A5 30W Blade
The 30W Blade — 0.5 mm Cutting Height on a Wider Track
A blade code carries two independent measurements, and the 30W uses both. The number sets the cutting height — 0.5 mm, the closest cut on the A5 platform. The letter W sets the width — a comb and cutter roughly a third wider than the standard format, so each pass covers more skin. Neither number changes the other. The 30W is not a shorter blade than the 30#; it is the same half-millimetre finish laid down across a broader track. This page explains what that width buys, what it costs, and the narrow set of jobs where a 30W is the right instrument.
30W A5 blade pair: 0.5 mm (1/50″) cutting height on a wide full-tooth comb, stainless steel or ceramic cutter.
Two separate measurements in one code
Buyers often assume that a blade with more characters in its name must cut differently in every way. On an A5 blade the code is a coordinate, not a ranking: one part is height, the other is width, and they are chosen independently.
| Part of the code | What it controls | What it does not control |
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| 30 | Cutting height: 0.5 mm (1/50″) of coat left standing. The higher the number, the closer the cut. | The width of the blade or the number of teeth across it. |
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| W | Wide format: a comb and cutter wider than the standard shape, covering more skin per pass. | The cutting height. A 30W and a 30# both leave 0.5 mm. |
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| # (hash) | Shorthand for a numbered blade. 30# and 30 are the same height. | Width, tooth pattern or physical length of the blade. |
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| F (as in 5F) | Full-tooth comb: the standard pattern for a clean, even finish. | Height or width on its own; F is the tooth layout. |
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The most common misunderstanding in a catalogue: a 30W is not a coarser or longer version of a 30#. It cuts to exactly the same 0.5 mm. The only difference is how much skin the comb covers in one pass — and everything that follows from that.
What “wide” actually changes
Width is not a cosmetic difference. A wider comb engages more teeth and more coat at the same instant, which changes the load on the clipper, the heat in the blade, and the way the blade behaves on anything that is not flat.
| Dimension | Standard 30# | 30W |
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| Cutting height | 0.5 mm | 0.5 mm — identical |
| Cutting surface per pass | Standard track | About a third wider on most brands |
| Teeth engaged | Fewer | More — more cutting per stroke, more load |
| Passes over a large area | More | Fewer |
| Heat build-up | Fast | Faster: more contact, more friction, less coat to carry heat away |
| Behaviour on curves | Follows contours | Rocking a wide comb on a curve digs a corner in |
| Best surface | Faces, ears, pads, small details | Large, flat, clean panels |
There is no free width. The time saved on a big flat area is paid for in heat, motor load and a smaller margin for error. That is why wide formats are made mostly in the coarser body sizes, and why a 30W is a specialist blade rather than a general upgrade.
Where the 30W earns its place
The combination of the closest cut and the widest track is only useful where the surface is large, flat, clean and already prepared — typically in veterinary and pre-operative work rather than routine grooming.
| Job | Why the wide format helps |
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| Surgical site preparation on large animals | A wide, close pass clears a large field quickly and evenly before disinfection. Fewer passes mean less irritation of the skin around the site. |
| Equine pre-op and wound margin clipping | Flat panels on the neck, shoulder and flank can be cleared in broad strips; the 0.5 mm finish leaves a clean field for the vet. |
| Pre-scan and pre-treatment clipping | Ultrasound, radiography and some treatments need hair removed over a wide area. A 30W covers the field in fewer strokes. |
| High-volume close work in clean coat | Experienced hands working on large, flat areas of a clean, dry coat can finish faster with a wide track. |
| Show or pattern work on broad flat sections | Where the outline runs in long straight lines rather than around curves, the wider comb keeps the line steadier. |
Where it does not belong: faces, muzzles, ears, paw pads, sanitary areas, skin folds, legs and any contoured part of the body. A wide comb cannot follow a curve without rocking, and at 0.5 mm a rocking comb cuts skin. It is also unsuitable for cats, puppies, thin or sensitive skin, sunburned skin, and any matted or dirty coat. For those jobs the standard-width 30# is the correct blade, and for most of them a 15# or 10# is safer still.
Why wide plus close is the least forgiving combination
Each of the two features is demanding on its own. Put together, they multiply rather than add. A 30W removes the two things that normally protect the skin: coat length and a narrow contact patch.
- More contact, more heat. A wider comb touches more skin on every stroke, and 0.5 mm of coat cannot carry the heat away. A 30W can become uncomfortable to the back of the hand in a very short run.
- Nowhere to hide an error. At this height scars, moles, folds and uneven pressure all show. A wide blade shows them across a wider band in one pass.
- Corners dig in. The wider the comb, the more it rocks on a curved surface. On a shoulder or a hip the edge of the comb lifts and the corner bites.
- The clipper works harder. More teeth engaged means more torque and more current. A head that runs cool with a 10# can labour with a wide 30W.
