A few comments on handcuffs, as they appear often in my homepage...


This is the  'standard-model', with a chain between the cuffs, and a reliable double lock.


This is a pair of handcuffs, where I've cut away the chain.
At first it might seem like pure madness, but there's a logic to it
This modification gives you the opportunity ( i.e. by 'self bondage' ) to get the handcuffs on, in a proper way, to have then locked tight enough, but not too tight, and finally to engage the double lock, before having them out of sight..
Then, having completed the correct mounting procedure, you simply apply a short piece of chain, and 2 small padlocks, which by the way, are easy to close with one hand.

 
This one is a dangerous specimen, at least for self bondage, as you'll NOT be able to insert the key into the keyhole, while cuffed !
Apart from that, it's a fine set of handcuffs, especially due to the fact, that you'll be very much handcuffed in these ones. The hinged shape will i.e. stop you from clapping your hands, if they're inserted 'from either end'
 
These handcuffs, however, are straight forward dangerous... 
The main problem is the very poor quality, as well as the poor design of the ( so called ) double lock. Most often, the double lock mechanism will not work, the lock will jam, and/or the keys will simply break inside the keyholes.
Most unfortunately, it's these, you'll find in the porn shops, but they are quite easy to spot, so here I'll give you the 'key' to avoiding them:

1/ (The purple ring) this lever is the only way to operate the double lock. this means that during play, you'll have to stand absolutely still, in order to prevent the lever from dashing around...

2/ (The red ring) The keyhole is an easy way to spot these handcuffs, this is a sure chekpoint, along with

3/ (The blue ring ) -the keys. If you see a handcuff-key, with these 3 rings on the top, my suggestion is, tat you depostit the keys along with the handcuffs in the closest recycling bin.. deep down. 
The keys are made from a very cheap alloy, which will inevitably break during use, and that's rather quick.

-and then.. please don't get fooled by plush coverings, or names as i.e. "Love Cuffs".. it's all just different wrappings for the same old garbage..!

'Double lock'.. and what's that all about..?


Handcuffs are in general designed to work like this: You insert the wrist, push the cuffs closed, and then you're locked in - meaning that you'll not be able to open the cuff without the key !
This is an excellent way to do this, and then.. Now, if you're cuffed, and squeeze the cuffs, they will become tighter and tighter and... if the double lock hadn't been invented.
a proper double lock operates like this: Upon closing the cuff around the wrist, you insert the tiny 'pin' on top of a good handcuff key, into the opening, ( most often found on the side of the cuff ) in order to engage the double lock.
The locking mechanism will now be 'blocked' in order to prevent the cuffs from 'closing' any further, regardless of how you pull or push them. This means that they will not squeeze your wrists, beyond what's intended. ( And that's exactly why the cheap cuffs is a piece of [...] ).


Here you see the key-pin inserted into the double lock opening, thus engaging the double lock.

Now, there's one more trick to the double locking mechanism. When you ( inevitably ) want to unlock the handcuffs, you'll need to open the double lock, prior to opening the cuff. This is most often done by inserting the key into the keyhole, and then turn the key clockwise, to disengage the double lock, and then counter clockwise, in order to open the cuff ( but DO check this before you apply the cuffs ).

Good handcuffs are wonderful toys, but just to put it straight, they are designed to hold you, until you apply the key, and if you ( for one reason or the other ) cannot insert the key into the keyhole, and turn it, they will do exactly that !

Leather straps for use with handcuffs:

It is no new discovery, that handcuffs can become quite uncomfortable if they are either set to carry a load or worn for longer periods of time.

The problem is, that handcuffs are made from steel, and just to worsen the case, they have a very narrow contact surface. I have stolen an idea from the web, and build a set of leather cuffs, which - when locked in place - will distribute the load over a much larger surface, thus making it possible to get much more use of your handcuffs.
For the technical-minded, the load from my handcuffs (alone) is distributed over 10 cm2 (app. 1½ sq.inch), whereas the cuffs distribute the load over 100 cm2 (app. 15 sq.inch).

