Everything You Need to Know About the Oster Classic 76 Blade Set

Question:

Which is the best professional, detachable clipper for barbers today?

Well, any experience barber will say:

The Oster Classic 76.

And, make no mistake, there are tons of perks to back this choice.

Now:

When you look at a clipper, there are a number of things you want it to have.

For example:

  • A powerful and efficient motor.
  • Strong, sharp, and durable blades.
  • Comfortable design.
  • A reliable taper lever.
  • And a lengthy power cord for added flexibility just to mention a few.

Looking at all the Oster Classic 76 Hair Clipper, it’s safe to say that it fulfills almost all of the above requirements.

Anyway, we’ll cover more about this amazing clippers merits in a full hair clipper review.

But:

For now, let’s look at the classic 76 blades and what makes them special.

In this post, I’ll walk you through:

  • The basic stuff about these blades
  • Actual sizes in the form of a detailed Oster Classic 76 blade size chart.
  • How to use Oster 76 clipper blades.

Here’s what you need to know:

Understanding the Basics about Oster Classic 76 Blades

Now:

If you are familiar with Oster 76 blades, you know that they offer unrivaled precision and durability.

These blades often come in numerous sizes; each offering different length haircuts. And, in most cases, the Oster 76 blade set is ideal for short haircut lengths.

Normally:

This clipper will come with two – commonly used – detachable clipper blades; size #000 (or 0.5mm) and #1 (or 2.4mm).

However, you can buy more of this clipper’s blade sizes separately.

In total, there are 14 different sizes of Oster Classic 76 blades.

Amazing, right?

Well, these numerous sizes often make learning how to fade with Oster 76 a walk in the park.

In terms of durability and strength, Classic 76 blades deserve a gold medal.

Why?

Well, most Oster clipper blades are CryogenX blades.

And if you are asking:

How is that a good thing?

CryogenX blades are the latest technology of Oster clipper blades that come with a protective, corrosion-resistant coating and a silver-based, hygienic, anti-microbial compound that protects the blades from mold, bacteria, and mildew.

Impressive? Yes!

However, before you decide to buy extra Oster Classic 76 blades, prepare to spend heftily as each size costs around $25

A little pricey in my opinion.

Aside from the price, the other major demerit about these blades is that you have to detach and attach blades whenever you want to switch to a longer or shorter size.

Switching is not only time consuming (compared to clippers with taper levers) but also inconvenient at times.

Also:

You should note that the Classic 76 uses almost the same blade sizes as all other Oster clippers.

With that in mind…

I bet you are wondering; what other blade sizes exist for the Oster 76 aside from the standard #000 and #1?

If that’s true, this next chapter is for you…

Oster 76 Blades Explained: Detailed Sizes Chart

As mentioned above, there are 14 different sizes of detachable clipper blades for the Oster 76. You can find either of them on major online stores like Amazon and eBay easily.

Anyway, here’s how the Classic 76 Oster blade chart looks like:

Oster Classic 76 Blade numberSize in Millimeters (mm)Size in Inches (“)
#000000.21/125
#00000.251/100
#0000.51/50
Modified #0A0.51/50
#0A1.23/64
#12.43/32
#1A3.21/8
#1 1/245/32
#26.31/4
#3 1/29.53/8
#3 3/412.7½
Flattop T0.51/50
18 Skiptooth3.21/8
Texturing Blade3.21/8

From the Classic 76 Oster clippers blade chart above, a few things are clear:

  1. Blade numbers #00000 to #000 are the best Oster 76 blades for fade cuts.
  2. This Oster detachable blade set is designed to cut extremely short haircuts.
  3. Blade #000 and the modified #0A are of the same size.
  4. The #3 3/4 allows you to cut hair half an inch long without using Oster clipper guards.
  5. You also get special-purpose clipper blades; like the 18 Skiptooth, Texturing, and Flattop T.

What Makes These Blades Special?

Well, for starters, they are quite durable, reliable, cooler, sharper, and stronger.

That means that you get great value for your money when you buy these Oster blades.

And that’s not all…

You also get to choose from 14 different Oster blade sizes.

Naturally, you may be tempted to buy all these Oster clipper blade sizes.

But:

Remember that it will set you back a few hundred bucks.

To be on the safe side, consider buying the most necessary blade sizes first. Then you can buy the rest – one-by-one – as time goes by.

Pro Tip:

Always have back up blades.

