<![CDATA[ForumBondage - All Forums]]> http://www.forumbondage.com/bforum/ Fri, 18 May 2012 20:39:42 +0000 MyBB <![CDATA[Cutting synthetic rope]]> http://www.forumbondage.com/bforum/showthread.php?tid=1823 Sat, 21 Apr 2012 12:45:20 +0000 http://www.forumbondage.com/bforum/showthread.php?tid=1823
The best laid plans of mice and men......and I did it today Saturday.

I was with another Dom during the week attending to my slave Samantha and I remarked between flogger strokes that the rope had arrived and I was about to cut it. The Dom remarked that he had enormous problems with the cut ends forming a blob which was frequently sharp and dangerous to rigger and bunny alike.

Now I am not new to rope, I was yachtsman for many years and actually built one and rigged it myself so I am familiar with cutting synthetic rope.

If you visit a chandler, they will have a rope cutter based on a thin, sharp blade and heat so the rope is both cut and heat sealed quickly and without undue melting which forms the blob.

My first method duplicates the chandler's method using a normal kitchen environment.

Now the disclaimer. Your wife might not be very happy if you use her knives for this and most charity shops acquire but cannot sell knives so are a good source of cheap knives.

At the same time you are dealing with sharp objects and hot molten plastic both of which can be very dangerous to you, so as they say on Blue Peter and other DIY programmes 'don't try this at home' without taking all due care for your safety and make sure that you are alone or with another sentient adult who understands what you are trying to do.

Rather than list the tools needed I have done a series of captioned photos to explain.

First the problem on a spare piece of 6mm braided

.jpg  Rope10.JPG (Size: 73.86 KB / Downloads: 3)

Next my use of the acquired knife and a modellers vice ( I did mention I am a keen modeller? No? Well £5 bought me this Chinese vice )

.jpg  Rope.JPG (Size: 66.29 KB / Downloads: 6)

Note that it is literally parked in the gas flame. You can use it there but it is better to pick it up. Smoke alarms will go off during this process!

Now the raw material

.jpg  Rope (2).JPG (Size: 110.85 KB / Downloads: 2)

All laid out and quartered so three cuts to make plus one more to halve a length. I ordered 30 metres.

Using the hot and sharpened knife on a heat resistant surface or chopping board gives this

.jpg  Rope3.JPG (Size: 78.29 KB / Downloads: 4)

This is by far the worst and leads me neatly onto another method which still uses heat but doesn't require ruining a knife like this


.jpg  Rope12.JPG (Size: 177.1 KB / Downloads: 6)

This is divorce country!

Take this worst end and use heat shrink sleeving bought at Maplins

Cut to length


.jpg  Rope5.JPG (Size: 96.96 KB / Downloads: 4)
.jpg  Rope6.JPG (Size: 215.41 KB / Downloads: 3)

Then apply heat


.jpg  Rope7.JPG (Size: 77.71 KB / Downloads: 3)

Then take a serrated and very very sharp knife and saw through the rope and the shrunk sleeve. Don't forget the chopping board and make sure the knife is level level and upright.


.jpg  Rope8.JPG (Size: 170.3 KB / Downloads: 4)
.jpg  Rope15.JPG (Size: 123.26 KB / Downloads: 6)

Et voilá. Two methods.

The heat sealed method is durable if the end is literally smeared across the hot blade but will not take kindly to being crushed or stepped on on a hard surface. The sleeve method can and does make a hard place on the end of the rope but adds little or no weight.

If you don't want to use heat at all you will need to whip twice using waxed twine and then cut very carefully with a very sharp shear or knife just above both whippings. Whippings done carefully will survive the rope. Mine were as good as new after 12 years of use on a yacht.

If the rope end fails and starts to unravel you will need to start again from scratch]]>
The best laid plans of mice and men......and I did it today Saturday.

I was with another Dom during the week attending to my slave Samantha and I remarked between flogger strokes that the rope had arrived and I was about to cut it. The Dom remarked that he had enormous problems with the cut ends forming a blob which was frequently sharp and dangerous to rigger and bunny alike.

Now I am not new to rope, I was yachtsman for many years and actually built one and rigged it myself so I am familiar with cutting synthetic rope.

If you visit a chandler, they will have a rope cutter based on a thin, sharp blade and heat so the rope is both cut and heat sealed quickly and without undue melting which forms the blob.

My first method duplicates the chandler's method using a normal kitchen environment.

Now the disclaimer. Your wife might not be very happy if you use her knives for this and most charity shops acquire but cannot sell knives so are a good source of cheap knives.

At the same time you are dealing with sharp objects and hot molten plastic both of which can be very dangerous to you, so as they say on Blue Peter and other DIY programmes 'don't try this at home' without taking all due care for your safety and make sure that you are alone or with another sentient adult who understands what you are trying to do.

Rather than list the tools needed I have done a series of captioned photos to explain.

First the problem on a spare piece of 6mm braided

.jpg  Rope10.JPG (Size: 73.86 KB / Downloads: 3)

Next my use of the acquired knife and a modellers vice ( I did mention I am a keen modeller? No? Well £5 bought me this Chinese vice )

.jpg  Rope.JPG (Size: 66.29 KB / Downloads: 6)

Note that it is literally parked in the gas flame. You can use it there but it is better to pick it up. Smoke alarms will go off during this process!

Now the raw material

.jpg  Rope (2).JPG (Size: 110.85 KB / Downloads: 2)

All laid out and quartered so three cuts to make plus one more to halve a length. I ordered 30 metres.

Using the hot and sharpened knife on a heat resistant surface or chopping board gives this

.jpg  Rope3.JPG (Size: 78.29 KB / Downloads: 4)

This is by far the worst and leads me neatly onto another method which still uses heat but doesn't require ruining a knife like this


.jpg  Rope12.JPG (Size: 177.1 KB / Downloads: 6)

This is divorce country!

