Pole dancer poles......

[Jahc99]

Don't ya hate them?

All I want is a fuggin' hook in the ceiling, but most clubs seem to have these cursed slippery metal pole things, instead. They get in the way, you have all too clear an idea where they have been, and they are slippery as a very slippery thing. Oh, and yer not allowed to scratch them... so the oxi torch has to stay home Guests cannot see images in the messages. Please register to forum by clicking here to see images.

So, if one of those fanny magnet poles is the only thing you've got to rig a support point from - just something which can give you an overhead attachment point, what's the easiest, most secure way to go about it? Preferably without using a knot, but if all else fails maybe some variation on a double constrictor or something....

Brilliant ideas, even silly ones, most welcome.

[WykD_Dave]

Icicle hitch is your man for this dude.
I think the name says it all for you. It holds on smooth surfaces and even on ones that narrow.

There's plenty of other ways but this one is particularly good with a pull parallel to the poll.

[harper]

(24-02-2010 11:43 AM)WykD_Dave Wrote: Guests cannot see links in the messages. Please register to forum by clicking here to see links.even on ones that narrow.

I'm familiar with this claim for the Icicle Hitch and a couple of variants, but I've never seen convincing evidence. Last time I searched thoroughly (a few years ago, IIRC), I didn't find any video of a demonstration, and a quick look at YouTube just now found several how-to videos but none showing the hitch holding on a tapering spar, genuine icicle, etc. When I tried it for myself it didn't work, but that could of course be because I failed to tie it well enough. Have you seen it for yourself?

As for dance poles, one problem is that you don't have a free end which makes tying many friction hitches rather more difficult. The icicle hitch is easy if you have a free end, and a pain if you don't. I can remember the easy way, but I need diagrams for the hard one...

All dance poles are not the same, and an accomplished pole dancer once told me that the best ones have microscopic ridges running around them which give an improved grip under pressure but still allow easy sliding up and down with a relaxed grip, whereas cheapo ones are just highly polished. I have no idea if that's true, but I have found that friction hitches grip better on some poles than on others. But that could be just an accumulation of sweat, skin oils, etc.. on the surface. And obviously it's not a good idea to use a well-oiled rope...

Most friction hitches from the Prusik onwards rely on the load-bearing end(s) coming out through a bight and applying the full load directly across a single strand. That's a recipe for the cheese-wire effect and a dramatically reduced Safe Working Load. Therefore, if suspending off a friction hitch (and most especially if it's an inverted suspension) I think you need to pay very careful attention to the choice of rope for the friction hitch, and to back-up safety lines.

Our member BossMason is, I think, something of an expert on friction hitches. It would be good to have his input on this.

[Jahc99]

Ironic way to start a 'no-knots' bondage workshop, eh?

I see this one recommended as well... Guests cannot see links in the messages. Please register to forum by clicking here to see links.

---

By the way, @Dave - what you doing Mayday weekend? Might have a gig you'd like!

[Guilty]

I've used double prusiks in the past, works okay for me, but it is somewhat dependend on the pole.

[Shadow]

(24-02-2010 11:04 AM)Jahc99 Wrote: Guests cannot see links in the messages. Please register to forum by clicking here to see links.So, if one of those fanny magnet poles is the only thing you've got to rig a support point from - just something which can give you an overhead attachment point, what's the easiest, most secure way to go about it? Preferably without using a knot, but if all else fails maybe some variation on a double constrictor or something....

I've done suspensions and inverted self-suspensions from such things, and used a carabiner or small ring hanging from a klemheist knot, which for me was the easiest and fastest solution. Hemp ropes work better than jute as they have more grip. I've also used the Bachmann knot a couple of times too.

The main safety issue I have with poles is that I keep forgetting they're there and often bang myself against it at some point - the worst being in the head/face.

[Jahc99]

(24-02-2010 03:18 PM)Shadow Wrote: Guests cannot see links in the messages. Please register to forum by clicking here to see links.The main safety issue I have with poles is that I keep forgetting they're there and often bang myself against it at some point - the worst being in the head/face.

Thanks! And to all.

I was using one of them thar poles to tie someone to a while back, different club. And forgot the bastard thing was on a wee plinth, which I promptly fell off, several times!

[BossMason]

I like the icicle hitch and have used variants of it in a lot of my bondage. For pole hitching I tend to prefer a Klemheist immediately followed by a couple larks heads below.

However, I am wary of recommending anything for fully loading such a pole. The consistencies vary a great deal. Friction hitches "slip" by design, which is good if you're a climber and don't want to apply to much friction to your rope. However, for suspension if someone "jerks" the rope hard, especially if unweighting it a bit first, you might slip some inches or a foot. For us, that means she might hit the ground.

As a rule of thumb I'd always want a back up. Perhaps if I'd tested a lot with a specific pole I'd consider hitching onto it otherwise...maybe.

[Jahc99]

Thanks everyone - as it happened, a simple prussic was up to the job, though we didn't do a dangle off it at all, just used it as an overhead attachment point.