Hardware stores are a treasure trove of items that can be used as toys, some perhaps requiring a bit of alteration, but most being usable, as is. Take time to look around when you are out shopping for home improvement items. Ropes, chains, clamps, quick release snaps, and all sorts of hardware are very reasonably priced in most regular hardware or home improvement shops. Quick release snaps are one thing that you really need if you are doing any sort of bondage that is more than tying someone down to a bed. These snaps can be released while bearing weight which can be important if your sub/bottom faints in bondage and you need to get him/her down quickly. These snaps are up to $12 each in kinky stores, but run less than $5 each in most hardware stores. Remember, kink is a big profit business because they are catering to a specialized group. There is no need to pay high prices for common items. The smart thing to do is to reserve your money for things that you can't buy at a discount. I always look first at whether something is an item that can be purchased in a non kinky store. Then I decide if I can make the item. Only if the answer to these questions is "No" do I buy it. Of course, if you WANT to spend money, or you don't have the time, then buying it is perfectly okay.

"I am a BIG fan of perverting kitchen items. Some of my favorites that I use that I did not see on your web page include: wooden skewers and metal meat tenderizers. The skewers are great for scratching and flicking like drum sticks. They leave a nice sting that can often be felt the next day when used on warm skin. The metal meat tenderizers may be used lightly as a good thuddy warm up, CBT (carefully!) or the cold metal is good for sensation. The metal handle is great to use to run around the body as well as the textured pads of the tenderizer. Hope you enjoy my ideas... I know I do."
Lady Ravyn

Gipsy (male Dom) suggest wooden paint stirrers which a lot of hardware stores give out for free. With a bit of sanding, they make a fun paddle.

Vallkyrie gave us these ideas:
Cockrings - Home Depot/Lowes have a great collection of both metal and rubber O-rings at a considerably lower price. A particular favorite is placing several rubber O-rings along the shaft of the penis. The thinner rings are easier to "stretch" for removal if they become too tight during the peak of arousal. Metal O-rings need to be checked for smoothness. Paint-stirrer paddles - To improve on the technique listed on your web page, take 2 stirrers. Wrap a rubber band around the handle of one of them, then place the 2 together and wrap with a rubber band on the short end of the stirrers. The inside rubber band separates the 2 stirrers and causes a percussive sound when used.

Home Depot recently had five gallon paint stirrers for free that make super long, thin paddles with just a bit of sanding and a light coat of stain. I had Feynman put a series of holes into one to give it a different heft.

A gentleman who prefers to remain nameless sent this little tip: I just came home from Christmas shopping. In a surf shop, I noticed several items with names like "Shock Wave" and "Rip Cord", these devices were designed for the sole purpose of keeping your surfboard attached to either an arm or a leg, without causing harm to that particular appendage, even in the violent thrashing of a really good wave. Imagine the research that went into the development of this product, now imagine using these devices for bondage. Well-padded wrist and/or ankle restraints attached to a 6-10 ft piece of 5/16in shock cord...for the low price of about $26.00. Everyone said surfing was cool, but now I REALLY understand !

The bungee-jump rope floggers are a breeze to make.  Visit your local dollar store, or a discount store if you must, and purchase the longest bungee cord you can get plus one cheep jump rope.  First, cut the hooks off the bungee and save them for later.  Then, separate the handles from the "rope" portion of the jump rope.  Begin trimming, cutting, unraveling, or whatever on one end of the bungee cord; when you have enough rubber exposed, cut it and attach to one of the jump rope handles.  Resume removing the sheathing on the bungee cord until you again have enough (perhaps a different length) then cut and attach to the second handle.  If there is any bungee cord left, remove the sheathing until there is only one hand's width left; and cover the still-sheathed portion with either duct tape or electrical tape.  You now have two or three bungee floggers of varying lengths. 

But don't forget about the bungee hooks and the "rope."  Attach one hook to one end of the "rope" (regardless of what the material is) and the second hook to the other.  You now have an instant bondage anchor when placed around a closed door or under a chair.

Another trip to the dollar store may yield a latex-coated foam ball, a pair of shoe laces, and a BBQ skewer.  Heat the skewer over a gas stove or BBQ grill and steady the ball in a "vice."  Once the skewer is hot, begin inserting it into the ball, twisting as you go; reheat as needed until the skewer is all the way through and the hole is wide enough.  Allow both the skewer and ball to cool completely.  Then, use the skewer to force both shoelaces through and center them through the ball.  You now have a ball gag that can be tied both above and below the ears for extra security.

At your favorite fabric store, don't over look the scrap leather or fabric bins.  Small and/or irregular pieces of leather or fabric can be laid over a prone sub's body.  Then, bring out the ice cubes, the floggers, the whips, etc.  Using these implements over both bare and covered skin can yield an interesting sensation combination.