Take this worst end and use heat shrink sleeving bought at Maplins

Cut to length


.jpg  Rope5.JPG (Size: 96.96 KB / Downloads: 4)
.jpg  Rope6.JPG (Size: 215.41 KB / Downloads: 3)

Then apply heat


.jpg  Rope7.JPG (Size: 77.71 KB / Downloads: 3)

Then take a serrated and very very sharp knife and saw through the rope and the shrunk sleeve. Don't forget the chopping board and make sure the knife is level level and upright.


.jpg  Rope8.JPG (Size: 170.3 KB / Downloads: 4)
.jpg  Rope15.JPG (Size: 123.26 KB / Downloads: 6)

Et voilá. Two methods.

The heat sealed method is durable if the end is literally smeared across the hot blade but will not take kindly to being crushed or stepped on on a hard surface. The sleeve method can and does make a hard place on the end of the rope but adds little or no weight.

If you don't want to use heat at all you will need to whip twice using waxed twine and then cut very carefully with a very sharp shear or knife just above both whippings. Whippings done carefully will survive the rope. Mine were as good as new after 12 years of use on a yacht.

If the rope end fails and starts to unravel you will need to start again from scratch]]> <![CDATA[More TK tecniques on youtube]]> http://www.forumbondage.com/bforum/showthread.php?tid=1818 Mon, 16 Apr 2012 09:06:19 +0000 http://www.forumbondage.com/bforum/showthread.php?tid=1818 Guests cannot see links in the messages. Please register to forum by clicking here to see links.
Enjoy - Guests cannot see images in the messages. Please register to forum by clicking here to see images.]]> Guests cannot see links in the messages. Please register to forum by clicking here to see links.
Enjoy - Guests cannot see images in the messages. Please register to forum by clicking here to see images.]]> <![CDATA["Finding a Rope Partner" returns!]]> http://www.forumbondage.com/bforum/showthread.php?tid=1817 Fri, 13 Apr 2012 23:39:09 +0000 http://www.forumbondage.com/bforum/showthread.php?tid=1817
I've recovered the text from the html code for that site, and here it is again. Several people have told me that they found it helpful in the early stages.

Finding a rope partner can be the hardest thing of all.

There's no point in just waiting for him or her to fall into your lap. It isn't going to happen. You have to get out there and find ways to meet the right kind of people.

But you are very lucky. Rope bondage may not be completely in the mainstream yet, but it's much more understood and appreciated than it was just a few decades ago when the very suggestion of wanting to tie your girlfriend (or etc.) up would be enough to send her off screaming "Pervert!!!" Believe me, I know.

There are munches (local meetings of interested people), and it's not hard to find them on the internet. Plus BDSM-friendly social networking sites like FetLife and Informed Consent (UK only). All of those give you ways to meet people with the same interests - but in the end you have to get out there and meet them in person. That's the hardest part - to tell somebody else what it is you want to do. But surprisingly often, once you've got over that barrier, it's downhill all the way. There has been a social revolution in attitudes to BDSM in general and to bondage in particular. All you need is the confidence and the guts to say it!

On the other side, don't overplay your hand. If you really are a beginner don't call yourself "Master XXX" and make out you're a big expert. People who know will see through that straight away. Be honest, be direct, be straightforward. The rope partners are out there, and they want to be found. All you have to do is find them.]]>
I've recovered the text from the html code for that site, and here it is again. Several people have told me that they found it helpful in the early stages.

Finding a rope partner can be the hardest thing of all.

There's no point in just waiting for him or her to fall into your lap. It isn't going to happen. You have to get out there and find ways to meet the right kind of people.

But you are very lucky. Rope bondage may not be completely in the mainstream yet, but it's much more understood and appreciated than it was just a few decades ago when the very suggestion of wanting to tie your girlfriend (or etc.) up would be enough to send her off screaming "Pervert!!!" Believe me, I know.

There are munches (local meetings of interested people), and it's not hard to find them on the internet. Plus BDSM-friendly social networking sites like FetLife and Informed Consent (UK only). All of those give you ways to meet people with the same interests - but in the end you have to get out there and meet them in person. That's the hardest part - to tell somebody else what it is you want to do. But surprisingly often, once you've got over that barrier, it's downhill all the way. There has been a social revolution in attitudes to BDSM in general and to bondage in particular. All you need is the confidence and the guts to say it!

On the other side, don't overplay your hand. If you really are a beginner don't call yourself "Master XXX" and make out you're a big expert. People who know will see through that straight away. Be honest, be direct, be straightforward. The rope partners are out there, and they want to be found. All you have to do is find them.]]> <![CDATA[Signing up]]> http://www.forumbondage.com/bforum/showthread.php?tid=1815 Thu, 12 Apr 2012 23:52:40 +0000 http://www.forumbondage.com/bforum/showthread.php?tid=1815
Since I disabled the registration page and required new members to email me, the rate of new sign-ups has fallen dramatically. Or perhaps a better way of looking at it is that it has shown just how high a proportion of our earlier sign-ups were not genuine people despite our best defences against spammers and spambots.

However, four days ago I received an email to the right address, with a likely username in the subject line - all as it should be for a new member. But the content was just this:

"I secretly love internet cat memes."

That doesn't meet the requirements ("Tell us something about your interest in bondage, or something in the news, or anything to prove you aren't a spambot!") as it's the kind of random phrase that could easily be generated by a bot.

I replied to the email like this:

"Sorry, but that's not enough to get you in. Please visit <http://www.forumbondage.com/bforum/member.php?action=register>, read the message in the blue box at the top of the page, and try again.

Also, please name two fruits and the colours associated with them.