- Slower is faster. Pushing a wide blade to make up time loads the motor, heats the comb and leaves a washboard finish. The width already saves passes; let the blade cut at its own rate.
Feeding a wide blade properly
- Check the clipper is rated for wide A5 blades. Not every head is. If the motor note drops or the blade stalls, stop: the head is working beyond its torque and will overheat.
- Start with a clean, dry, brushed-out coat. Sand or dried mud under a wide comb is dragged across more skin, not less.
- Set the head tension. A wide cutter needs even pressure across its length; a slack spring lets it chatter and lifts the corners.
- Work flat panels only. Neck, shoulder, flank, large surgical fields. Hand the blade over to a standard-width 30# at the first curve.
- Use light pressure and keep moving. Short overlapping passes, about a third of the blade width; never hold the blade still on one spot.
- Oil every ten minutes of running time. A drop across the cutter teeth and the rail, then run briefly to spread it.
- Cool before it feels hot. Keep a second blade within reach and swap rather than pushing through.
- Stop when the blade pulls. That is a dull cutter. Sharpen or replace it; pressure will only burn the skin.
A 30W is not a blade to learn on. It is the combination with the smallest margin for error in the whole A5 range: the closest cut and the widest contact patch. Use it where the surface is flat and the animal is calm, and keep a 30# for everything else.
The pair: comb sets the length, cutter does the cutting
Like every A5 blade, the 30W is two matched parts. The lower comb has a fixed tooth height of 0.5 mm and holds the skin away from the cutting plane; the upper cutter sweeps across it and severs the hair standing above. The comb governs how short the coat is left; the cutter governs how cleanly it is cut. The cutter never touches the skin.
| Lower comb | Full-tooth stainless steel, wide format, ground and hardened to the 0.5 mm setting — standard on every pair |
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| Upper cutter — ceramic | Runs cooler and holds its edge longer in clean coat. The sensible choice for long close sessions on sensitive skin. Brittle: a drop or a dirty coat can chip the edge. |
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| Upper cutter — stainless steel | Tougher in coarse, sandy or yard conditions and cheaper to replace. Runs warmer, which is noticeable on a wide close blade. |
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| Why the pair matters | A cutter and comb from different formats will not tension or cut correctly. Both parts are matched in profile and in width, not just in height. |
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The 30W cutter options: stainless steel for durability and cost, ceramic for cooler running in clean coat.
Choosing between the 30# and the 30W
Both blades cut to 0.5 mm. The decision is entirely about the shape of the surface in front of you.
| Choose the 30# when | The work is on faces, ears, pads, sanitary areas, legs, folds or any contoured surface. The standard width follows the shape and leaves fewer corners exposed. |
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| Choose the 30W when | The work is a large, flat, clean field — surgical prep, pre-scan clipping, broad body panels — and the operator is experienced with close blades. |
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| If you are unsure | Take the 30#. It is the safer default, and on a curved surface it will finish the job the 30W cannot reach safely. |
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| Do not substitute one for the other | Width cannot be added later, and a wide blade cannot be narrowed by technique. Buy the format that matches the surface. |
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Specifications
| Blade system | A5 detachable, two-piece (comb + cutter), full tooth |
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| Model | 30W |
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| Cutting height | 0.5 mm (1/50″) |
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| Format | Wide — roughly a third more cutting surface per pass than the standard 30# |
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| Zone | Closest cut on the A5 platform, wide-track work |
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| Supplied as | One pair: 1 upper cutter + 1 lower comb, packed together |
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| Lower comb | Full-tooth stainless steel, wide format, matched to the 0.5 mm setting |
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| Upper cutter options | Stainless steel or ceramic, both matched to the 30W comb |
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| Compatibility | Andis, Oster, Wahl and Heiniger A5 clipper heads rated for wide blades |
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| Typical use | Surgical prep, wound margins, pre-scan clipping and large flat panels |
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| Packaging | 100 pcs / 1 carton; carton size 38×23×27 cm; N.W./G.W. 8.5/9.5 kg |
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Fits the A5 clipper head
The blade is machined to A5 dimensions — hinge slot, mounting rail, cutter fork and tension point — so it seats on the heads the main brands have supported for years:
- Andis: AGC, AGC2, UltraEdge and Super 2-Speed
- Oster: A5, Golden A5 and Turbo A5
- Wahl: KM2, KM5, KM10 and Show Pro
- Heiniger: A5-compatible models such as Saphir
Because the 30W is wider, it draws more torque than a standard blade. Check the clipper manufacturer's guidance on wide blades before fitting one, and test the head on a spare blade before using it on an animal. Livestock shears and the Oster 76 series are a different system and are not compatible.
