Pervertables

One of the most daunting aspects of the lifestyle for new people is the acquisition of a decent collection of toys.  Good quality BDSM toys are an investment, and they aren't that easy to find.  You really cannot take your toybag to Target or Home Depot and buy yourself a collection that works for $59.95. 

I suspect that nearly everyone goes through a phase of using DIY (do-it-yourself) and pervertable toys.  Is there even one kinky soul who has not played with a paint stirrer or a wooden spoon or a curtain rod at least once?  There's really nothing essentially wrong with working to assemble a set of usable BDSM goodies on a budget, and it is possible to come up with some serviceable items in places where our vanilla neighbors and friends see only kitchen utensils or riding tack or hardware.  There is, however, some risk for the uninitiated in trying to use everyday objects for BDSM play.  Not everything that you CAN use to hit someone SHOULD be used in that fashion.  BDSM play (and I'm mostly thinking of impact play) is inherently risky, and when there is a lack of experience combined with the use of implements that are not well suited for spanking/whipping, then the risk levels increase dramatically. 

I'd put out a few caveats (and I'll acknowledge that I am not any sort of authority on the subject):
1)  Just because you found directions for creating some sort of "toy" on the Internet doesn't mean that the person providing those directions knows what they are talking about.  Skepticism is healthy in this instance.
2)  If it is likely to break while you are using it to hit someone, you should probably not use it to hit someone.
3)  Belts should be used for holding up your pants.
4)  Splinters are bad.  Period.
5)  Sharp edges are almost as bad as splinters.
6)  There are lots of things that look like paddles that are not paddles.  Bread boards and boat oars are notable examples. The ubiquitous ping pong paddle is not sturdy enough to serve as a spanking paddle.
7)  There are lots of things that look like canes that are not canes.  A cane is not the same as a stick.  Stay away from wooden dowels and lengths of bamboo that are intended for decorative purposes.  Likewise, yardsticks and broomhandles and wire hangers and whatever other long, skinny bits of industrial waste a person might run across ought to be looked at with a very jaundiced eye.

So.  If a person wants to come up with some serviceable BDSM gear, without spending a fortune, what are the best bets?

1)  Riding crops and dressage whips and dogging bats and quirts.  All of these items can be acquired quite inexpensively at a tack shop.  Plainer items are cheaper, and fancier ones are a bit more costly, but since these things are, in fact, intended for "impact," they are generally sturdier and more flexible than similar appearing items meant for other purposes.

2)  Wooden spoons.  Good quality wooden spoons can make pretty reasonable spanking implements.  Avoid the cheap, soft-wood varieties.  Buy ones made from harder woods.  As a matter of aesthetics and hygiene, it is probably best to not co-mingle the spoons that are used for beating eggs and those that are meant for beating butts.

3)  Leather.  Serviceable straps can be fashioned from lengths of cowhide or other sturdy leathers.  These can be used as a single thickness or doubled and fastened with simple rivets to fashion more intense tawse-style toys.  The very common practice of trying to create whips or floggers from leather lacing tend to result in toys that have much greater intensity and severity than most beginners anticipate. 

4)  When it comes to paddles, there are very few good alternatives that aren't specifically manufactured for the purpose.  Most fraternity/sorority paddles are simply clubs -- too heavy and too big to make good spanking implements.  The once easily available Cracker Barrel paddle (the child's toy with the attached rubber ball) is no longer for sale, sadly.  Along with the heavier, but also workable Jokari paddle (also part of a child's game), it is now necessary to hunt down the once commonplace CBP on Ebay or other similar sites. 

5)  There are no good, cheap substitutes for a decent cane.  The same is true for singletail style whips.  Because these "toys" provide a level of severity and risk that is much higher than simple paddles and straps, it pays to buy the best quality one can manage.  These are items that ought to be purchased specifically and deliberately when the resources are available to buy excellent quality from reputable suppliers. 

Those new to the lifestyle, and those who are seeking to find good BDSM toys often struggle to figure out where to purchase implements.  Not all toy suppliers are created equal.  We have a few that we know and trust and use for most of our purchases.  We are not affiliated with any of them, but for those who might be interested, here are The Heron Clan recommendations for places to buy top quality BDSM implements:

Canes -- Adam and Gillian's Sensual Whips and Toys
Restraints (collars and cuffs) and paddles -- Leather by Danny
Floggers -- De Tails Toys
Leather straps and paddles -- LeatherThorn Paddles
Paddles -- Hanson Paddlewerks

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