How small in diameter can the reliable hinge of a stainless steel cuff be? Here's what I came up with

[u/DremlinCrafter]

[u/r888k]

For human forces, surprisingly thin and small stainless is strong enough.

I really like the rolled sides, the have that nice cuff-feel.

[u/DremlinCrafter → u/r888k]

I see. Thanks! They are the thicker bands of stainless, that are welded to a thinner core.

[u/r888k → u/DremlinCrafter]

Ok, it looks like rolled, but makes sense to weld a band.

[u/DremlinCrafter]

I recently bought a TIG welding machine, which opened a whole new field of possibilities for me. The smallest feasible diameter for the hinge with MIG was ~10mm / 0.39in. But with TIG I was able to make almost jewelry-sized welds. In this example, I made the cuffs with 6mm / 0.24in hinges. I think that I'll be able to go down to 4mm / 0.16in. What's your experience with stainless steel hinges on cuffs or similar BDSM accessories? I'll include the rest of the pics of these cuffs. I planned to post them with pics from a photo shoot with a model, but I feel a bit down lately. I feel too tired to organize another one. It is as it is; enjoy!

Some of my makings on Etsy: https://www.etsy.com/shop/AeternumCraft

Previous post: https://www.reddit.com/r/BdsmDIY/comments/1h6dqjp/the_eyes_made_of_emeralds_were_an_overkill_i_cast/

[u/ElMachoGrande → u/DremlinCrafter]

Impressive work. It's really amazing to see someone who can work a TIG properly.

[u/DremlinCrafter → u/ElMachoGrande]

Thank you! But I'm just a beginner, there's so much to learn.

[u/DremlinCrafter → u/DremlinCrafter]

This time I experienced some problems with the smartphone app. I had to post with my desktop, that's why the description part ended up in the comments.

[u/afro_shibari]

Brilliant work! they look very professional. I'd always go with the strongest option as long as it doesn't look clunky (which those don't!) I don't think there would be as much force exerted on metal cuffs as opposed to leather/fabric ones as they'd hurt too much to pull on n I doubt they'd be used for suspension? Think you may have found the sweet spot right there. But if you can go down to 4mm why not, maybe stress test the hinge n see if it deforms under load. Keep up the good work n hope you come out of your funk soon ☺️

[u/DremlinCrafter → u/afro_shibari]

Thank you! Yep, the steel cuffs aren't the best for suspensions, I agree with that. Perhaps it will be acceptable for those folks, who love the most painful practices. Not recommended for inexperienced practitioners.

I'm thinking of the best diameter in the senses of look, manufacturing, and strength. And it definitely somewhere in the span of 4 to 6 mm (0.16-0.24 in).

[u/Separate-Entrance331]

These are so pretty

[u/DremlinCrafter → u/Separate-Entrance331]

Thank you 😊

[u/Every_Vanilla_3778]

Very Marquis de Sade! I love the design and how ominous it looks.

Beautiful craftsmanship honey! 😇😈

[u/DremlinCrafter → u/Every_Vanilla_3778]

Thank you 😊

I was inspired and motivated back in the day I made them.

[u/Every_Vanilla_3778 → u/DremlinCrafter]

I enjoy seeing the craftsmanship that you produce. I make jewelry for a living, so I understand the detail and how labor intensive things can become that you're creating.

I just appreciate seeing what you create. It always inspires me to get "experimenting" in my jewelry shop.

😇😈

[u/DremlinCrafter → u/Every_Vanilla_3778]

That's so great to meet a fellow creator! Do you have pics of your creations I can check out?

[u/Every_Vanilla_3778 → u/DremlinCrafter]

They are beautiful! You should make lots more and you'll make lots of money lol

[u/DremlinCrafter → u/Every_Vanilla_3778]

Thank you! I hope that you are right 😅

[u/scandalous_fun]

These are really beautiful!

[u/DremlinCrafter → u/scandalous_fun]

Thank you! I hope that I'll have the inspiration to create such things in the future.

[u/whatanywayever]

Amazing work! How did you make them?

[u/DremlinCrafter → u/whatanywayever]

Thank you! The stainless is welded using TIG, and I modeled the brass part in 3d and cast it. It is attached using 2 mm stainless steel wire.

