Grooming a rough collie - HELP!

can anyone give me information on grooming a rough collie?

I cannot afford to take her to the groomers for haircuts, but I would like to remove some hair to keep her cool this summer. She is a tri-color, so black is her predominant color and I imagine she gets hot!

I spent hours a week ago brushing her and bathing her. Exhausting!

Someone suggested I get her a "puppy cut" which they described as a short inch or so long cut. Do people do this to their collies?

And could I possibly do it to her myself with electric clippers?

HELP!!!

I've never had a collie, but I decided once, that I would buy the grooming equipment and "shave" my cocker spaniel, myself. Wrong idea!!! I bought the cheap, KMart brand, and it took four hours, and poor Kaycee looked like she had been through a bad experiment. All I can say is if you want to try yourself, I'd start with barber's scissors, and go slowly! That's what I'm doing with my Golden Retrievers now!

I know that there are others on this board who successfully groom, so heed their advice and you'll probably be fine!

A Flobee would work, assuming they are still around.