Things That Pinch:  clips, clamps and other pinchers

A reference resource for the presentation by Officer Wes

Table of contents

Welcome

Why

What

Things that clamp

Made of

More about clothespins, zippers and nets

Pictures

Where

Safety & comfort considerations

How tight is this clamp?

Hematomas (bruising)

Circulation

Skin crushing

Piercing jewelry

Heart safety

Endorphins and aftercare

When

Ways to vary a theme

Placement

Duration

Adjustable / not

Pressure

Chains and other joiners

Weights

Patterns

Colors

Number

Biting / not

Movement

Mystery

The five senses

Removal styles

Processing pain

Ways to nurture surrender

Intention

Increase trust in your partner

Bondage

Ambience

Fun

Sustenance

Getting more informed

Reading

Web sites

Getting gear

Communicating and negotiating

Previous pinch presentations and related

About Officer Wes and family

 

Other resources

About our leather family

"boys" and "slaves"

Cathartic flogging

Cock & Ball Torture (“CBT”)

Dominance and submission

Dungeon parties

Electrical

Focus

The Good of BDSM

Kink 101

Leather 101

Leather and spirituality

Leather/SM resources

Mastery and slavery

Nine Degrees Of Submission

Protocol

Rope harness

San Diego

Shit: Exploring An Ancient Taboo

Things That Pinch (this presentation)

Uniforms

Welcome

Things That Pinch:  clips, clamps, and other pinchers is a welcoming workshop for all to discuss ways to play with some common household items for a great time of sensual torment with your loved ones.  We'll touch on the how’s, where’s, and with-what’s you need to know to enjoy a good pinchy time by yourself or with a friend.

Why

Simple erotic pleasure for yourself and/or others.  Curious about additional potential reasons?  Read The Good of BDSM.

What

Things that clamp

Fingers

Clothespins

Teeth

Clamps / presses

Clips

Made of

Metal

Alligator clips

Cloverleaf clamps

Presses / vises

Binder clips

Electrical clips

Magnetic

Wood

Traditional clothespins

Plastic

Clips

Clothespins

Hair clips

Leather

A little noose-like cord that clamps around things like nipples

More about clothespins, zippers & nets

Clothespins

Easily obtained

Inexpensive

Portable

Scalable

Zippers

A “zipper” is a string of clothespins joined by running a cord -- often of leather -- through the springs’ holes, and tying knots on each side, spaced 6” or so apart.  Here’s a picture.  By stringing clothespins together into a zipper, this enables removing multiple clothespins suddenly.  This can create a wave of pain, followed by a euphoric rush.  (See also the endorphins and aftercare section.)

Nets

Similar to zippers, but done with netting to cover more area

Pictures

Wooden clothespin

Versatile, inexpensive, easily available, and travel well

 

 

Clothespin zippers

Wooden clothespins joined by running a leather cord through the
spring’s hole, tying a knot on each side, spaced 6” or so apart

 

 

Japanese cloverleaf clamps

These tighten when pulled

 

 

Hemostat clamps

These are great:  Their rubber tips really hold on,

 and their handles clip at various tightnesses

 

 

Fisher-Castalloy clamps

I love these -- their spring-loaded clamps have just the right pressure

 

 

Rubber-tipped barrel-tightening/loosening clamps

For when you want to pinch harder

 

 

Pincher clamps, with tension adjusted by “O” rings

Delicious

 

 

Rubber-tipped clamps, with tension adjustable by a screw

These grab more meat than the smaller ones below

 

 

Rubber-tipped alligator-like clamps (these don’t have the sharp teeth that others do), with tension adjustable by a screw

These are a bit small for my tastes:  Their
smaller pinching area makes for a less pleasant hold

 

 

Plastic clamp

The larger surface (you can’t really see the depth in
this photo) and looser spring distributes the hold well

 

 

Press clamps

A bit slippery for my taste

 

 

Weights

Just fun to add to a clips and clamps scene…

 

 

Elastrator™

A castrator re-purposed to put tight rings on nipples temporarily
Head’s up:  The green bands can be challenging to get off –
pulling causes additional pain and
they’re so tight it’s nearly impossible to cut them off

 

 

