer than one that does not get “refreshed”. Essentially, this feature works by first discharging the battery, and then quickly charging it again. To indicate that this process is under way, the lights at the base of the charger will show long, green blinks; when the process is complete and the battery is fully charged, the green light will stop blinking and stay a continuous green. It does take longer (approximately eight hours) to run this feature which is why is it suggested as an overnight charge.
Question: How do I clean my clipper blades?
Answer: The manufacturer suggests putting ONLY THE BLADES into a shallow pan of clipper oil and letting the clipper run for a moment or two.
Question: If the blades become dull can I sharpen them myself? In the same vein, if the clipper doesn’t seen to be running like it used to, how do fix that?
Answer: Andis suggests that when the clipper blades appear to have become dull or when the clippers are not working as they originally did, the blades should be sent to an Andis Authorized Service Station for sharpening. The clippers should be sent to the same location for repair.
Question: Where is this clipper made?
Answer: The Andis Power Groom+ is made in the USA.
How does this model Andis Power Groom+ AGRV Compare with other models from the same manufacturer?
Model Andis Power Groom+ AGRV VS Andis UltraEdge, AGC2
Corded/Cordless: Corded
Speed(s): 2-speed
Motor: 3400, 4400 RPMs
Blades: 1 (UltraEdge #10)
Weight: 17.5 oz
Quiet: Yes
Cord length: 14 foot
Coat type: All coat types
Pros
Cons
Locking switch ensures clippers don’t accidentally shut off
Powerful clippers heat up
Compatible with all UltraEdge, CeramicEdge, ShowEdge, as well as all Oster A5 blades
No combs included
Compared to the Andis Power Groom+…
This model is only offered as corded, unlike the Power Groom+ which can be used as corded or cordless. Regardless of this, the Andis UltraEdge is quite a bit lighter in weight than the Pro Groom+. It has less speed options (two instead of five), and at 4400 SPM, it’s highest speed is still a bit lower than the Power Groom+ (5000 SPM). Similar to the Power Groom +, this model is compatible with all UltraEdge, CeramicEdge, and ShowEdge blades, as well as all Oster A5 blades. Like the Power Groom+, there is some concern about the blades heating up, so the purchase of multiple blades or a ceramic blade may be wise. One perk offered by this model and not the Power Groom+ is the Pro Clip 2-Speed features a switch which ensures that the clipper will not accidentally shut off.
Model: Andis Power Groom+ AGRV VS Andis ProClip Excel 5-Speed, SMC
Corded/Cordless: Corded
Speed(s): 5-speed
Motor: 2500-4500 SPM
Blades: 1 (CeramicEdge #10)
Weight: 14 oz
Quiet: Yes
Cord length: 14’
Coat type: All coat types
Pros
Cons
Compatible with all UltraEdge, CeramicEdge, ShowEdge, as well as all Oster A5 blades
Clipper body gets hot before blades
Generally cool running at lower speeds
Not great for matted fur
All routine coat types
Compared to the Andis Power Groom+…
This model is only offered as corded, unlike the Power Groom+ which can be used as corded or cordless. Regardless of this, the ProClip Excel 5-Speed is quite a bit lighter in weight than the Pro Groom+. It boasts the same number of speeds (five); however, at 4500 SPM, it’s highest speed is a touch lower than the Power Groom+ (5000 SPM). Similar to the Power Groom +, this model is compatible with all UltraEdge, CeramicEdge, and ShowEdge blades, as well as all Oster A5 blades. Like the Power Groom+, there is some concern about heat, however, in the case of the ProClip Excel 5-Speed, it is more about the body of the clipper heating up before the blade which can be a risk to both the groomer and longevity of the clipper. Like the Power Groom+, this clipper is fine for working with all coat types; however, it is not idea for grooming matter fur.
Model: Andis Power Groom+ AGRV VS ProClip Pulse Ion, RBCs
Corded/Cordless: Cordless
Speed(s): 1
Motor: 5500 SPM
Blades: 5-in-1 (#40, 30, 15, 10, 9)
Weight: 10.5 oz
Quiet: Pretty quiet
Cord length: N/A
Coat type: Small dogs & detail work; not mats, heavy coats or big jobs
Pros
Cons
7 piece kit; clipper, charging dock, four combs, blade oil
Not compatible with A5 blades
All standard coat types
Trouble with the off/off switch
Good maneuverability, good for small dogs and detail work
Blade dulls quickly/easily
Compared to the Andis Power Groom+…
This model is also offers as corded or cordless capability, similar to the Power Groom+. It has less speed options (one instead of five), but at 5500 SPM, it offers a higher speed than the Power Groom+ (5000 SPM). Unlike the Power Groom+, the ProClip Pulse Ion boasts a 5-in-1 blade; however, it is not compatible with UltraEdge, CeramicEdge, or ShowEdge blades, nor is it compatible with any other A5 blades. Due to its size, battery-powered nature, power, and blade options, this clipper is often seen as fine for all coat types, but best for small dogs and/or detail work. On the plus side though, since this clipper appears to be designed with convenience in mind, it is One perk offered by this model, however, is that it is sold as a seven piece kit which includes blade oil and four combs, in addition to the clipper with 5-in-1 blade and the charging dock.
Model: Andis Power Groom+ AGRV VS Andis Pro Clip 2-Speed Detachable Blade Clipper, AG2
Corded/Cordless: Corded
Speed(s): 2
Motor: 2700 and 3400 SPM
Blades: 1 (Ultra Edge #10)
Weight: 1.11 lb., comparable to AGC2
Quiet: Yes
Cord length: 14’
Coat type: All coat types
Pros
Cons
Locking switch ensures clipper will not accidentally shut off
Does not come with a comb set
Compatible with all UltraEdge, CeramicEdge, ShowEdge, as well as all Oster A5 blades
Bulky design
Made in USA, long (14’) cord
Heats up quickly, louder than expected.
Compared to the Andis Power Groom+…
This model is only offered as corded, unlike the Power Groom+ which can be used as corded or cordless and though it has a bulkier design than the Power Groom+, it is comparable in weight. It has less speed options (two instead of five), and at 3400 SPM, it’s highest speed is significantly lower than the Power Groom+ (5000 SPM). Similar to the Power Groom +, this model is compatible with all UltraEdge, CeramicEdge, and ShowEdge blades, as well as all Oster A5 blades, and like the Power Groom+, there is some concern about the blades heating up, so the purchase of multiple blades or a ceramic blade may be wise. One perk offered by this model and not the Power Groom+ is the Pro Clip 2-Speed features a switch which ensures that the clipper will not accidentally shut off.