   

As you can see from the pictures, it is a rather simple construction.

Here you get the "how-to":

  1. Take a measure around the wrist of the person who is to be cuffed.
  2. Add 1-2" to this measure, (= measure a).
  3. Subtract 1-2" from the original measure, (= measure b).
  4. Mark up two pieces of leather, 2 3/8" wide by "measure a" long.
  5. Mark up 4 pieces of leather, 19/32" wide by "measure b" long.
  6. Cut out the 6 pieces.
  7. Take one of the small pieces and align it with one edge of one of the larger pieces, in such a manner that it is lying alongside the 'long edge' of the large piece of leather, with equal distances to the two ends of the large piece.
  8. Draw a line along the 'inside edge' of the small piece of leather, and mark the ends of the small piece.
  9. Do this again, until you have marked 2 lines on either of the large pieces.
  10. Mark the center line, on either of the small pieces.
  11. Mark for the sewing holes along the centerline, as you see fit (I've used a distance of app 10 mm (13/32")).
  12. Mark up for holes on the other 3 small pieces, at exactly the same distance.
  13. Pierce the straps wit an awl, to ease the sewing.
  14. Place a strap, in such a manner, that the holes you've just made are placed over the line you drew in 8.
  15. Mark the holes you've just made through the leather strap, again using an awl. (Make sure that the strap does not move). From now on this strap is 'married' to those markings. Repeat this procedure until you have marked for 2 straps on either of the large pieces.
  16. Having marked the holes, pierce the large pieces, to ease the sewing.
  17. Put a strap on top of it's holes
  18. Mark for one hole more, just at the end of the strap.
  19. Do it again, at the other end.
  20. Pierce the two holes.
  21. Repeat 18, 19 and 20 for the 3 other straps.
  22. Thread a needle with app. 2 meters of sewing thread. (app. 6feet).
  23. Stitch through the 2nd hole in one of the rows, in one of the large pieces, from the 'front side' so that the needle comes out on the 'back side'.
  24. Pull so much thread through the hole, that you have 4" remaining on the front side.
  25. Sew the needle through the first hole in the large piece, in such a manner that the needle come out on the front side.
  26. Pull so much thread through, that you still have the 4" remaining on the front side.
  27. Put the strap belonging here, on the topside of the large piece, and sew through the first hole in the strap - and through the large piece in the 2nd hole (again).
  28. To illustrate the sewing: The oblique red line is the 4" thread, which is 'hanging free', the dotted red line is the first stitch, going through the large piece of leather - and the rest is shown in blue arrows, giving the direction of stitching.
  29. When you've sewn all the holes, you just continue 'back' in such a manner that you end up with 2 threads through each hole (apart from the ones at the ends).
  30. When you get back to the first hole in the strap (where you started), you  only sew through the strap and not through the large piece of leather. Just pull out the thread along with where you've got the 'loose end' already.
  31. Pull both ends of the thread, to secure a tight fit.
  32. Tie a knot on the two ends of the thread, in such a manner that it will 'disappear' between the two layers of leather.
  33. Repeat from 22 until you have all 4 straps in place.
  34. Bind a piece of line around either cuff, to give it the correct 'round' shape.
  35. Submerge the leather straps i water for at least 3-4 hours (over night is fine).
  36. After having been watered, let the cuffs dry completely.
  37. (If you'd like to apply color, this is the right time to do so).
  38. Now apply a generous amount of a good leather grease, and work it into the leather, using your hands.
  39. Put the cuffs i.e. on an old newspaper, and let them absorb as much grease as possible.
  40. When the leather is completely grease-satisfied, you dry off any excess grease i.e. using a piece of cotton fabric.
  41. Having removed any excess grease, you grab another piece of cotton fabric, and polish the cuffs.

   

And here you see how to use them...