Saxleather Blog

My husband solipsist and I have been exploring orgasm control and chastity play for some time now. Sol has been wearing the CB6000 (which you can also buy at S(A)X)  since it was very kindly gifted to us by friends last year. We’ve had enormous enjoyment out of this device. However because it’s plastic main cage has split five times under pressure … a problem encountered by many wearers of the device … we’ve reached the point where we only take the CB6000 out for specific play now and then. Which means we’ve been searching for a more long term chastity device.

We’ve had enough experience with chastity devices to understand that there is no one perfect chastity device out there that we can recommend to those of you who ask our advice in their search for “the perfect devise”. Everyone’s anatomy is different. And therefore everyone’s experiences of each device are going to be different. What’s comfortable for you may not be comfortable for us, and vice versa. So please keep this in mind when you read the following review.

We’d been very interested in the Birdlocked, the first silicone device on the market. However the price was horrifically high at the time, and good friends who’d purchased the device had had problems. It was at this point that we visited S(A)X’s leather workshop at Byron Bay, and discussed reviewing the just released BON4 - the second silicone device on the market.

You can read the full review on my blog here. It’s long and very detailed, but someone on Fetlife did call it “awesome”, which was nice. What’s important to cross post here I think, are the device’s technical details and then our conclusions.

Pretty, isn’t it?

You’ll find the BON4 website here. The BON4’s technical details are reproduced on S(A)X’s page about the product: “The Bon4 Male Chastity Device … is supplied with three ring sizes of flexible silicone that interlock with the comfortable silicone cage. The device is fully adjustable and will fit anyone. Simply choose the cock ring that fits the best and fit it around your penis and testicles. Then attach the cage and interlock them with the silicone belt. Add the padlock and lock things down!”

“Approx. 4.3 (111 mm) inches in total length; internal cage length approx. 2.5 (65 mm) inches in length; cage opening approx. 1.4 (35 mm) inches. Ring sizes are approx. 1.6 inches (41 mm), 1.9 inches (47 mm), and 2.1 inches (52 mm). The fully assembled weight is 90gms”

The manufacturer also makes the claim: “Because BON4 comes with 3 different sizes of cockrings. it will fit anybody”. This claim worried me right from the start … and I was right about that…

BON4 copy on left + Birdlocked on right
being sold by Birdlocked in June 2010
on the bon4-chastity site

We wanted to complete a two week period of wear before reviewing the BON4 for S(A)X. This review period was extended due to sol’s injuries and so I could document the underhand tactics of Birdlocked, who flooded the internet with fake BON4 distribution websites selling fake copies of the BON4 in mid June 2010, two months after the BON4’s release.

For this reason I sincerely recommend anyone wanting to buy the BON4 purchases it from a reputable distributor like S(A)X.

During our first week wearing the BON4 we found lots of positives. As a wearer, sol found it more comfortable than the CBs because of the soft silicone. It allowed him to sleep through the night. It fitted better under clothes. It was great for travel (both flying and driving). And there was no constant worry about the device splitting (like the CB6000). He did experience some problems peeing in the device, which we thought might be made worse by his PA piercing.

As an owner / keyholder I really liked the look of the device and the fact it’s soft to touch and yet cuts sensation. Most importantly, from a psychological point of view the device worked extremely well. While wearing it sol quickly achieved the submissive mindset I enjoy … which became even more pronounced when the device was removed for play. So the BON4 certainly works well as a chastity device.

However after a single week, sol had enough small - but I have to be honest here, extremely painful - injuries that they added up to significant discomfort and required the device’s removal for several days and finally, the termination of the two week trial. You’ll find photos in our original review.

We identified two reasons for these injuries.

• The first was poor fit. Sol falls between the ring sizes currently available with the device. For him one ring is too tight, the next sized ring too loose. Ironically while BON4 only produces three cock rings, Birdlocked has produced it’s fake BON with five differently sized rings … one of which would have fitted sol perfectly.

• The second reason was poor design, with severe pinching occurring where the device joins together. For more details see my full review.

Our trial has proved that the manufacturer’s claim that “because BON4 comes with 3 different sizes of cock rings it will fit anybody” is incorrect. If we had the option to discuss the design of this device with the BON4’s manufacturer, we’d suggest:

• having more ring sizes available, to widen fitting options. They can still sell the BON4 kit with three rings but at least advise purchasers that other sized rings are available if required

• altering the design of the BON4 cock rings so their edges are further rounded, to avoid rubbing / pressure injuries (Birdlocked got this detail right)

• slightly enlarging the center hole to help with the peeing problem, so that pee does not build up in the cage (which Birdlock avoids with the extra air holes

With regret we cannot suggest a solution for the severe pinching where the device joins together.