I don't want to be unnecessarily difficult, but we do need to keep spambots out."

Nothing has come back yet. Either it is a bot, or somebody having a laugh, or possibly it's a real human potential member who just got it wrong and is now too offended to put the mistake right...

That's the problem. I have no way of knowing how many people may be put off by the need to apply for membership by personal email rather than by an impersonal web form. At least this way you don't have to grapple with an indecipherable CAPTCHA...

If anyone has any insights to offer - particularly people who have joined through the direct email route - I'd be interested to know about them - either here or via PM or email.]]>
Since I disabled the registration page and required new members to email me, the rate of new sign-ups has fallen dramatically. Or perhaps a better way of looking at it is that it has shown just how high a proportion of our earlier sign-ups were not genuine people despite our best defences against spammers and spambots.

However, four days ago I received an email to the right address, with a likely username in the subject line - all as it should be for a new member. But the content was just this:

"I secretly love internet cat memes."

That doesn't meet the requirements ("Tell us something about your interest in bondage, or something in the news, or anything to prove you aren't a spambot!") as it's the kind of random phrase that could easily be generated by a bot.

I replied to the email like this:

"Sorry, but that's not enough to get you in. Please visit <http://www.forumbondage.com/bforum/member.php?action=register>, read the message in the blue box at the top of the page, and try again.

Also, please name two fruits and the colours associated with them.

I don't want to be unnecessarily difficult, but we do need to keep spambots out."

Nothing has come back yet. Either it is a bot, or somebody having a laugh, or possibly it's a real human potential member who just got it wrong and is now too offended to put the mistake right...

That's the problem. I have no way of knowing how many people may be put off by the need to apply for membership by personal email rather than by an impersonal web form. At least this way you don't have to grapple with an indecipherable CAPTCHA...

If anyone has any insights to offer - particularly people who have joined through the direct email route - I'd be interested to know about them - either here or via PM or email.]]> <![CDATA[Suspending / TK variations for ppl with shoulder problems?]]> http://www.forumbondage.com/bforum/showthread.php?tid=1810 Sun, 01 Apr 2012 19:37:46 +0000 http://www.forumbondage.com/bforum/showthread.php?tid=1810 It seems that more and more, the girls I know have shoulder issues - previous dislocations make them more prone to injury. The box tie is pretty tough on a girl with a delicate shoulder, especially when you add the tension of incorporating a hard point, either for floor play or suspensions. Is there any advice for a suspension - worthy chest harness that leaves the arms free, but will not sacrifice the ability to breath too much? I know there is a thread about arms-free harnesses that has a lot of useful info, but does anyone have any specific ideas, thoughts, or ties?

Thanks!
OO]]> It seems that more and more, the girls I know have shoulder issues - previous dislocations make them more prone to injury. The box tie is pretty tough on a girl with a delicate shoulder, especially when you add the tension of incorporating a hard point, either for floor play or suspensions. Is there any advice for a suspension - worthy chest harness that leaves the arms free, but will not sacrifice the ability to breath too much? I know there is a thread about arms-free harnesses that has a lot of useful info, but does anyone have any specific ideas, thoughts, or ties?

Thanks!
OO]]> <![CDATA[Prime minister is planning a "pervs fee"]]> http://www.forumbondage.com/bforum/showthread.php?tid=1809 Sun, 01 Apr 2012 12:31:27 +0000 http://www.forumbondage.com/bforum/showthread.php?tid=1809
News Wrote:After supporting the plans to widen the CC-TV and internet surveillance campaigns as a way to secure the citizens, prime minister David Cameron is now making the next step to restrict the freedom.

Quoting the deadly bondage incident in Italy last year as an example, Cameron have a "very basic" idea, for making BDSM less attrative to possible participants.

The concept is targeting at the customers money and can be simplified called a "pervs fee" - an additional charge for BDSM-related products, like whips, to decrease the popularity of "dangerous forms of sadomasochism and fetishism"

Of course there are already protests, even Cameron re-emphasises this concept as a "very basic idea".

Members of the National Coalition For Sexual Freedom are quoted, they are ready to file a lawsuit against the plans of a pervs fee.

Ok, hope this was of interest - while it stays unclear if ropes in general are "related to BDSM" or if they have to be treated for bondage, before classified as an object. Your opinion]]>
News Wrote:After supporting the plans to widen the CC-TV and internet surveillance campaigns as a way to secure the citizens, prime minister David Cameron is now making the next step to restrict the freedom.

Quoting the deadly bondage incident in Italy last year as an example, Cameron have a "very basic" idea, for making BDSM less attrative to possible participants.

The concept is targeting at the customers money and can be simplified called a "pervs fee" - an additional charge for BDSM-related products, like whips, to decrease the popularity of "dangerous forms of sadomasochism and fetishism"

Of course there are already protests, even Cameron re-emphasises this concept as a "very basic idea".

Members of the National Coalition For Sexual Freedom are quoted, they are ready to file a lawsuit against the plans of a pervs fee.

Ok, hope this was of interest - while it stays unclear if ropes in general are "related to BDSM" or if they have to be treated for bondage, before classified as an object. Your opinion]]> <![CDATA[RIP, JD]]> http://www.forumbondage.com/bforum/showthread.php?tid=1808 Sat, 31 Mar 2012 16:56:11 +0000 http://www.forumbondage.com/bforum/showthread.php?tid=1808
If you run something like a bondage paysite you get email from all sorts of people. Some of them are fans, some are people who want to model, most are from people offering help with photography or web design etc. etc.. Those are usually from people who really want to wheedle a free membership or even to get to a shoot because they think it'll be a lot more exciting than it actually is (a lot of hard work!), and I had already learned to keep that type at arm's length. And some of the emails, of course, are plain abusive...