Magnetic tit clamps

These are incredibly strong

Where

Nearly everywhere, but especially where you can grab a fold of skin

Webbing between fingers

Arms / forearms

Chest

Nipples

Stomach

Belly button ring

Scrotum or pussy

Legs, especially inner and outer thighs

Tongue

Ears / ear lobes

Buttocks

Perhaps tie two or more areas together, such as both nipples clamped and joined by a chain

Safety & comfort considerations

How tight is this clamp? (Thanks to FetLife’s Multics)

The webbing between the thumb and forefinger is a handy area to test out a clamp’s intensity

Even in the same bag, the amount of pinch can vary a lot with clothespins

The small, about 1 to 1.5 inch long mini clothespins can be very strong

Hematomas (bruising)

Clamps can cause bruising

Erotic style can influence bruising

Twisting can lead to bruising

Pulling can lead to bruising

Duration can influence bruising

Longer duration is more likely to bruise

Removal style can impact bruising

Opening a clamp will result in less bruising than pulling it off

Removal via a zipper or net may result in notable bruises

Medications can impact bruising

Aspirin beforehand can lead to easier bruising

Oral prednisone can lead to easier bruising

Other medications which thin the blood or skin can also lead to easier bruising

Circulation

Clamps restrict blood circulation

Skin crushing

Clamps can crush skin.  My experience is generally they do not – skin is pretty resilient.  But on nipples in particular, where perhaps play is focused a bit more, the skin can get squished.  It’s a normal consequence -- and heals on me.  But know that it’s a possibility.  And the healing takes time.  In the meantime, my nips are a bit less available for use.

Piercing jewelry

Sometimes the skin-stretch of semi-permanent jewelry might make a spot impractical for the moment (think nips) – but even that can be overcome:  Some clamps can grab behind the jewelry.  Sometimes there’s also the possibility of taking jewelry out temporarily to get it out of the way.

Heart safety

Don’t use electrified nipple clamps across the heart – that can stop it.  More info at my erotic electrical resource

For magnetic balls:  Keep away from medical devices, credit cards or other items impacted by magnetic fields

Endorphins and aftercare

Intense physical play of many sorts can create endorphins.  These are naturally occurring pain-suppressing chemicals in the body.  They can also lead to feelings of peacefulness, euphoria.  (Runners have called it “Runners’ high” for many years.)  When many endorphins are released at once, this is often referred to as an “endorphin rush.”  The removal of a single clip or clamp will result in a resurgence of blood to the area and this can feel rather intense.  Multiply that by removing a series of clothespins in a zipper by yanking – and that can cause a release of many endorphins at once.

 

There is a duty for the Top in a scene to prepare for and look after the person it is working with:  People can faint.  Bondage can secure a person.  Quick-release clamps, if the person is in standing bondage (think tied to a cross), can help release the person for lowering.  Another approach is to do zipper removal when the bottom is laying down, as then the bottom is already safely on the ground.

 

The duty to look after the bottom extends to after the scene, commonly called aftercare.  With a clothespin zipper scene and possible endorphin rush, there are some things to consider:  Thinking may be fuzzy for a while.  Depth perception (think driving; even parking) may be off for a while.  One way to help address these considerations is to include wind-down time in a scene.  A favorite?  Holding.  It’s a very bonding time.

When

When a clamp is on for a while, its related nerve seems to stop signaling pain

When that clamp is removed, blood returns and the nerve signals pain again; sometimes intensely

Ways to vary a theme

Placement

I particularly love erogenous zones such as the nips and groin.  However, skin under the arms and inner thighs is also often a little easier to pull/pinch than elsewhere, making it inviting for clips and clamps, even zippers and nets

Duration

The longer a clip or clamp is on, the more intense it is when it comes off

Adjustable / not

Tension adjusters (screws that lessen a spring-loaded pincher; “O” rings and screws to tighten or loosen a clamp) can help mix things up

Pressure

Note:  If desired, at another time, one can loosen the bite a clothespin will deliver by clamping it over something that keeps its mouth wide for an extended period

Chains and other joiners

Especially between nipple clamps.  This is particularly handy for adding weights

Weights

Just when you or your partner thought things were all figured out, add some weight to stir things up

Patterns

Think symmetry

Colors

Red and black are some personal favorites for BDSM art

Number

Slowly but surely increasing the number of clips and/or clamps, which will help endorphins build, can shift things to a longer, particularly satisfying scene