So, do we recommend this product?

As a short term chastity device, absolutely we recommend it. For all the positive reasons we’ve given above. I think it is especially good for men who have active lives and for men who travel. For example, it would be an ideal device to lock your partner in prior to a short business trip.

For longer wear, we simply can’t recommend it because we experienced too many injuries. It’s very important you make sure you fit the rings that are available before you purchase it - if you’ve worn a CB device you’ll have worn similarly sized rings. My original review discusses how to determine your ring size if you have not worn a different type of device that uses them. I do not recommend you buy the fake BON rings from Birdlocked, even if they have a size that fits you. Apart from the ethics of such a transaction I have no idea whether the rings are well made - they may have even sharper edges than the BON4’s.

I sincerely hope that very soon the makers of the BON4 will offer more rings. At which point sol and I will be able to purchase one that fits better and the BON4 will move from a short term chastity device to one that we can use for much longer periods. Although we’ll still need to keep an eye on that pinching where the two parts join.

I think the BON4 - and silicone as a base material - has potential. Silicone offers amazing opportunities as an alternative to metal and plastic devices. Yes, there are teething problems … but what new chastity device doesn’t experience them? And as all of us who are interested in male chastity know, what works for one person - or in this case, one reviewer - doesn’t for another. Everyone’s anatomy is different, and therefore their experiences of each device is different.

Sol says that the next generation of BON (meaning the BON4 manufacturer’s future version of the device, not the appalling ripoff by Birdlocked) will probably be the perfect male chastity device. And I agree. But believe me, you can still have a hell of a lot of short term chastity fun with the BON4.

SINCERE THANKS:

to Steve Sax of S(A)X for kindly thinking of us as reviewers for this product
servingb, and members of Fetlife male chastity groups, Chastity Mansion Forum and Chastity Lifestyle Forum

PHOTOS:
S(A)X Ms160 bon4-chastity site

I was having a peruse of S(A)X’s paddles and slappers page today and admiring the many wonderful implements available.

It brought back memories of one item that we purchased many years ago, which still gives us lots of enjoyment: the leather and fur strop. You can see a photo of it at the top of this post.You can also purchase a round leather and fur paddle which I believe make a perfect first paddle purchase.

The leather and fur strop was one of the first impact play toys we ever purchased and it is still being used … in fact I even included it in my BDSM for Beginners blog post about assembling your first toy box, as well as a blog post about sol’s and my all time favorite toys. You can see it hanging to the left of the group of our impact play toys in the photo below:

And on this tray, used for another scene at home:

Sorry, it’s sort of under the red table tennis paddle on the left, lol, but you get the idea - it’s one of those impact play implements you find you are always using!

When I first purchased it I was looking for something that could be applied sensuously as well as with more force, because we were just learning about impact play.

Like most kinksters interested in impact play or sensation play we’d started out doing lots of extremely erotic spanking. To begin with I’d used my open hand, with sol bent over my knees. I loved this, it felt so intimate and of course it needed no special “kinky equipment”.

But after a few intense sessions my hand started giving out, long before we wanted to finish. I soon realized I needed something else, if we wanted to take this type of sensation play further.

So we started looking at rigid implements. Riding crops and canes seemed a bit too fierce at that point, they produce a sharp “stingy “sensation and we wanted to stay with the dull “thuddy” sensation of wide implements such as my open hand or perhaps a paddle…

Paddles are highly recommended for new kinksters … and were exactly what we needed. They were perfect for the kind of intimate play we’d been doing, either over the knee spanking or in bed. Firm enough to be accurate and not require a lot of training to use, and effective in many different shapes and materials. Paddles are usually broad at one end and narrow at the other. In BDSM the term “paddle” can also be applied to implements like wooden spoons and or hair brushes. Some people also use table tennis paddles (you can see one in the photo above of my own toys) but be aware some people experience an allergic reaction after play.

Straps, strops, slappers, tawses etc are used in similar ways to paddles but are thinner. Some have two layers … or more. You move on to these when you decide it’s time for more intense, stingy sensations.

These types of implements are usually made of wood, rubber or leather. You can also make your own implement or even buy some really beautifully hand crafted paddles and strops at many shops online, some  based on historical designs (like the tawse) which have a fetish appeal for some kinksters.  These make wonderful additions to your toy box, but to start your collection you’ll want some practical, classic designs that are not too expensive … which is why we bought our own first paddles here at S(A)X and recommend you do too.

