Why Are My Clippers So Loud (Learn & Resolve)
If you’re asking yourself, why are my clippers so loud? Then you are in the right place.
In this article, we’ll go through the reasons why your clippers are loud (And I provide you with the right articles to fix the problem.)
So with that said, let’s begin.
Why do hair clippers make a loud noise?
90% of the reason why hair clippers produce a loud noise is due to moving parts such as the motor or cutting blade striking against a solid part of the machine such as the cam, top cutting rail blade, and spring.
However, there are also other reasons why clipper blades produce noise, depending on the brand/model (I’ll speak more towards the bottom of this article.)
The reasons I list below are the most common cases and fixes and ones you can implement
right away to fix your loud clippers.
Are Clippers supposed to be loud?
All hair clippers make noise. There are no hair clippers that produce no noise when working. However, your hair clippers should not be making loud high-pitched noises or a deep groaning sound.
Your clippers should produce a low buzz or a quiet hum when working.
A Decibel rating in the range of 20-60 is optimal for hair clippers. Anything more probably means there is something internally wrong with your hair clippers.
But you should note that different motors can affect how loud a hair clipper sounds.
Magnetic/pivot motors on average sound deeper and quieter than rotary motor clippers. So when checking if your clippers are too loud know what type of motor you working with.
Overall the motor has an important role when it comes to why your clippers may be too loud.
I talk about that next.
Why do hair clippers make a loud noise?
Loose parts on a hair clipper are the reason why hair clippers make loud noises.
Sometimes this can come about from excessive use or straight from the manufacturer.
If you have noticed your clippers slowly turn loud over a period of time then it’s most likely parts of your clippers have moved around, collected dirt, or worn out which causes noise.
However, there’s no need for panic.
If you choose to stick by your trusted clippers, there are solutions to fix your noisy clippers. I outline them in detail later on in this article.
But before you get into the solution, It would be best for you to know how your clipper got the being noisy internally.
Let’s delve deep into why hair clippers make a loud noise.
Hair Clippers Noise
The motor is the heart of a hair clipper. The motor dictates the overall cutting performance of your hair clipper blades. It moves at a high speed to provide power to the cutting.
However, not all motors are the same.
There are three types of motors when it comes to hair clippers:
- Pivot motor
- Rotary monetary
- Magnetic motor
Each motor moves differently, and they can all be affected in their own way, and from that produce loud noises.
Magnetic Motor
As you can see from the video, the spring pushes against the casing to move the blade, however, this outward motion is what can cause loud hair clippers.
A magnetic motor is the fastest type of motor and tends to be found in corded hair clippers.
It is the go-to type of motor for most barbers and can move at 120hz per second, providing the finest cutting and performance. A popular magnetic motor hair clipper is the Andis envy adjustable blade.
Magnetic motors have the tendency to push the blade against the body tray that holds the clippers as shown below.
Over time the constant striking can displace the cover tray around the motor Then From here, the cover tray will constantly hit back against the motor and that is how that annoying noise is produced.
This process can happen quickly if you drop your clippers or move them around too quickly. The magnetic motor is quite sturdy and tends to not take too much damage.
However, the motor or the case around it could become displaced.
But do not worry, I have a solution for this problem later in the article.
Rotary Motors
Rotary motors are found in the majority of cordless hair clippers as they are rechargeable. Andis 73500 Supra Lithium Ion 5 Adjustable Blade Clipper is a popular rotary motor clipper.
As good as a rotary motor hair clipper can be, it is the type of motor that will eventually produce noise over time.
As you see from the video, rotary motors have a thin cylinder that spins to move the blade. However, that spinning cylinder is made of plastic and it is the main reason your clippers are loud.
The plastic cylinder within a rotary motor clipper can become damaged and wear out, so as the motor rotates, instead of fitting cleanly with the blade, there may be damage or gap and that causes rattling. That rattling is the noise you hear from your clippers.
The part of the rotary motor that would need to be replaced if the ‘cam’, in a rotary motor, is the part that is most prone to damage over time.
But not to worry it can be solved quickly and I outline the steps later in this article.
Pivot motor
A pivot motor is very powerful. However, this only aids to the loud noise produced by hair clippers when the motor or parts around the motor become displaced.
Pivot motors can last for years on average. The Pivot motors motor will last the longest out of the three. A wide range of Andis clippers tends to have pivot motors.
popular pivot motor hair clipper would be the Andis Masters. It’s durable and very reliable.
Andis clippers tend to make noise when the magnets at the side of the clippers are loose or out of place. So when the pivot pushes against the magnets on either side, If a magnet is displaced, it can then hit against the casing of your clipper, causing a loud nose.
For the most part, pivot motor hair clippers will rarely have any major problems. So slight problems such as a bit of noise can be easily fixed.
I have a quick and easy fix for this problem later in the article that may give you peace of mind.
