Recutting wipers: Does it make sense?
Recutting windshield wipers sounds practical – but it's risky. Find out here why it's better to replace them.Recutting wipers: Good idea or unnecessary risk?
Recutting the wipers can extend their lifetime, providing the cut is done cleanly. In many cases, however, the recut fails, the contact pressure on the windshield decreases and the missing graphite layer causes more friction: The result is a streaky wiping pattern or unpleasant noises like squeaking or rattling.
How does recutting wipers work?
Special recutting knives are available in the aftermarket which you can use to shorten your wiper blades. The knife is placed on the wiper blade and pulled downwards with light pressure removing a narrow strip of the rubber lip. If the pressure on the lip is too great or uneven, the wiper blade will not have a uniform edge, which can negatively affect the wiping result. It’s therefore better to just change your windshield wipers – they will also last for longer.
Cutting wipers: Why it isn’t a good idea
Recutting wipers may at first seem like a good way to extend the lifetime of the wiper blades, but it has some disadvantages.
Poorer wiping result
If the wiper blades are not recut cleanly, the wiping result may be worse than before. Recutting also changes the bending properties of the wiper lip and wiper edge geometry which causes the wiping pattern to deteriorate. If this happens, the wipers will need to be replaced anyway.
Missing graphite layer causes more friction
Recutting removes the thin graphite layer on the rubber lip of the wipers. This layer is mainly responsible for ensuring a low-friction gliding motion across the windshield, so even a perfectly recut wiper will never glide over the windshield as well as a new one. Wiper blades can only be recut once so their lifetime is only slightly extended.
What are the alternatives to recutting?
We strongly advise you not to recut your wipers. Even high-quality wiper blades can be obtained at a low cost these days, so it’s advisable to invest the money in a new set of wipers instead. You can actually increase the lifetime of your new wipers without recutting by looking after them properly and regularly and correctly readjusting your wiper arms from time to time.
This way you will easily get more out of your wipers and save yourself a lot of frustration and work. Above all, you can eliminate the poor results associated with recutting the wiper rubbers.
Smarttech 2.0 windshield wipers: For all kinds of weather
The Smarttech 2.0 windshield wiper from HELLA combines premium materials, graphite coating and 3-in-1 adapter for powerful wiping performance – quiet, efficient and weatherproof. For a clear view and easy installation on almost all vehicle types.
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