An isolation closet may be more realizable than you think--and in your guest bedroom too.  First, you may have to remove existing closet hardware.  Go ahead and keep the matching baseboard from the room going inside the closet.  Then over the baseboard, install a plank to use as a shoe shelf; don't secure it, just have it rest on the top of the baseboard and a series of eye-screws.  When you remove the shoe shelf, you have anchor points for feet.  About hip height, you may want to install side shelves suitable for purses or the like; run wrap around furring strips on the front walls, the side walls, and the portions of the back wall directly behind the front walls; add one eye-screw on each side in addition to standard screws, then cover with short planks.  Remove the purse shelves to expose waiting anchor points.  Slightly below your standard closet rod height, add flat boards all the way around; have standard coat hooks on the back wall, cleats (those double hook things

Want the ultimate bondage bed, but your playroom doubles as a guest room or even your own bedroom that gets invaded by your kids?  Make your own dreams come true.  This may be more extravagant or labor intensive than some ideas here; but you'll be making a bed worth more than $1,000 for a couple of hundred. You can start with an existing four-poster bedframe and adapt it, or do it all from scratch.  You'll need 4" x 4" deck posts,  some 1" x 6" planks, T-brackets (again with decking supplies), paintable plywood (or whatever alternative is in your budget and style), 4 closet rods, and 4 sets of closet rod brackets.  Figure out your dimensions based on the size of your mattress and the scale of your room, then make allowances for the size of the wood (remember that modern lumber is planed and therefore smaller than the stated dimensions), then cut.  Paint or stain everything to fit with the decor; this is just a first coat, you'll finish later and don't forget

Also, I know the frayed rope flogger has already been included, but here's an interesting variation.  Use parachute cording.  It's incredibly strong and incredibly soft; both because its made of pure silk.  It can be found in some fabric warehouses or military surplus stores.

Another use for parachute cording, or almost any rope really, is a rope cuff.  Take a length of rope, at least 3' long.  6" in, make a 180 degree bend and set it so that the bend is between the thumb and index finger of the sub and the loose and long ends of the rope are over their wrist.  Take the long end of the rope, wrap once around the loose end and then wrap around the wrist (so that loose end is included) two to three times above the turn around the loose end; then wrap back one to three times below the turn around the loose end.  Feed the loose end through the loop and pull.  For extra security, tie the remainder of the long end around the loose end.  Then, tie the loose end to any anchor or lead.  Repeat as desired around other joints (opposite wrist, the ankles, the knees, etc.--but never the neck); and, as with any other type of cuff, don't make it so tight as to cut off circulation. 

Mz Brenda suggests: Just found your web site and loved it. If I may there is one suggestion that I have for a fun filled Saturday or Sunday afternoon. Here in Fort Lauderdale we have one of the biggest outdoor Flea Markets I have ever seen. We love to get a bunch of D/s friends together and go shopping for "pervertables". Whoever finds the best D/s use for an item ( other than the obvious vanilla use) can use or have the item used on them. If the "sub" doesn't find anything meeting with the DOMMES approval....he may or may not (hehehe) be punished. Thank you again for a great web site.

Bobbie Jo suggests: Bobby pins are great nipple clamps.  I don't know why no one else discovered and suggested them.  They don't look at all like sex toys.  The standard small size pinch harder than the big size.  Try getting two or three on each nipple and flip them with fingernails or a toy flogger or...

Tiny rubber bands designed for putting tension on braces (orthodontic appliances) are terribly handy.  The smaller ones can hug a woman's erect nipple all day without cutting off the blood supply completely.  Larger ones work on a penis or around ears.  They can ease or add to the tension of clothes pins or can be used to pinch a pair of chopsticks together.  Lots of possibilities.

Kitchen shops are great for all sorts of items. One of the big things for the local Bay Area Dommes (courtesy of Hemlock) are Abalone Tenderizers. These make really heavy, nasty, scary paddles. And they are still cheaper than buying a paddle at most kink shops. Remember, Pancake turners, wooden spoons, skewers, spatulas, etc. all make great percussive toys. Spaghetti strainers make fun scratchy toys. As do dish brushes.

What about the toothy plastic spring hair clips sold in dime stores for clipping your hair back? What about the miniature ones for genital torture?

Storm Princess reports: I found some great wooden paddles- I guess they are for pizza or something at a nearby Everything for a Dollar store. Just the right size and shape!

Master Gene sends us these suggestions:
Here's a few HARDWARE ITEMS that you may like. Alligator clips with teeth from RADIO SHACK Hemostats available in most hardware and electronics stores. C-Clamps available in most hardware stores I'm sure if you look around a "Home Depot" type of store, you'll find plenty of hardware items to use, can you imagine a sub sitting bare butt on 60 grit course sand paper AFTER A CANING/SPANKING/PADDLING.

My newest favorite place to shop is the local music store. You can make scratchy fingernails with the steel guitar picks, and what about drum brushes!!!!! Look at the selection of drum brushes when you have some spare time. The ideas for using them on the human body are infinite! My latest purchases were a set of steel brushes and a set of Blastix brushes. The Blastix are little bundles of wooden rods. Genital torture takes on a whole 'nother rhythm!