Having at least one spare blade will save you the stress and inconveniences that may arise if you accidentally drop and break your Oster detachable blades when you need them most. 

It happens.

So, it’s only wise to prepare for such an outcome; having Oster replacement blades on standby will give you peace of mind.

Anyway:

For barbers who want to use their Classic 76 clippers to cut longer hair lengths, you can opt for Oster guide combs; it’s a cheaper alternative to buying Oster clippers blades.

Obviously, if you own this clipper, you know that it doesn’t come with Oster classic 76 guards.

Luckily:

You can get Oster 76 guards online too.

In total, you’ll get at least ten standard Oster clipper guards sizes; with sizes ranging between #0 (1/16”) and #10 (1 1/4″).

The biggest difference in an Oster 76 blades vs guards comparison would be that blades are ideal for very short haircuts and guards are for longer cuts.

Now:

Before you can call yourself a professor of Oster Classic 76 blades, here’s something else you need to know:

How to Use Oster 76 Clipper Blades.

As we wrap up on this, it’s only fair to show you how to attach and detach your Oster 76 blades.

It’s quite easy and fast to achieve; just a few steps and you’ll be done.

Here’s a YouTube video for those who’d love a more practical explanation:

Turn On the Clipper

Replacing clipper blades on the Oster Classic 76 is always best done with the clipper running. That way your blades and your clippers’ armature will come into contact without any issues.

Snap the Blade Outward from the Top

Detachable clipper blades are often held by a latch that easily releases when the right amount of pressure is applied. Once the latch has released, simply slide out the blade.

Do Some Cleaning

Use your clipper brush to clean out any debris and loose hairs off your clipper. That ensures that your clipper is free of obstacles that may limit its performance and durability.

Slide In the New Blade

This step should be the exact opposite of step two above. You’ll have to slide on the blade into the armature lever. And once that’s done, gently press the top of the blade inward. A snap sound will be a clear indicator that the clipper blade has been attached to the latch and is ready for work.

And that’s a wrap…

I hope this in-depth guide on Oster 76 clipper blades has been helpful.

You now know everything you need to know about Oster Classic 76 blades; including their sizes and how to use them.

Did I leave something out?

If so, feel free to mention it in the comments section below.

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Comments

Faisal Syed Hussain Faisal Syed Hussain

If I buy a set of guards, which blade should they be put on?
I have an Oster Classic 76 btw.

Barber Mike Barber Mike

Hi Faisal,

Thank you for visiting WiseBarber. First of all, make sure you check out my post on clipper guards and blades sizes (if you haven't) because it outlines so much about how guards and blades can be used together to achieve quality haircuts. But if you are in a hurry, here's a quick recap of what you need to know:

First, you already know that the Oster Classic 76 is a detachable blade hair clipper. That means that you switch through blade sizes by removing and replacing the blades instead of adjusting a taper lever like you'd do on an Oster Fast Feed. But one thing you should note is that all Classic 76 blades come with the same dimensions (i.e. length, width, height, and shape); the only difference between them is usually the length of the blade's teeth. Fun fact - the size of the teeth determines how close or long the blades will cut hair i.e. shorter teeth cut the closest and vice versa.

Now, since all Oster Classic 76 blades have the same shape and physical size (remember, only the length of the blades' teeth will differ), you can fit any guard size to any blade depending on your length preferences and as long as your guards were designed to fit on this clipper. To better understand this, let's use a quick example:

If you are looking for a 17mm-long haircut, there are no clipper guards that cut that exact size. In fact, your closest option will be the #5 (16mm) clipper guard. And in doing so, you won't get the 17mm cut you were aiming for. This is where clipper guides and blades combinations come in. You can get a 17mm-long haircut by combining the #4 (13mm) guide comb with a #1 1/2 (4mm) blades. Get it?

Therefore, how you choose to combine your guards to Oster 76's clipper blades will depend on the size/length of hair you want. And the best part is that you can use the information on my Clipper Guard Sizes post to get your ideal size combination. All you need to make sure is that you have the correct blade size, plus, attachment combs designed for this specific clipper and you'll be good to go.

I hope this proves useful to you, Faisal. If you still have a question, don't hesitate to ask. I'll be more than happy to assist.
Have an awesome day.

Mike.

Barry Keene Barry Keene

On attaching a blade: What is wrong when the lever is so tightly down (no space) and the blade slot can’t get under and around it?

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