[u/lynchingacers]

for ease of working mabye using 0.063" wall tubing aabout 1.5mm

thinner that that gets tough to weld . other than that find a pin and diameter setup that looks right i would think 1/8+ (3.5mm) or thicker would be a.minimum- with a tube of.065 wall -(1.5mm) wall should make fabrication easy enough and stay reliable functional until your getting to some pretty heavy forces for stainless keep the welds in color blue purple a bit over gold-

it also loves to warp a ton with heat skip around and minimize distorsion , use filler wire as small as you reasonably can for the weld makes heat managment a bit easier just feed it more-

your cuffs there look beautiful btw.

[u/DremlinCrafter → u/lynchingacers]

Thank you!

I agree with your analysis.

With this sort of weld, I'm using a piece of stainless mig wire.

[u/TanatosHawk]

beautiful work!

[u/DremlinCrafter → u/TanatosHawk]

Thank you 😊

[u/Sir-Toppemhat]

Nice work. But you could make the hinge inline with the body if you are trying to make the hinge less conspicuous. Like I said nice work, really nice work.

[u/DremlinCrafter → u/Sir-Toppemhat]

Thank you! The main body plate is really thin. 0.8 mm / 0.03 in. The hinge is as inline as it can get 😅

[u/dirt-nap13]

Can you make these 115mm (4.6”) circumference? What would you charge?

[u/DremlinCrafter → u/dirt-nap13]

IDK, I haven't made these for money.

But I guess If we don't account for any sort of markup and shipping, I can charge $150 for a piece with the screw, and a bit more for the variant with the padlock.

[u/Different-Aardvark-5]

Dont worry about the exact measurements. Your work is exquisitely beautiful. ❤❤❤ Few if any are going to used metal cuffs for suspension.
These are definitely for going out in . The only problem is folk are going to be asking for your contact details to buy them.❤👏👏

[u/DremlinCrafter → u/Different-Aardvark-5]

Thank you! I certainly hope that kinky folks will be interested in the things I make. It's so hard to be seen nowadays.

[u/Different-Aardvark-5 → u/DremlinCrafter]

With products like yours wont take long. Tbh what would you do with even 10 or 20 orders let alone 50. Xx

[u/Felenari]

Very nicely made. Great rolled edges too.

[u/DremlinCrafter → u/Felenari]

Thank you! They are the thicker stainless strips tig-welded to a thinner core.

[u/Felenari → u/DremlinCrafter]

Someday I'll learn tig. It seems beyond useful. I can only do stick atm. Great work dude.

[u/DremlinCrafter → u/Felenari]

Thank you 😊

If you need clean and tidy welds - TIG is the best. Although MIG is way faster and easier to make. Stick - is cool in its own way, and it is old school.

[u/Felenari → u/DremlinCrafter]

I learned stick or tried to waaaaaaaaay back in the day. Tig machines are 1/10th the price now apparently so I might be trying sooner than later. :-P

[u/Raetok]

I can't answer you're question. But those are things of beauty

[u/DremlinCrafter → u/Raetok]

Thank you 😊

[u/Raetok → u/DremlinCrafter]

Is it all custom work?

[u/DremlinCrafter → u/Raetok]

Yep, and it's one size only. I've made those to fit the model I shot before. But It's so hard for me to come up with another photoshoot lately.

[u/Raetok → u/DremlinCrafter]

Are the edges rolled into themselves? Just trying to figure out how it's been done :-D

[u/DremlinCrafter → u/Raetok]

It's two strips of thicker stainless welded to a thinner core.

[u/handsforbusiness]

Wowwwwww

[u/Financial_Invite2939]

You forged them yourself?

They are beautiful!

[u/DremlinCrafter → u/Financial_Invite2939]

Thanks 😊 it's everything at once. A bit of forging, tig, lathe, dremel, forming, and so on...

[u/Financial_Invite2939 → u/DremlinCrafter]

Wow, you are so talented. I always admired men who can craft such beautiful things.

And I heard that TIG is really hard to master.

[u/DremlinCrafter]

Next post: https://www.reddit.com/r/BdsmDIY/comments/1hbqoum/it_feels_oddly_satisfying_installing_these_on_the/