This particular one had something different. For a start, it was literate and polite. The author - I later came to know him as "JD" - said he liked my work, that I was "living the dream", and that he would like to do something similar and did I have any advice on finding models?

The rest of the story is at the link below. JD became an invaluable part of Convolvulus, and he was at most of our best shoots for years until it became more difficult for him in the last couple of years. Last time we met was over a pub lunch last autumn, as I was starting to organise the series of shoots with Adreena in October for "The Book". By that time Grahamelx had appeared on the scene and very capably taken over JD's "Production Assistant" role and added some other skills as well.

Towards the end of last year JD was diagnosed with advanced pancreatic cancer, and today I learned that he lost his fight against it earlier this month.

I never knew a great deal about him outside what we did with Convolvulus, but he made a very valuable contribution to the project. Partly just by doing the boring business of keeping the ropes under control and the sets tidy, but more so by setting a good atmosphere and keeping the models happy and involved. He was a sounding-board for my ideas, always able to see when something was developing well and when a plan wasn't going quite right. And he had a knack for giving the model an idea that would lift her contribution to another level. On top of that, if he hadn't helped to finance a couple of shoots with a small loan when we were going through a bad patch, Convolvulus would have shut down long before it did! Fortunately we were able to repay that not too long afterwards.

He was a good and kind man, and I'd love to do another shoot with him, but it can't happen now. I know he took away good memories of the ones we did do, and the models really appreciated his contributions.



You can read some of JD's writing about our shoots on the Convolvulus Free site Guests cannot see links in the messages. Please register to forum by clicking here to see links. - you need to follow the links in the right-hand navigation menu to explore all of that section. Unfortunately the references to the main paysite are now out-of-date. I really must get around to re-designing the free site...]]>
If you run something like a bondage paysite you get email from all sorts of people. Some of them are fans, some are people who want to model, most are from people offering help with photography or web design etc. etc.. Those are usually from people who really want to wheedle a free membership or even to get to a shoot because they think it'll be a lot more exciting than it actually is (a lot of hard work!), and I had already learned to keep that type at arm's length. And some of the emails, of course, are plain abusive...

This particular one had something different. For a start, it was literate and polite. The author - I later came to know him as "JD" - said he liked my work, that I was "living the dream", and that he would like to do something similar and did I have any advice on finding models?

The rest of the story is at the link below. JD became an invaluable part of Convolvulus, and he was at most of our best shoots for years until it became more difficult for him in the last couple of years. Last time we met was over a pub lunch last autumn, as I was starting to organise the series of shoots with Adreena in October for "The Book". By that time Grahamelx had appeared on the scene and very capably taken over JD's "Production Assistant" role and added some other skills as well.

Towards the end of last year JD was diagnosed with advanced pancreatic cancer, and today I learned that he lost his fight against it earlier this month.

I never knew a great deal about him outside what we did with Convolvulus, but he made a very valuable contribution to the project. Partly just by doing the boring business of keeping the ropes under control and the sets tidy, but more so by setting a good atmosphere and keeping the models happy and involved. He was a sounding-board for my ideas, always able to see when something was developing well and when a plan wasn't going quite right. And he had a knack for giving the model an idea that would lift her contribution to another level. On top of that, if he hadn't helped to finance a couple of shoots with a small loan when we were going through a bad patch, Convolvulus would have shut down long before it did! Fortunately we were able to repay that not too long afterwards.

He was a good and kind man, and I'd love to do another shoot with him, but it can't happen now. I know he took away good memories of the ones we did do, and the models really appreciated his contributions.



You can read some of JD's writing about our shoots on the Convolvulus Free site Guests cannot see links in the messages. Please register to forum by clicking here to see links. - you need to follow the links in the right-hand navigation menu to explore all of that section. Unfortunately the references to the main paysite are now out-of-date. I really must get around to re-designing the free site...]]> <![CDATA[Help figuring out a specific form]]> http://www.forumbondage.com/bforum/showthread.php?tid=1806 Sun, 18 Mar 2012 21:13:17 +0000 http://www.forumbondage.com/bforum/showthread.php?tid=1806
In page 4 of Douglas Kent's Vol 2 of Complete Shibari there is a picture of a girl hanging from a single knee tie. I will figure this one out eventually, however if anyone has any experience with this, or a similar tie, i would appreciate any thoughts, comments, or advice.

Thanks!
OO]]>
In page 4 of Douglas Kent's Vol 2 of Complete Shibari there is a picture of a girl hanging from a single knee tie. I will figure this one out eventually, however if anyone has any experience with this, or a similar tie, i would appreciate any thoughts, comments, or advice.

Thanks!
OO]]> <![CDATA[Where to post]]> http://www.forumbondage.com/bforum/showthread.php?tid=1805 Tue, 13 Mar 2012 18:05:23 +0000 http://www.forumbondage.com/bforum/showthread.php?tid=1805 It gets people feeling involved and can start a conversation.

We know it can be a bit difficult to find your way around the ARCHIVES at first and to decide where to begin - as a new member just wrote: "this forum's information density is overwhelming..."

That's part of the reason for NOW > POST HERE. That is always an OK place to post on any topic. Well, any on-topic topic!

We don't expect newcomers to the Forum to be completely familiar with the structure of the ARCHIVES. It's the business of the Forum Management Team (admin/harper and the three moderators) to worry about that kind of thing. We will deal with filing posts in the right places, you don't have to think about it.

Here's a little guide to some of the main places:

NOW > POST HERE
For any bondage-related topic. We'll move the posts to the proper places sooner or later.

ARCHIVES > CHAT > INTRODUCTIONS
Good for "Hello" posts.

ARCHIVES > CHAT > BONDAGE
Good for posts that don't really fit anywhere else.

