Safety First: Metal Bondage

The cold, hard feel of chain. The security of metal cuffs and shackles. The fun of a fantasy police or prisoner scene. All come with a common risk, being trapped in the metal bondage when the scene is over or if panic sets in. So, how can you reduce this risk?

A lot of metal bondage is done via locks. Locked handcuffs, pad locks, master locks. The easiest way to get out is to unlock your victim. The first step is to have the key. Have multiple copies of the key, and always know where they are. Many handcuffs and shackles use the same style of key. It is a good idea for a dungeon owner to have a key ring with all the typical keys on it. In case the person playing can’t find the key in his bag, or it has fallen out of a pocket during the scene. A set of simple keys hanging in plain sight in a dungeon can save a lot of hassle if a key goes missing.

Padlocks are made for unique keys, and even when they don’t get lost, sometimes keys break or a lock gets jammed. A scene might even end with the locks beneath the bottom or accidentally in a position where you cannot get a key in. The only option here is to cut the metal itself. Now you need a bolt cutter.

Bolt cutters come in a variety of lengths from 12″ up to 42″ and more. The longer the handles, the more power you can put behind the blades, and usually, the wider the blades can open. When you buy a pair of cutters for your dungeon, you want to be sure that they are going to be able to cut whatever locks or chains are going to be used. They can have openings ranging from 1/4″ good for many small locks up to 5/8″ good for most heavy chain. Make sure the blades are forged steel with hardened steel edges so they can cut through quickly and easily.

To avoid the danger of locks altogether, there are a couple other options you could provide your guests. Carabiners, x-linkers and quick release straps are other ways to secure metal bondage. They can be removed without keys or much effort. There are problems with these options as well. Carabiners or other twisting clamps are quite secure, but could also jam shut under pressure. However, a pair of pliers and a wrench are usually all that is needed in this case. Quick release straps open easily and are generally made to withstand pulling on, but can they come open at undesired times by accidental grabbing of the release or with excessive pressure.

Another danger when playing with metal is burring. Regularly check your metal equipment for raised ridges that could accidentally cut your guests. A metal file is usually all that is needed to remedy this situation. Keeping your gear in good repair is a simple way to protect your guests.

All in all, providing options to your guests and having a some keys and a small set of tools on hand can give them a safer place to play with metal bondage.