Caveat Emptor

Some people buy inexpensive (Chinese) male chastity devices and then modify them to overcome issues in the original product. This can be an entertaining hobby and a potential way to save money. There are, however, serious limitations in this approach.

A great many of these imported devices are made of potentially dangerous materials. The most problematic are the chrome-plated devices. They are fairly easy to spot since the plating makes all surfaces bright and shiny. These devices are not safe to wear. The chrome plating is only a few atoms thick. Under the chrome you usually find a layer of nickel plating. Below that layer, there may be a copper layer and below that, cheap carbon steel.

The chrome will wear off fairly quickly. When it starts to go, it can actually flake off with shards that can bury themselves in the soft tissue they cover. You may have seen a car bumper that is peeling this way. You can easily pick off pieces of the plating.

All stainless steel is not created equal. Stainless steel is created by alloying other metals like chromium, nickel, and molybdenum with the steel. The purpose is to create a metal that is rust and corrosion resistant. In the U.S. different types of stainless steel are identified by numbers. 316 is the alloy most often used for medical/surgical applications because it doesn’t react with body chemicals. 440 and 420 stainless steel are “cutlery” grade. They are inferior to 316.

What this all means is that a chastity device claiming to be made from stainless steel could well be made from a cheaper, inferior alloy. How it will react to your body is not known. If you buy an inexpensive device, it’s best to assume the steel is inferior. It will require careful inspection on a regular basis. If you find any rust or discoloration, don’t wear it.

The most common do-it-yourself fix for inexpensive devices is refinishing the sharp edges and rough spots on the device. If the device is solid stainless steel you can use emory paper to soften hard edges and get rid of rough spots. Often this is the difference between pain and comfort. Most often the problems are with the base ring and the inside of the cage. Split base rings (they have a hinge so they open wide) are the most problematic. The area of the hinge almost always irritates tender scrotal skin. Some devices are supplied with a short piece of silicone tubing that you can use to cover the hinge area. That is not a good fix and generally wears out quickly.

One thing that can’t be fixed is size. Cage diameter and length are very difficult to modify. Even the pros, like Mature Metal, won’t adjust cage diameter. It’s too difficult. When you buy an off-the-shelf device, the fit isn’t adjustable. Period.

Plastic devices offer an interesting alternative to metal. The CBxxxx series pioneered the entire category. These devices are widely copied and you can buy a “CB6000” from dhgate.com for a few bucks. These counterfeits are famous for splitting at the weld that holds the two halves of the tube together. Even the “brand name” CB6000 suffers from this problem, though less frequently.

When it comes to male chastity devices, you get what you pay for. A $30 USD “stainless steel’ device is very likely to be made from inferior materials and be poorly finished. There is a little good news, though. Recently, many of the cheap cages stopped using the split base rings. They come with a welded ring similar to the kind Mature Metal uses. The quality of workmanship on some of the cages is actually quite good.

The biggest problem I’ve had with the Chinese cages is size. They make some nicely sized short cages. The length is perfect for me. Unfortunately, these short cages tend to have a small diameter. Most are 1.1 inches. That’s too small for most western penises. The longer cages are sized with more appropriate diameters. I’ve noticed that some new models are out there with a short cage (1-1/2 inches) and a diameter of about 1.33 inches. This is probably a good size for most guys.

Most of the customers for these inexpensive devices are newcomers to enforced male chastity. They want an entry-level device to see whether or not they want to get involved on a longer term basis. I don’t think it’s very easy to get away without spending around $200 USD to get started. The Holy Trainer Nano is $176 USD at the time of this writing. I believe the CB6000 is similarly priced. Either of those make excellent starters.

In the 90’s when many of us learned about male chastity on the internet, there were very few reputable devices for sale. A lot of guys built their own out of plumbing supplies. Things have come a long way since then. The number of junk devices has grown apace with interest in male chastity. This isn’t a cheap hobby to enter. If you try to start out with a $30 USD device, you probably will quit because of the suffering it causes you. On the other hand, if you stick with reputable “brand name” devices, you will get a chance to try enforced chastity without suffering injury.

3 Comments

  1. Author

    Your comments on materials are so important! Safe your pennies and buy quality. Surgical stainless steel is the way to go. Great post!

  2. Author

    We purchased the cheaper metal cage you recommended from DH Gate. In 6 months the metal has held it’s integrity. The fit is great. Glad you gave us that link.

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