ARCHIVES > CHAT > OPEN
For non-bondage topics or "fringe" bondage topics likely to be of interest to at least some of the people here, or - within reason - any topic that a member here feels like sounding off about.

GETTING STARTED
Beginner-level only.

ARCHIVES / CHAT / BONDAGE / Show it off - photos!
This very long thread is the main place where people like to post photos of their ropework or of themselves in somebody else's rope.

So now you can get posting!

Or, if you prefer, just lurk. Nothing wrong with that. But it would be good to hear from you.]]> It gets people feeling involved and can start a conversation.

We know it can be a bit difficult to find your way around the ARCHIVES at first and to decide where to begin - as a new member just wrote: "this forum's information density is overwhelming..."

That's part of the reason for NOW > POST HERE. That is always an OK place to post on any topic. Well, any on-topic topic!

We don't expect newcomers to the Forum to be completely familiar with the structure of the ARCHIVES. It's the business of the Forum Management Team (admin/harper and the three moderators) to worry about that kind of thing. We will deal with filing posts in the right places, you don't have to think about it.

Here's a little guide to some of the main places:

NOW > POST HERE
For any bondage-related topic. We'll move the posts to the proper places sooner or later.

ARCHIVES > CHAT > INTRODUCTIONS
Good for "Hello" posts.

ARCHIVES > CHAT > BONDAGE
Good for posts that don't really fit anywhere else.

ARCHIVES > CHAT > OPEN
For non-bondage topics or "fringe" bondage topics likely to be of interest to at least some of the people here, or - within reason - any topic that a member here feels like sounding off about.

GETTING STARTED
Beginner-level only.

ARCHIVES / CHAT / BONDAGE / Show it off - photos!
This very long thread is the main place where people like to post photos of their ropework or of themselves in somebody else's rope.

So now you can get posting!

Or, if you prefer, just lurk. Nothing wrong with that. But it would be good to hear from you.]]> <![CDATA[BOUND: Rope jam session]]> http://www.forumbondage.com/bforum/showthread.php?tid=1803 Thu, 08 Mar 2012 21:54:13 +0000 http://www.forumbondage.com/bforum/showthread.php?tid=1803 Sunday 8 April
8pm till late





Bound is a show and social night for shibari fans at the Flying Dutchman, near my studio in South London. The FDL is a fantastic new venue that recently hosted the official Torture Garden after-party. It is a historic London pub, whose interior has been completely restyled with fabulous décor including dungeon, wet room and medical room. The main area, which is the part we will be using, is a cosy wood-panelled bar with a stage, large projection screen and heated courtyard smoking area.

There will be several performances or ‘jam sessions’ throughout the evening by Nina, both as model and rigger, and I, plus other invited artists. In between, there will be opportunities for others to jump on stage to showcase their work. There are many aspiring performers and others whose talents deserve to be shared. Thanks to groups like Hitching Bitches, I am delighted to see more skilled female riggers and I hope this will become a platform for them. However, it is not intended to be a rope ‘free for all’ as we feel that performers might be disturbed if people are playing during shows. We hope to create an atmosphere conducive to all styles, whether they be flashy ‘circus bondage’ or quiet intense floor-work sessions.

Bound will usually be on the first Friday of the month. Due to the Bank Holiday, the first one will be on Sunday. £8 early bird PayPal tickets until Sun 25th of March, £13 PayPal tickets until Thu 29th and £15 tickets at the door on the day. To book, Guests cannot see links in the messages. Please register to forum by clicking here to see links.

The Flying Dutchman
156 Wells Way, Camberwell, London SE5 7SY]]> Sunday 8 April
8pm till late





Bound is a show and social night for shibari fans at the Flying Dutchman, near my studio in South London. The FDL is a fantastic new venue that recently hosted the official Torture Garden after-party. It is a historic London pub, whose interior has been completely restyled with fabulous décor including dungeon, wet room and medical room. The main area, which is the part we will be using, is a cosy wood-panelled bar with a stage, large projection screen and heated courtyard smoking area.

There will be several performances or ‘jam sessions’ throughout the evening by Nina, both as model and rigger, and I, plus other invited artists. In between, there will be opportunities for others to jump on stage to showcase their work. There are many aspiring performers and others whose talents deserve to be shared. Thanks to groups like Hitching Bitches, I am delighted to see more skilled female riggers and I hope this will become a platform for them. However, it is not intended to be a rope ‘free for all’ as we feel that performers might be disturbed if people are playing during shows. We hope to create an atmosphere conducive to all styles, whether they be flashy ‘circus bondage’ or quiet intense floor-work sessions.

Bound will usually be on the first Friday of the month. Due to the Bank Holiday, the first one will be on Sunday. £8 early bird PayPal tickets until Sun 25th of March, £13 PayPal tickets until Thu 29th and £15 tickets at the door on the day. To book, Guests cannot see links in the messages. Please register to forum by clicking here to see links.

The Flying Dutchman
156 Wells Way, Camberwell, London SE5 7SY]]> <![CDATA[Thanks!]]> http://www.forumbondage.com/bforum/showthread.php?tid=1801 Wed, 07 Mar 2012 14:51:48 +0000 http://www.forumbondage.com/bforum/showthread.php?tid=1801
It's now fixed. Unfortunately things do go wrong occasionally, and something that used to work doesn't any longer.

We can usually fix these problems, but only if we know about them! So do please report anything you come across that doesn't work as it should.

The [Contact Us] button in the footer is the easiest way to do it.]]>
It's now fixed. Unfortunately things do go wrong occasionally, and something that used to work doesn't any longer.

We can usually fix these problems, but only if we know about them! So do please report anything you come across that doesn't work as it should.

