Does anyone know where to get a good set of clippers. I'm fed up with waiting months to see a groomer so I'm going to do it myself. Only problem is I don't know wheres the best place to go and what brushes I should get for my cavaliers. Any advice or tips greatly recieved.

Also thought I'd better get some book reccomendations. Don't want the little darlings looking like the kid with the bowl haorcut.

Why do you want to clip your cavaliers ? (I have four all in full coat & in the past have had five beardies all kept in full coat so I do know what it is like to have dogs with loads of coat )

Just to keep them tidy.  I don't know to much on the grooming side as I have only be owned by them for the past year (best one of my life though). The eldest often gets matts under her front paws so I assumed you need to clip them every now and again. What would you suggest as a good grooming kit for them. We have a slicker (for the puppy), comb with two different sizes and a massage brush (don't quite know why we have this!). It would be really helpful to know what other owners use.
Thanks

Two pairs of scissors should do you!!  One pair of straight and another pair of single edged thinners should keep a Cavalier tidy and looking like a Cavalier! :p

Vals right I took her advice and bought good quality scissors and the girls all look fab :)

What do you use the thinning scissors for ? I have one pair of good qual hairdressing scissors for the pads the rest doesn't need trimming

I have loads of all steel combs(Spratts), a smallest Mason Pearson brush, one slicker(cat, soft) & some shedding combs I bought in Holland that are made in the UK :) but cheaper in Holland

Oh yes & a blaster drier

Thinners are used, for a pet trim, from the throat to the sternum to give a close but natural finish. 
Some Cavaliers, especially if neutered, have thick (sometimes curly ) coats.  Thinners can help this look more correct and natural.  Clippers just give an awful "shaved" and incorrect look!
Those and a fine comb will keep a pet Cavalier neat & tidy.

I will never understand people getting a coated breed than cut it off Even my spayed Beardies(medical reasons)were never trimmed except one(the only one trimmed was 14 & had an medical condition that meant she HAD to be trimmed for the operation)

One of my boys has a huge coat & I manage it with daily grooming I'd never dream of trimming/thinning him-Did have a CH SH judge offer to show me how to "thin"my dogs in the current fashion popular with lots of show people-some even do the "thinning" at the ring side-Needless to say I did not accept the offer

Well done Moonmaiden.  If only all owners understood 'daily grooming'!! 
In a grooming parlour, only seeing dogs every 8 weeks, a little more help than just a comb is required.
As the original poster was enquiring about clippers , I thought than thinners could possibly be a compromise??

I'm with you Moonmaiden! I have two cavaliers and they're also in full coat. A daily brush and they're right as rain. If people don't want to have to groom their dogs daily why buy a long-coated breed? Makes no sense to me! You wouldn't buy a large leafed plant and them trim the leaves to half their size would you?!

Because people want the breed but do not have the time to groom daily and many of them do not know what a properly groomed dog is supposed to look like either.   It's the same thing with wire coated breeds that are supposed to be stripped - not clipped.  Why have a Westie or a Schnauzer or a Cairn if you are going to ruin its coat and appearance by clipping (sometimes downright shaving to the skin)? 

The important thing is that the dog does not mind, they don't know how they are supposed to look. 

Stacey

If they don't have the time to groom daily they don't have the time for the dog period. Especially little dogs like a cavalier, even after mine have been gardening & are going to a show the next day It only takes 3/4 of an hour from putting them in the bath to putting their drycoats on to prepare them & when mine got gardening they get really mucky. Daily grooming takes a couple of minutes-if the owner can't spare a five minutes a day for their dog they shouldn't have a dog at all

I can understand pet people trimming the slippers, but anything else & they no longer look like a cavalier especially if the ears are clipped short

As for coats that go curly after neuteringe-a lot of non neutered dogs go curly & are curly coated especially bitches as they get older-no reason for trimming & a big no no for clipping like cockers it ruins the coat forever & means they have to go on being clipper(I know a groomer who does this deliberately so that the customer has to keep bringing the dogs back)

Couldn't agree more Moonmaiden.  As a groomer, clipping Spaniels (including Cavaliers!) was against my religion!! :D  I didn't spend time and money learning to trim to breed standards to ruin dogs' coats.  As my oldies grew frail and found it difficult to stand, then their comfort was the priority.  It appears to be untrained "groomers" who are happy to shave dogs.
There are plenty of smooth coated breeds for owners who don't want to groom feathering!

Moonmaiden,

I don't agree re your view on grooming for pet owners.  Many people do not like to groom dogs.  They will happily play with the dog, take it on long walks, but grooming does not get done.   Because someone does not want to spend time grooming does not mean they do not want to spend time with their dog.  And because someone sends their dog to be clipped when it is not breed-appropriate does not make them a bad, uncaring or unsuitable pet owner.

Believe me, I understand your position.   I used to show Cairns and I cannot stand to see a Cairn that has been clipped, or, whose coat has been left untouched for years.   I just got a second Cairn and came very close to choosing another breed just because I did not want to invest more time in grooming.  So whilst my standards will probably slip a little, both my dogs will have properly groomed coats.  I would not expect that of the average pet owner.  

Stacey

As a DOG  trainer( I train dogs not owners) one of the best ways to build a relationship with your dog is the grooming so to me & many many others not liking or wanting to groom a dog is an indication of lack of care for the dog. Sorry but for a fairly low maintenance dog like a cavalier(as opposed to poodles for example)to have to go to a groomer for the average pet owner(ie not frail or disabled owner)shows a distinct lack of care

I saw a clipped-off (apart from its tail) cavalier last Saturday. I'm afraid I thought it looked very silly, and not nearly as attractive as they do with their proper coat.

I agree and I love groomimg it becomes part of my daily routine..... I do some times trim the pads with thinning scissors but thats all I know a lot of cavalier owners use coat kings but i have been advised not to :) i do have one girl who has a very heavy coat and she takes longer to groom but the results look good afterwards

Oh no I've obviously made a faux pa. We orginally took Molly to the groomers to tidy her up after her op and I assumed they used clippers. I have no intention of taking away my gorgoeus babies silky locks so don't worry I'm just a new owner who has much to learn. I do groom the girls every other day and today bought a matt splitter to get those tangles sorted. I didn't realise that their coats went curly after spayin. I did read that they developed puppy fur again but can't say Molly has. She has a thick, slightly curly, shiny coat and Freya is starting to develop the feathering now. They are fantastic!
Will definately get scissors to trim the pads thought - hope its easy enough to do!

Hi mollymoto

So glad to hear you're not going to go at your cavvie with the clippers! They're such beautiful dogs with lovely coats I hate to see ones that have been shawn to within an inch of their lives!
Mine love nothing better than a good groom and go wild when the brushes come out!

I'm sorry Stacey I think that anyone who wants a breed with a long coat must be prepared to spend the time grooming it. If you don't want to groom a dog buy one with a short coat. You wouldn't buy a long-coated cat because you want one and then clip its' fur off because you have time to smooth it but not to groom it would you? Likewise you wouldn't have kids and not wash them because you want the kids but don't have time or can't be bothered to wash them would you?

At the end of the day you buy a dog in the breed that you want and you take care of it properly and if that includes grooming a long coat, then you groom it not shave it!