Nipple Clamps

Copyright ©: 1998, LAUREN

Nipple clamps... Are items that pinch the nipples. Some have adjustable settings so the pressure can be customized or varied. Others work only by a single spring mechanism and do not allow the top to adjust the pressure. Nipple clamps can also be used on other areas of the body, but here we will stick to nipples. Most tops test clamps first on themselves to get a feeling for the level of intensity imparted, often on the skin of the inner wrist or the webbing between the thumb and forefinger.

Roach clamps
(named not for the insect but for marijuana butt holders) are matchstick-thin tweezers with small rubber coverings on the tips and a sliding ring that lets you adjust the tightness (like barbecue tongs). They are good for many nipple sizes. For scene use they are often sold in pairs with a chain attaching them.

Rolls-Royce clamps
are heavy, strong-looking clamps with rubber tip coverings, a chain between them, and an adjustment mechanism that works by screwing them tighter (like screwback earrings). The adjustment mechanism works very well, and if the bottom's nipples are not too small, these clamps can be adjusted from very light pressure to fairly tight. Novices often find them the most comfortable of the nipple clamp styles.

Clover clamps
Are intricately curved spring mechanisms whose actual purpose is to hold fabrics tightly for sewing. They can be bought very inexpensively at sewing stores. For scene use they are often sold in pairs with a chain attaching them. The flat ends have rubber coverings. The pressure they yield is intense and cannot be adjusted; in fact, they tend to ratchet to a tighter level when the chain is pulled. But many bottoms find them hot for exactly those reasons. They are very attractive and many tops never travel without them.

The rubber tips of all the above kinds of clamps can be removed for a fiercer effect. Be aware that doing so is likely to break skin and draw blood, though. Most metal clamps can be sterilized easily should they draw blood. It's also a good idea to habitually inspect edges for irregular sharp points, loose paint chips, splinters, anti-rust oils, etc. before using them.

Snake bite kits
Can make excellent nipple toys. They cause the nipples to swell and become highly sensitive.

There are also a variety of very lightweight nipple-clamp-like items available. Some of these are just for decoration and amount to small fabric-covered elastic bands that slip comfortably over the nipples and are attached by a string or bejeweled chain. Some people do in fact have nipples so sensitive that even small amounts of pressure can be very effective. But most of these items are for visual effect

Rubber bands and dental floss are not recommended for nipple binding, though they are sometimes used. The nipples tend to swell, sometimes dramatically, when bound, and these items cannot be loosened or removed easily. They can become so hidden in the flesh that it can even be impossible to cut them off without cutting the skin.

Many household items can be used perfectly well as nipple clamps. Examples are clothespins or much fiercer items like chip clips or binder clips. Though they do not have adjustable settings, sometimes the spring mechanism can be bent to reduce the pressure. The circular openings in clothespins can also be used, sometimes to better effect, than the tips if the person's nipples are sensitive. Chopsticks positioned on either side of the nipples can be used to bind the nipples and tightened or loosened with twist ties.

The chains that attach many styles of nipple clamps have a variety of uses. They can be pulled, weights can be hung from them, or they can be used to lead or tie off the bottom. They can also be used to yank the clamps off at the end.

Nipple clamps, like other tight binding, reduce circulation. The rule of thumb many tops suggest is no more than ten or fifteen minutes of use at a time. (I've occasionally heard as much as twenty suggested as a maximum.) Coldness, numbness, and discoloration are signals that it is time to release the clamp.

Releasing the clamp often brings more pain than placing the clamp on in the first place because of the sudden inflow of circulation to the blood vessels. If you want to reduce the sudden pain, you can press your warm palm or squeeze the tips of your fingers on the clamped area as you release the clamps. The pressure slows the blood return, which for most people eases the fierceness of the pain. Of course, sudden pain may be the goal, but it is always nice to have options.

Fledermaus has suggested a terminology for describing clamps that can be helpful in communicating how they feel to different people. He suggests the terms pressure, bite, and grip. A narrow metal clip will have bite but not much pressure or grip. A clover clamp with a tuned-down spring will have a lot of grip but not much pressure or bite. A broad, flat metal tip will have pressure without a lot of bite or grip. That is, grip refers to friction; bite to localization; and pressure to distributed force.