The [Contact Us] button in the footer is the easiest way to do it.]]> <![CDATA[Nerve injury in forward bend]]> http://www.forumbondage.com/bforum/showthread.php?tid=1800 Wed, 07 Mar 2012 01:56:14 +0000 http://www.forumbondage.com/bforum/showthread.php?tid=1800 Guests cannot see links in the messages. Please register to forum by clicking here to see links. for FL members.

The tie was an extreme forward bend Guests cannot see links in the messages. Please register to forum by clicking here to see links. on FetLife and Guests cannot see links in the messages. Please register to forum by clicking here to see links. for everybody else. This is the "Ebi" torture position from the historical origins of shibari, apart from the arms being outstretched rather than in the box tie position. Being tied into such a position for any length of time is extremely demanding in several respects, and the rigger was obviously aware of that. Nevertheless he says "total time with her legs in that position was probably around 15-20 minutes, with maybe 10-15 of those in the full forward bend."

IMO that's a good deal longer than is wise, although much depends on the individual model and her experience and ability to cope with very demanding ties.

The problem that arose was numbness from just above the knees down to the ankles, and tingling in the front of both legs that lasted for several days after the shoot.

The main point that emerges from a lot of discussion is that nerve damage can be caused by compression from surrounding tissues e.g. muscles. It doesn't necessarily need impingement against bone (as in the classic upper-arm radial nerve suspension injury) to produce some problems.

It's important to realise that extreme forward-bend positions are risky. They seriously restrict breathing (positional asphyxia risk), may cause nerve damage in the upper leg area through compression and restricted blood flow, and may cause all sorts of musculo-skeletal problems afterwards. Take great care, communicate communicate communicate, and don't hold the position any longer than absolutely necessary to get the photos or the memories or whatever it is that you both want.]]> Guests cannot see links in the messages. Please register to forum by clicking here to see links. for FL members.

The tie was an extreme forward bend Guests cannot see links in the messages. Please register to forum by clicking here to see links. on FetLife and Guests cannot see links in the messages. Please register to forum by clicking here to see links. for everybody else. This is the "Ebi" torture position from the historical origins of shibari, apart from the arms being outstretched rather than in the box tie position. Being tied into such a position for any length of time is extremely demanding in several respects, and the rigger was obviously aware of that. Nevertheless he says "total time with her legs in that position was probably around 15-20 minutes, with maybe 10-15 of those in the full forward bend."

IMO that's a good deal longer than is wise, although much depends on the individual model and her experience and ability to cope with very demanding ties.

The problem that arose was numbness from just above the knees down to the ankles, and tingling in the front of both legs that lasted for several days after the shoot.

The main point that emerges from a lot of discussion is that nerve damage can be caused by compression from surrounding tissues e.g. muscles. It doesn't necessarily need impingement against bone (as in the classic upper-arm radial nerve suspension injury) to produce some problems.

It's important to realise that extreme forward-bend positions are risky. They seriously restrict breathing (positional asphyxia risk), may cause nerve damage in the upper leg area through compression and restricted blood flow, and may cause all sorts of musculo-skeletal problems afterwards. Take great care, communicate communicate communicate, and don't hold the position any longer than absolutely necessary to get the photos or the memories or whatever it is that you both want.]]> <![CDATA[Well worth reading]]> http://www.forumbondage.com/bforum/showthread.php?tid=1799 Tue, 06 Mar 2012 21:09:43 +0000 http://www.forumbondage.com/bforum/showthread.php?tid=1799 Guests cannot see links in the messages. Please register to forum by clicking here to see links. from Ray & Dianne's blog (i.e. ImagoStudios)]]> Guests cannot see links in the messages. Please register to forum by clicking here to see links. from Ray & Dianne's blog (i.e. ImagoStudios)]]> <![CDATA[Turkish translator needed!]]> http://www.forumbondage.com/bforum/showthread.php?tid=1794 Wed, 29 Feb 2012 11:36:14 +0000 http://www.forumbondage.com/bforum/showthread.php?tid=1794
I think we have a new member who has just emailed me in Turkish. It's nearly forty years since I was last in Turkey...]]>
I think we have a new member who has just emailed me in Turkish. It's nearly forty years since I was last in Turkey...]]> <![CDATA[Unsecured suspension line]]> http://www.forumbondage.com/bforum/showthread.php?tid=1786 Thu, 16 Feb 2012 12:00:05 +0000 http://www.forumbondage.com/bforum/showthread.php?tid=1786 Guests cannot see links in the messages. Please register to forum by clicking here to see links..

During rehearsal for a performance suspension, the bunny leaned forward before the main (chest) suspension line was tied off, so she went straight down. It's reminiscent of the time something similar happened to me, although the circumstance that caused that incident were completely different.

Moral: communicate, check everything, don't anticipate.

One small quote from the FetLife post: "...was entirely unhurt (probably in part thanks to landing on a mat rather than, say, concrete)"

And a question: Is "performance bondage" - both shows and rehearsals - associated with a higher level of incidents / accidents than non-performance bondage?]]> Guests cannot see links in the messages. Please register to forum by clicking here to see links..

During rehearsal for a performance suspension, the bunny leaned forward before the main (chest) suspension line was tied off, so she went straight down. It's reminiscent of the time something similar happened to me, although the circumstance that caused that incident were completely different.

Moral: communicate, check everything, don't anticipate.

One small quote from the FetLife post: "...was entirely unhurt (probably in part thanks to landing on a mat rather than, say, concrete)"

And a question: Is "performance bondage" - both shows and rehearsals - associated with a higher level of incidents / accidents than non-performance bondage?]]> <![CDATA[Suspension rope breakage incident]]> http://www.forumbondage.com/bforum/showthread.php?tid=1785 Thu, 16 Feb 2012 01:08:13 +0000 http://www.forumbondage.com/bforum/showthread.php?tid=1785 Guests cannot see links in the messages. Please register to forum by clicking here to see links..