Biting / not

Rubber tips (these can also help with grip)

Teeth

Flat

Movement

Predicament bondage (particularly where something is secured to something else)

Touch

Tickling

Walking / crawling

Mystery

The five senses

Touch

Sight

Hearing

Smell

Taste

Removal styles

Zippers

Nets

Moving clamp(s) from one place to another, and sometimes back

Whipping or flogging off

Processing pain

Breathing – long-deep breathing can help, though sometimes it will also trigger the clamps

Relaxing

Focusing

Visualizing

The Top can influence things

1.    Applying

a.     How clamps are applied (by example, Jack Rinella relays that in applying clothespins that “…if you start in less sensitive areas, such as the chest, your bottom will last longer.” Clips & Clamps, p.53)

b.    Pauses

c.     Quiet

d.    Predicament bondage (by example, movement in one area creates a challenge in another area, sometimes done by tying two or more things together)

2.    During

a.     Touching

b.    Twisting

c.     Removing one or more

d.    Replacing one or more

e.     Time to adjust, including pauses and breaks

f.     Feedback, such as “Three more”

3.    Removing

a.     Opening vs. pulling

b.    Tempo of removal

c.     Distraction

d.    Simultaneous removal from different areas such as via zippers and nets

e.     Giving a head’s up that one or more are about to be removed

Ways to nurture surrender

Intention

Increase trust in your partner

Time

Experiences

Reputation

Bondage

Blindfolds can reduce distractions

Ambience

Dungeon

Music

Privacy

Temperature

Lighting

Fun

Exploring

Laughter

Sustenance

Water

Snack(s) / food

There is little more distracting than being hungry.  I try to keep an easy snack on hand for if the scene goes on for a while.  There are 110-calorie “Carb Boom!” packs that I find a great source of fast, easy energy

Getting more informed

Reading

Clips and Clamps [the toybag guide to] Rinella (Greenery Press, Oakland, 2004)

Web sites

Groups / fetishes

·      Clamps, Pegs, Clothespins & Weights from Around the World www.fetlife.com/groups/27351

·      Clamps and Clips www.fetlife.com/fetishes/613 “60,586 People getting their kink on”

·      caryl's BDSM Page at www.drkdesyre.com is a vast trove of information, particularly about dating

·      OfficerWes.com will get you to the information I've compiled about leather and spirituality, cathartic flogging, the good of BDSM, Dominance and submission, Mastery and slavery, uniforms, erotic electricity, making a rope harness, dungeon parties, our leather family, and more -- but be sure to check out the concise, external Leather/SM Resources

Getting gear

Kink stores

Locally (San Diego, California area)

·      Pleasures & Treasures, 2525 University Ave., 619-822-4280 www.pandtstore.com

·      Barnett Avenue Adult Superstore, 3610 Barnett Ave., 619-224-0187

Online

·      Extreme Restraints www.extremerestraints.com

·      Mr. S Leather www.mr-s-leather.com

Electro Gator Clips

Nasty Red & Black Clamps

Hardware stores

Clothespins (Target and 99 Only store.  Daiso has plastic figure clothesclamps like kitties.).  (Home Depot had them, but with a too-small center hole in their springs for lacing to go through.  Walmart, Big Lots did not have clothespins when we checked.)

Craft stores / sewing centers

Cloverleaf clamps

š Leather cording to make clothespin zippers is available at Michaels

Kitchen supply stores

Tongs, sometimes with rubber or silicone ends and sometimes with a locking mechanism

Office supply stores

Binders

Medical supply stores

Hemostats

Bait and tackle / sporting goods stores

Weights, such as those found at Bass Pro Shops

Communicating and negotiating

Clear, respectful communication, part I

Here's an example:
Sir/ma’am:  You having a fun, hot experience is very important.  There is one issue I need to communicate so that you can make informed decisions.  I take aspirin for my heart health and as a result I tend to bruise easily.  If you could work in a way that might minimize bruising I’d really appreciate it.  Thank you, Sir/ma’am!