You know why one moving part of your clippers causes noise but what about the other?
I explain that next.
Cutting Blades make loud hair clippers
Your blades can also be the way your clippers make loud noises. Clipper blades are delicate and as long as they are well-taken care of they can perform well.
However, if they are not looked after, you will see it and hear it too.
Poor clipper maintenance
If you do not maintain your clippers they will struggle. Poorly maintained clippers will eventually start to produce weird sounds.
Hair easily gets into hair clippers and between clipper blades. However, this is normal and most hair clippers have a filter to stop hair from making its way all the down into your hair clippers.
Also, between the two blades, there is a sufficient gap allowed by the tension string to allow small bits of hair or dirt to pass without affecting the movement of the blade.
These mechanisms are there so your clippers don’t get blocked up or break after every use.
But if you neglect your clippers for a long time the trapped hair can cause your hair clipper as a whole which produces a loud noise or the friction against hair clumps can produce noise too.
A large build-up of hair between the front cutting rail and the cutting can do both and hair/dirt/oil that makes its way past the hair filter into your clippers can cause your clippers to overheat.
The extra stress on your clippers will cause noise. So to avoid this, practice proper hair clipper maintenance.
Just for this, I have produced a guide solely for hair clipper maintenance.
- Easy-to-follow steps
- Learn all you need in minutes
- Free
- Better performance
If your clippers are currently making noise, begin by making sure your clippers are actually clean and well-maintained.
Clean, sterilize and oil your clippers frequently.
Doing these steps can stop your clippers from vibrating and noise from your hair clipper blades altogether, if not they will certainly perform better.
Too much tension between your blades
High tension between your clipper blades can produce a horrible noise. When there is too much tension between the front cutting blade and the top cutting blade friction can cause noise.
This is commonly seen after clippers have been taken apart from apart for sharpening or manufacturers have tightened the screws on the blade too much.
It is an easy mistake and can be easily fixed. This is normally the case for detachable blades such as the ones below.
Here’s how to fix it.
Step 1: Detach clipper blades
Detach your blade from your clipper, you can simply do this by pushing against the teeth.
Step 2: Test the tension of the top cutter.
Slide the top cutter out from the blade, then using a scale, press the top cutter blade against and you should look for two and a half pounds(1.13kg) of pressure to push the cutting blade back into place.
You can also use a blade scale to do this step too.
Step 3: Reset the tension.
If the pressure needed to slide the top cutter back into place was higher than 2.5 pounds of pressure, then you need to decrease the pressure
You can do this by using your screwdrivers to slightly unscrew the bolts as shown below
Unscrew both bolts slowly and constantly keep checking the tension of your blade.
You do now want to remove all tension from your blade.
Step 4: Make sure the blades are aligned
As you unscrew the bolt on your blades, make sure your clipper blades are still well-aligned.
You can easily offset the blades as you try to fix the tension in your blades.
Always make sure the first tooth of the clipper is lined up with the second tooth of the front cutting rail and the last tooth of the front cutting blade is just on the inside if the last tooth of the front cutting rail
Also, make sure that the gap between both blades is 1mm and that your teeth are straight.
Step 5:
Once both the pressure of your blades and teeth alignment are correct, you can place your blade back into your hair clipper and test to see if the noise has gone.
Your clipper blades will now perform better, however, if the noise still persists, the solutions I have below should solve them.
If you have lever clippers, check out this article
How To Align Clipper Blades (Say Goodbye to Uneven Cuts)
How To Make Clippers Quiet
Now that you know the reason why your clippers make a loud noise, you can fix it.
I have guides to fix noise issues for the most popular clipper brands in the world, check them out below:
How to Fix Wahl Clippers Loud Noise – (Proven Methods For Noisy Clipper)
How To Fix Andis Clippers Loud Noise (A Complete Guide)
And if you’re looking to upgrade to a more silent clipper entirely, check out this article on the best quite clippers:
Best Quiet Hair Clippers (Noiseless Performance for Peaceful Styling)
Conclusion
In this article, I have provided the best solutions as to why your hair clippers are so loud as well as broken down how clippers may become loud from the different types of motors:
- Magnetic
- Pivot
- Rotary
Hair Clippers can become loud for a multitude of reasons, however, the solutions I provide in this article will resolve your problems.
If you have found this article helpful, please leave a comment on your experience with noisy hair clippers and Check out other articles on this topic:
FAQ
Hair clippers produce loud noises due to parts of the clipper being loose. Moving parts of a hair clipper such as the blades or motor strike loose the loose parts within a hair clipper which produces a loud sound.
When trying to make hair clippers quieter, you must ensure that all parts of a hair clipper are bolted down firm and in place. This reduces the chance of collision with the moving parts of a hair clipper.
Hair clippers vibrate due to a moving part of a hair clipper, striking a still part of a hair clipper. This can be around the motor or blades that are not set correctly.