This is an example of what we always say is very unusual - a main suspension line breaking. What's more, it happened to a seasoned performer who understands things and takes great care to maintain his suspension ropes in top condition.

If I understand the report correctly, the rigger was lifting the bunny with a hard and fast pull on the suspension line which was looped under part of a TK at the back. The rope broke, he thinks, because of the "sawing" effect - in other words, it's a form of "burn the bight" where the friction of pulling one rope across another under big tension causes a breakage. How far that is "sawing" or cutting or frictional heating is debatable.

There is a rather dramatic image "Rope break" which shows the broken rope and the falling bunny. You can see her left foot coming out of her shoe at an angle which may well have contributed to the sprained ankle (and they were certainly lucky to have got away without more serious injury). I would guess that the image is a framegrab from a video, except that the exposure time seems much too short. If it is a still, the photographer was either very lucky or had remarkable reflexes and a very fast shutter finger!

Leaving that aside, I find it difficult to reconcile the position of the rope break on that image with the account given elsewhere. Maybe somebody else can make sense of it.

There's a suggestion that using a lower-tooth rope might help to avoid such an incident in future. I doubt that it would make much difference, and I think that's looking in the wrong direction.

First, if you're going to put a full suspension load on just one line (even if that is double-stranded), it might make sense to use bigger diameter rope for that. An 8mm rope has, approximately, twice the cross-sectional area of a 6mm rope and twice the breaking strain. Alternatively, make sure that where there is risk of a "burn the bight" situation there are multiple strands on both sides to spread the load. Second, the faster you do a lift the more frictional heating and "sawing" effect you'll get. Performance tricks where the rigger throws himself to the floor so as to whoosh the bunny into the air do necessarily involve a higher risk of rope failure. It might make sense to introduce a small (and adequately rated) ring or carabiner into the tie so as to avoid rope-on-rope friction.

In the end, I suppose it comes down to one simple question. If you're a performance rigger, how do you balance visual impact and speed and similar performance factors against safety, which inevitably slows things down and reduces the dramatic effect?]]> Guests cannot see links in the messages. Please register to forum by clicking here to see links..

This is an example of what we always say is very unusual - a main suspension line breaking. What's more, it happened to a seasoned performer who understands things and takes great care to maintain his suspension ropes in top condition.

If I understand the report correctly, the rigger was lifting the bunny with a hard and fast pull on the suspension line which was looped under part of a TK at the back. The rope broke, he thinks, because of the "sawing" effect - in other words, it's a form of "burn the bight" where the friction of pulling one rope across another under big tension causes a breakage. How far that is "sawing" or cutting or frictional heating is debatable.

There is a rather dramatic image "Rope break" which shows the broken rope and the falling bunny. You can see her left foot coming out of her shoe at an angle which may well have contributed to the sprained ankle (and they were certainly lucky to have got away without more serious injury). I would guess that the image is a framegrab from a video, except that the exposure time seems much too short. If it is a still, the photographer was either very lucky or had remarkable reflexes and a very fast shutter finger!

Leaving that aside, I find it difficult to reconcile the position of the rope break on that image with the account given elsewhere. Maybe somebody else can make sense of it.

There's a suggestion that using a lower-tooth rope might help to avoid such an incident in future. I doubt that it would make much difference, and I think that's looking in the wrong direction.

First, if you're going to put a full suspension load on just one line (even if that is double-stranded), it might make sense to use bigger diameter rope for that. An 8mm rope has, approximately, twice the cross-sectional area of a 6mm rope and twice the breaking strain. Alternatively, make sure that where there is risk of a "burn the bight" situation there are multiple strands on both sides to spread the load. Second, the faster you do a lift the more frictional heating and "sawing" effect you'll get. Performance tricks where the rigger throws himself to the floor so as to whoosh the bunny into the air do necessarily involve a higher risk of rope failure. It might make sense to introduce a small (and adequately rated) ring or carabiner into the tie so as to avoid rope-on-rope friction.

In the end, I suppose it comes down to one simple question. If you're a performance rigger, how do you balance visual impact and speed and similar performance factors against safety, which inevitably slows things down and reduces the dramatic effect?]]> <![CDATA[Chinese self bondage]]> http://www.forumbondage.com/bforum/showthread.php?tid=1778 Tue, 07 Feb 2012 11:43:30 +0000 http://www.forumbondage.com/bforum/showthread.php?tid=1778
Guests cannot see links in the messages. Please register to forum by clicking here to see links.
Guests cannot see images in the messages. Please register to forum by clicking here to see images.]]>
Guests cannot see links in the messages. Please register to forum by clicking here to see links.
Guests cannot see images in the messages. Please register to forum by clicking here to see images.]]> <![CDATA[Classification]]> http://www.forumbondage.com/bforum/showthread.php?tid=1777 Mon, 06 Feb 2012 18:48:23 +0000 http://www.forumbondage.com/bforum/showthread.php?tid=1777
However, Guests cannot see links in the messages. Please register to forum by clicking here to see links. on the Restrained Elegance site has brought the idea back to mind. So I intend to have a proper go at it.

Anyone else like to have a go themselves? I'd like this to be a co-operative project, so ideas from all directions will be very welcome.]]>
However, Guests cannot see links in the messages. Please register to forum by clicking here to see links. on the Restrained Elegance site has brought the idea back to mind. So I intend to have a proper go at it.

Anyone else like to have a go themselves? I'd like this to be a co-operative project, so ideas from all directions will be very welcome.]]> <![CDATA[Reports everywhere, and the Midori incident]]> http://www.forumbondage.com/bforum/showthread.php?tid=1770 Thu, 02 Feb 2012 18:30:31 +0000 http://www.forumbondage.com/bforum/showthread.php?tid=1770 Guests cannot see links in the messages. Please register to forum by clicking here to see links., plus reports in various rope groups.

