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The Andis FadeMaster and 5 Star Wahl Senior are among a great set of barbering tools. I have found many great things with both of these clippers.
As most barbers know, over the years you accustom yourself to many different techniques and tools that end up changing overtime.
Andis Fade Master Vs. 5 Star Wahl Senior
| ANDIS FADE MASTER | 5 STAR WAHL SENIOR | |
|---|---|---|
| Image |   |   |
| Motor | Electromagnetic | V9000 Electro Magnetic |
| Casing | Aluminum (Heavy) | 1/2 Plastic 1/2 Chrome |
| Lever | 5 Point Notch System | Regular No Notches |
| Price | CHECK ON AMAZON | CHECK ON AMAZON |
| Blade | Carbon Coated Steel | Stainless Steel |
| Cord/Cordless | Corded | Cord & Cordless |
| Weight | 1.25 lbs (Heavy) | 1.2 lbs |
| Shape | Rectangular | Regular As Most |
| Precision | Super Precise for Fades | Great for Fades |
As the days, months and years go by, your tools also change. Whether it was the need for a new clipper or wanting to try a different hair clipper, you will find yourself trying out many professional barber clippers in order to see what you like the most.
The Andis Fade Master and Wahl 5 Star Senior clippers are the two main clippers that I use on most of my haircuts. We will begin by giving you a close look up of each, the pros and cons, as well as the uses for them both.
Andis Fade Master
This is a great hair clipper if you are a little bit more advanced and have a few years under your belt. The reason for its complexity is up in the next few paragraphs.
The weight of the Andis FadeMaster is around 1.25 lbs. which is a decent amount of weight in one hand can feel a bit heavy. If you use the Andis FadeMaster for the majority of the haircut
The casing is aluminum throughout. It is very tough because of the casing, but it also makes it a bit heavier than most.
The blade it comes with out of the box is very thin and is made of carbon coated steel, making it much more precise with fades, yet makes it that much more susceptible for cutting and nicking your clients skin with it.
Most Barbers can tell you that they love the Andis FadeMaster for short, tight, bald fades. It is a must to have in your barber kit case when your clientele base prefers the bald fades.
It’s lever consists a five point system. Each point is a different up and down marker from the open position all the way to the closed. The points are separated equally, so it takes the guessing game out of the lever( which other clippers do, 5 Star Wahl Senior).
That is why its precision is quite unique and when combined with the thin blade they give much more control for the barber to advance with his fades.
The shape of the Andis Fade Master is quite unique. It is shaped exactly like most standard clippers yet it has more of a rectangular shape. The edges are not as round as most clippers.
The shape effects the perception of its weight. Since it feels a little bit different, wider and with its aluminum casing, the weight of it feels much more than what it is compared to other professional hair clippers.
The motor in the Andis FadeMaster is top of the line for their clippers. It features an electromagnetic motor with lots of power. If you use the Andis FadeMaster for quite a long time you will feel the heat come to it.
The casing allows it to be a bit more hot to the touch than other clippers. It takes quite a while for it to heat up significantly.
Wahl 5 Star Senior
The 5 Star Wahl Senior is also around the same weight, yet a little less. This is a clipper for most beginners.
The blade out of the box is the Wahl #2191, which is great for fades and thick bulk cutting.
It weigh’s at 1.2 lbs. which it only seems a little bit lighter, even in your hand, because of the plastic top casing and the chrome underside.
Its shape also has effect on the perception of the weight. It is like most clippers very much with the usual rounded edges, therefore it makes the shape a little easier to adjust to. Most professional clippers have this shape that is why it is easier to accustom yourself to it.
The lever action is like most clippers as well. Unlike the Andis FadeMaster, the 5 Star Wahl Senior has no notches on the lever therefore it makes it a guessing game to go all the way open or all the way closed.
The great thing about this lever is that as you keep using the hair clipper you will adjust yourself to your fading technique and it will become second nature with how much you adjust the lever.
The motor for the 5 Star Wahl Senior is Wahl’s top of the line motor. It is a V9000 electromagnetic motor as well. It is more powerful than the Andis FadeMaster, but not by much. This allows for the major bulk cuts.
When you need to chop down a great amount of hair. The amount of heat you get from this clipper is much less than that of the Andis FadeMaster. The casing also allows it to be a bit cooler.
The blade is a stainless steel blade which is great for any type of hair. It is very precise and cuts very comfortably.
MY FAVORITE
My “GO TO CLIPPER” – I use the Wahl 5 Star Senior for all of my haircuts. I only have a few clients, in which i will use the Andis FadeMaster because of the type of hair they have.
The density of the hair also has alot to do with why I only use the Andis FadeMaster a little bit of the time.
I am able to distinguish the type of hair that they have and which clippers I will be using when a new client sits in my chair. 15 years in the making will give you this unique skill.
For others it may be just in a couple years, but it definitely takes practice with your haircuts as well as trying out new clippers, to be able to see which hair clippers you will use and for which haircuts.
All in all both clippers are great, and for every barber their “go to clipper” will be different. In my case, the 5 Star Wahl Senior is my “go to clipper.”
Andis Fade Master Vs. 5 Star Wahl Senior
| ANDIS FADE MASTER | 5 STAR WAHL SENIOR | |
|---|---|---|
| Image | | |
| Motor | Electromagnetic | V9000 Electro Magnetic |
| Casing | Aluminum (Heavy) | 1/2 Plastic 1/2 Chrome |
| Lever | 5 Point Notch System | Regular No Notches |
| Price | CHECK ON AMAZON | CHECK ON AMAZON |
| Blade | Carbon Coated Steel | Stainless Steel |
| Cord/Cordless | Corded | Cord & Cordless |
| Weight | 1.25 lbs (Heavy) | 1.2 lbs |
| Shape | Rectangular | Regular As Most |
| Precision | Super Precise for Fades | Great for Fades |