A quick glance at S(A)X’s paddles and slappers page will reveal a range of both leather and rubber implements.  If you are a beginner, you might like to try the leather versions first.  Leather  “gives” more than wood and is more precise than rubber. The latter, while it has a magical intensity all of it’s own (I remember one designer of toys writing that it leaves a “memory” after each stroke, and that the effect is cumulative), on the practical side   is very flexible and takes some practice to be accurate.

Which brings me to how do you use one of these toys.

Well, it’s pretty easy. Go for something firm at the beginning, that you feel you control as you strike. Remember, while a large paddle may look scary, the  force is spread out over a larger skin surface area, and so may be less intense than a longer, thinner implement of equal weight. If you want to try a strop or slapper toy that’s less intense, look for designs with two layers of leather - these slap against each other, mitigating the force while creating a very scary noise that will put fear into your sub!

The best place to apply these types of toys is across your sub’s backside, over both cheeks. I love doing this with sol, as his bottom provides a nicely padded working surface! After a few strokes his cheeks turn a lovely pink. Less flexible toys still create great marks, usually bruises rather than stripes.

For me it’s important to alternate impact play with lighter more sensous play, so the moment I saw S(A)X’s leather and fur implement I had to buy it. I love applying the leather side to sol’s backside until it turns a deep pink, then turning the strop / paddle over and running the sensuous fur gently over his burning skin.

As you build up confidence and want to try for more intensity, move from larger and wider products to narrow and more flexible toys.

You’ll also see paddles on this site made with holes (here is a rubber example) and might wonder about their intensity during play.  The holes decrease resistance to the air and decrease the mass of the paddle, making it easier to get moving. They also decrease the surface area of the paddle, making a smaller area to distribute force. What all this means is paddles with holes are for more severe play. And leave wonderful marks.

Have fun paddling

(Photos: S(A)X and Ms160)

I’m often asked by new kinksters about simple but effective ways to play.

Pressure play, I reply.  Clamps. And why do we like playing with clamps? Because clamping is a form of sensation play. Clamps create erotic sensations by cutting off circulation. And clamps are a great technique for beginners - you can make clamp play as mild or painful as you like. Also clamping doesn’t require any special skill - you’ll pick up what you need as you learn how your partner’s body responds to clamping. Plus you’ll probably have most of the “toys” you’ll need at home: clothes pegs (or clothes pins), bamboo skewers, a ball of string, rubber bands, etc… see, told you it was easy!

Some points to keep in mind when starting to play with clamps:

• start with a low clamping pressure and work up
• start with what your sub can endure, then work up to higher endurance slowly
• don’t leave pegs on more than twenty minutes - keep a clock / timer in your play space
• the longer the clamping time, the more fierce the sensation caused by removing the pressure

Obviously we are not going to leave clamps in place too long (never more than 20 minutes) or place them on places near blood vessels / nerves, or where damage (such as the corpus cavernosum and corpus spongiosum of the penis, and tissues of the clitoral hood in women) can occur. Are we?!

My favorite places (on both sexes) are nipples and genitals. But I’ve seen pegs used in many places and for all sorts of purposes. I’ve sometimes created lines of pegs on sol’s belly and flicked them off with a cane.

Places I’ve used pegs:

• labia (avoid genital jewelry)
• cock and balls
• nipples (avoid jewelry)
• around the breast
• perineum and ass cheeks
• earlobe and sides of ear (avoid jewelry)
• tongue and lips (VERY painful)
• around navel (avoid jewelry)
• webbing between fingers and toes
• inner thighs

I must say, nipples remain a favorite place to torment.  There are many ways to put a clamp on a nipple. The key thing to remember here is placement. A clothes peg placed on the tip of the nipple is much more intense than one placed closer to the base of the nipple.

You can read more about clamp play in my BDSM For Beginner’s blog post here. The post also shows you how to set up a scene featuring clamps, and outlines ways you can up the pressure and sensation. At the extreme end of the latter are Japanese clover clamps:

Can you see their grip in the photo at the top of this post? It’s ferocious. These you won’t have sitting around the house LOL but I really do recommend you invest in a pair. They are invaluable, my husband Sol loves / hates them, I rarely have a scene where they are not used.

Mostly they come attached via a chain, which makes nipple play perfect. I love the fact that pulling on the chain tightens the clamps even further (the center section, on which the chain is connected, tightens the ends when pulled). Also with metal clamps you can incorporate temperature play into the experience by chilling or warming the clamps before you use them. Which reminds me that temperature play and wax play are both good forms of play to follow on from clamps…

I definitely recommend a pair of Japanese Clover Clamps for your toybox. You can purchase them here at S(A)X  in a very elegant black … I’d also suggest having a look at all the other nipple clamps on offer

Have fun!

Photos: Ms160