Blade care and sharpening
A wide, fine-pitch blade is harder to sharpen than either a standard 30# or a coarse wide blade. The teeth are small, closely spaced and spread across a wider arc, and every one of them has to stay flat and evenly set. Hand honing rounds the tips and changes the set; send the pair to a service that works to A5 profiles. Store it dry, with the cutter oiled, and keep a ceramic cutter in its own case so it is not knocked against other blades. Replacement cutters and combs are available separately, so a worn edge does not mean replacing the whole blade.
The FOLK blade programme
The 30W sits at the fine end of a range built around the three head systems distributors meet most often: the A5 platform, the A-Series for Lister-type clippers and the H-Series for Heiniger-type clippers. The A5 line runs from the long 3F and 3FW at 13 mm down through 4F, 5F, 7F, 9#, 10# and 15# to the 30# and 30W at 0.5 mm. Standard and wide formats sit side by side, so a dealer can supply bulk, body, finish and close prep from one supplier without mixing formats.
The A5 range. Standards and wide formats side by side, from the 13 mm 3F and 3FW down to the 0.5 mm 30# and 30W.
For the standard-width version at the same cutting height, see the 30# A5 horse clipper blade at 0.5 mm; for the step between this blade and a 10#, see the 15# A5 horse clipper blade at 1.2 mm.
Wholesale, OEM and packaging
Ningbo FOLK Tools is an animal clipper factory in Yuyao, Zhejiang, producing electric sheep shears, horse clippers, livestock clippers, replacement blades and blower dryers. The 30W is ground and hardened in our own plant, packed 100 pairs to a carton, and can be supplied with your logo on the blade, your own blister card or as a bulk carton for distributors who pack locally. Cutters, combs, springs and other spare parts ship separately so grooming retailers and veterinary suppliers can support after-sales properly.
| Minimum order | 100 pcs (each piece is one matched pair of cutter + comb) |
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| Packaging | 100 pcs / 1 carton; carton size 38×23×27 cm; N.W./G.W. 8.5/9.5 kg |
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| Delivery time | 7–15 days for stock blades; artwork approval and printing add time for private label |
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| Supply ability | 50,000 pcs per month |
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| Payment terms | T/T, L/C, Western Union |
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| Certification | ISO, BSCI, GS, CE, CB, ROHS, UL, ETL |
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Frequently asked questions
What does the W mean on a 30W blade?
Wide. The comb and cutter are wider than the standard format, so each pass covers more skin. The cutting height is unchanged at 0.5 mm.
Does a 30W cut shorter than a 30#?
No. Both leave 0.5 mm (1/50″). The 30W covers a wider track; it does not cut deeper.
Is a 30W wider than a 30#?
Yes — typically about a third more cutting surface, depending on the manufacturer. That means fewer passes on a large flat area.
Why would anyone want a wide 30#?
For large, flat, clean fields that need a 0.5 mm finish: surgical site prep, wound margins, pre-scan clipping and broad body panels. The width saves passes; the close cut gives the clean field.
Can I use a 30W on a face, ears or paws?
No. A wide comb cannot follow a tight curve without rocking, and at 0.5 mm a rocking comb cuts skin. Use a standard-width 30#, and on most faces a 15# or 10# is safer again.
Will my clipper handle a wide blade?
Not all heads are rated for wide A5 blades. A wide 30W engages more teeth and draws more torque. If the motor note drops or the blade stalls, stop — the head is working beyond its capacity and will overheat.
What is the difference between 30W and 40#?
40# is a finer cutting height (0.25 mm), not a wider one. The 30W is 0.5 mm on a wide track; the 40# is a narrower, surgical-level cut.
Ceramic or stainless steel cutter for the 30W?
Ceramic for clean coat, sensitive skin and long sessions, because it runs cooler. Stainless steel for coarse or dirty coat, yard conditions and the lowest replacement cost. Both fit the same 30W comb.
Can I clip a whole horse or dog with a 30W?
No. At 0.5 mm there is no coat left to protect the skin, and a wide blade overheats quickly. Body clipping belongs to the 3F, 4F, 5F or 10#; the 30W is for preparation fields and large flat areas.
Why does my 30W get hot faster than my 30#?
More teeth are in contact on every stroke, and there is very little coat to carry heat away. Oil every ten minutes, keep the blade moving, use light pressure and swap to a cool blade rather than pushing on.
Can I sharpen a 30W myself?
No. The teeth are fine, closely spaced and spread across a wider arc, and all of them must stay flat and evenly set. Use a sharpening service that works to A5 profiles; replacing the cutter is often cheaper.
What is in the box?
One matched pair: a wide full-tooth stainless steel 30W comb and one upper cutter in stainless steel or ceramic, packed together as a single piece.
Add the wide close blade to the range
Ask Ningbo FOLK Tools for a sample, the full A5 length and width chart, and a wholesale quotation for the 30W 0.5 mm pair — stainless steel wide comb, your choice of ceramic or stainless steel cutter, and your own branding.
Contact Ningbo FOLK Tools →
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