Clear, respectful communication, part II

The leather tribe works with power.
Many folks do it well and with style.
The tribe does have a history, however, of friendly fire -- eating our own.
My observation is that we can each help contain these fires with these actions:

·      When disagreements happen, and they will, be respectful

·      Discreet, constructive input is helpful

·      Avoid gossip

Negotiating

Dan Kalin was my leather mentor.  He was the first person who came up to me at a leather bar, circa 1988, and said "I want to tie you up."  My response was along the lines of "That's nice. Perhaps some other time."  Dan seemed to intuitively know that I was afraid.  He stayed and we talked.  I started asking questions such as "Would you stop if I asked?"  (His answer was the intriguing: "Yes, but I won't start again.")  "Could there be a time limit?"  (He said it depended.  I inquired why.  He explained that it took a while to tie someone up, and if the time were too short that would mean that untying would come shortly after, and that wouldn’t be worth his time.)  When I became better versed in the leather community I realized that what we had done was negotiate a scene.  I made the leap of faith and went with him to the Brotherhood of Pain dungeon.  It was deliciously sinister.  Ah, the first time at anything: Those were some of the hottest four hours of my life.

Previous pinch presentations and related

·      Things That Pinch “Learn It, Do It” workshop, served by slave frank, for FetishMen SanDiego, February 22, 2020

·      Clips, Clamps, and Other Pinchers in the San Diego Leather Realm at San Diego Lesbian Gay Bisexual Transgender Pride, July 15, 2017

·      Officer Wes and slave jay receive an excellence in presentation award May 6, 2006, from the Pain Guild for the Things That Pinch presentation the previous summer

·      Things That Pinch presentation for the Pain Guild, served by slave jay, July 6, 2005

·      Mentor in SAADE (School for Advanced American Dominant Education)'s Austin Mentors' second group October - December 2002. (The group continued into 2003. I asked to be rolled out of the rotation after December because Tom and I were moving to San Diego in January.) For this second group my mental topic was BDSM & spirituality and the physical skill was "Clamps, Clips & Things that Pinch in the Night / Processing Pain." For more information see the writeup of the inaugural group, below

·      Mentor in SAADE (School for Advanced American Dominant Education)'s Mentors’ program. This is a very cool communal program to give a new generation of Dominants a broad-based Mentor/apprentice experience. Each of the apprentices gets matched with each of the mentors for one month -- and each of the mentors has something unique s/he brings to the program. The mentors work to convey one mental and one physical skill each month. For the inaugural November 2001- July 2002 group my mental topic was leather relationships and the physical skill was electrical play

·      Presented on clothespin zippers for The Austin Gay Leather Social July 10, 2002.  Here I am with the very brave and sexy Kevin the Manpup just as the zippers are about to be removed in one fell swoop.  We had a great time!

 

 

About

Officer Wes has been presenting on a variety of fun kink topics for over twenty years. Officer Wes has an open leather family built around shared values of respect, honor, trust, and love. He has a slave and dogslave and is himself in service to a Daddy. Resources and information at www.officerwes.com

 

The long version…

Officer Wes entered his first leather bar in 1980.  He has examined and shared on issues of sexual expression and other areas of the human experience for much of his life.  His experiences and viewpoints have appeared in many publications including USA Today and The Advocate.  He judges regional and international contests and presents programs and workshops on Master/slave and Daddy/boy relationships, spirituality and leather, great sex, pain and pleasure, uniforms, fetish, shit, interrogation, electricity, things that pinch, and other aspects of the BDSM arts at clubs and events across the country.  He is credited as an influence in the books Protocol Handbook for the Leather Slave and Master/slave Relations.  His Web sites on sexuality, health and kink stand as a resource for others seeking to live in integrity with their authentic selves and have been visited by over a quarter of a million people.

 

Officer Wes was an inaugural mentor for SAADE, the School for Advanced American Dominant Education, a formal mentoring program for new dominants that instructs its apprentices not only in physical SM practices but on the mental, emotional and spiritual dynamics of BDSM as well.  He served on the host committee for Living in Leather VIII, was an inaugural core member of San Diego's private men's BDSM group SuperPigs, and is an Associate Member of the Chicago Hellfire Club.

 

Officer Wes has an open leather family built around shared values of respect, honor, trust, and love.  He has a slave, a dogslave and is himself in service to a Daddy.  More information about Officer Wes and family can be found at www.officerwes.com.

 

 

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