We were the first, of course! Where ForumBondage leads, others follow.

There'll be the usual FetLife problems, inevitably. The same thing cross-posted in different groups so the responses are spread around. Too many places all doing very much the same job, making it difficult to find things and keep up with it all. And if you've spent much time on FL, you'll know what a lot of FL people can be like and the way that long discussions tend to go... FetLife serves a lot of needs very well, but IMO it does have a number of weaknesses too. We aim have a rather different environment here.

Anyway, the very well-known and respected Midori has recently had an Incident with a suspension. You don't have to be a FetLife member, you can read all about it on Guests cannot see links in the messages. Please register to forum by clicking here to see links., along with a lot of discussion including this quote, apparently from the woman who was dropped:
"Midori tied a slipknot on my sole load bearing suspension line, causing me to fall out of suspension onto the bare concrete floor"
If that is true - a suspension totally dependent on a quick-release slipped knot - all I'm going to say is that I'm very surprised. And I could say a lot more. I'm also tempted to revive the crash-mat discussion that got rather heated here some time ago...

Anyway, it seems as if this one ended badly, but not as badly as it easily might have done. And it certainly has many lessons for all of us.]]> Guests cannot see links in the messages. Please register to forum by clicking here to see links., plus reports in various rope groups.

We were the first, of course! Where ForumBondage leads, others follow.

There'll be the usual FetLife problems, inevitably. The same thing cross-posted in different groups so the responses are spread around. Too many places all doing very much the same job, making it difficult to find things and keep up with it all. And if you've spent much time on FL, you'll know what a lot of FL people can be like and the way that long discussions tend to go... FetLife serves a lot of needs very well, but IMO it does have a number of weaknesses too. We aim have a rather different environment here.

Anyway, the very well-known and respected Midori has recently had an Incident with a suspension. You don't have to be a FetLife member, you can read all about it on Guests cannot see links in the messages. Please register to forum by clicking here to see links., along with a lot of discussion including this quote, apparently from the woman who was dropped:
"Midori tied a slipknot on my sole load bearing suspension line, causing me to fall out of suspension onto the bare concrete floor"
If that is true - a suspension totally dependent on a quick-release slipped knot - all I'm going to say is that I'm very surprised. And I could say a lot more. I'm also tempted to revive the crash-mat discussion that got rather heated here some time ago...

Anyway, it seems as if this one ended badly, but not as badly as it easily might have done. And it certainly has many lessons for all of us.]]> <![CDATA[Failed hard point]]> http://www.forumbondage.com/bforum/showthread.php?tid=1766 Mon, 30 Jan 2012 22:20:25 +0000 http://www.forumbondage.com/bforum/showthread.php?tid=1766
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Another incident worth mentioning (that I wasn't personally involved in, but warrants attention). At a club where I organise BDSM parties there was a beam being used for suspensions, a beam with two bolts in it. Those bolts were, however, not secured on the top side of the beam, and I always threw a rope over the beam to hang my ring.

At one of the other nights (there are other BDSM parties there than ours) a friend of mine used one of the bolts for suspension, and had his bunny crash into the floor. Fortunately there were no serious physical consequences that I'm aware of, but a year later the bunny was still afraid of being suspended again.

The bolts have now been secured on the top side of the beam, but I still throw my rope over the beam.

ALWAYS check your hard point, even at a club where you have seen other using that hard point. DON'T assume that because it's at a club the hard point is safe. At another club where I used to come they had a hard point in a medieval brick ceiling that needed four carefully balanced bolts to hold a sling up, and where one of the bolts had once come down - not just the bolt, but the bolt and a substantial part of the ceiling around it. There were people doing inverted supsenions from that hard point. Thank <insert deity of choice> that club has been closed for several years and that no-one broke their neck.

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FetLife members can find the original and subsequent discussion Guests cannot see links in the messages. Please register to forum by clicking here to see links..

One important point made in the replies is to do with the practice of testing a hardpoint such as a bolt in a concrete ceiling by tying some rope to it and bouncing up and down on it. Passing this test says that the hard point was good enough when the test was done, but it doesn't tell you much about next time - particularly because the test itself might weaken things and make failure next time more likely.]]>
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Another incident worth mentioning (that I wasn't personally involved in, but warrants attention). At a club where I organise BDSM parties there was a beam being used for suspensions, a beam with two bolts in it. Those bolts were, however, not secured on the top side of the beam, and I always threw a rope over the beam to hang my ring.

At one of the other nights (there are other BDSM parties there than ours) a friend of mine used one of the bolts for suspension, and had his bunny crash into the floor. Fortunately there were no serious physical consequences that I'm aware of, but a year later the bunny was still afraid of being suspended again.

The bolts have now been secured on the top side of the beam, but I still throw my rope over the beam.

ALWAYS check your hard point, even at a club where you have seen other using that hard point. DON'T assume that because it's at a club the hard point is safe. At another club where I used to come they had a hard point in a medieval brick ceiling that needed four carefully balanced bolts to hold a sling up, and where one of the bolts had once come down - not just the bolt, but the bolt and a substantial part of the ceiling around it. There were people doing inverted supsenions from that hard point. Thank <insert deity of choice> that club has been closed for several years and that no-one broke their neck.

---------------------------------------------------------

FetLife members can find the original and subsequent discussion Guests cannot see links in the messages. Please register to forum by clicking here to see links..

One important point made in the replies is to do with the practice of testing a hardpoint such as a bolt in a concrete ceiling by tying some rope to it and bouncing up and down on it. Passing this test says that the hard point was good enough when the test was done, but it doesn't tell you much about next time - particularly because the test itself might weaken things and make failure next time more likely.]]>