Kelvin tried out the four size options for Skwee in two different softness levels, both as a vagina and a butt plug. His toy testing reveals Skwee to be a pretty versatile li'l monster, suitable for different sensory preferences and modes of play.
]]>After taking her toy for a spin Joanne has written an excellent and in-depth review, which may help you to work out if Wölfing is right for your anatomy and preferred play experience.
She also has a wealth of detailed resources on her website regarding Estim/Electrosex (including a shop to buy parts and supplies), as well as erotic stories, special offers and giveaways.
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Wölfing has received a nomination for Best Sex Toy, and Tenton is in the running for Best Butt Toy. If you're reading this in time, you can help out by voting in either or both categories.
Both toys are available in the shop if you'd like to see what the fuss is all about!
]]>You may have seen the silicone used in your toy referred to as 'Platinum Silicone'. This refers to the chemical reaction in the presence of platinum, which produces a stable rubber that does not give off by-products like other types of silicone. This makes it an excellent product for uses such as the medical and food industries and, of course, sex toys. Other benefits that platinum silicone has over other silicones include:
- A high tear strength i.e. it stretches a lot before breaking
- Excellent translucency, which makes it ideal for adding an array of colourful pigments
- Highly hydrophobic, allowing it to be boiled and soaked to sanitise
- Fine reproduction of detail, making it possible to design intricate beautiful toys
- Non-yellowing (compared to materials of similar clarity), meaning that your toys will look vibrant for years to come.
Platinum silicone (also referred to as 'addition cure silicone') starts life as two separate viscous liquids which are mixed together and then degassed in a vacuum chamber to remove most of the bubbles caused by mixing. You may or may not have heard or read the term 'curing' when refer to the setting of silicone (as opposed to 'drying'); this simply means the chemical change that occurs is irreversible and produces a new product. Like a beautiful bouncing dildo.
SHORE HARDNESS
You will notice that Tentickle toys are available in different firmness levels, referred to in terms of their "shore hardness". A tool called a Durometer is used to measure the fimrness of rubbery materials by pressing the tool into the surface and measuring the resistance. There are a number of shore scales that measure different firmness ranges but when it comes to silicone adult toys, we are only concerned with the very soft 'OO' shore scale and somewhat firmer 'A' shore scale. Handmade toys generally range anywhere from a super-soft floppy stretchy OO20 shore to a firm upright (though still flexible) A25.
When choosing a toy it is important to consider that the firmness is magnified by its size. For example a mini toy in a shore A10 may feel similar to a very large toy in shore OO50, even though the mini toy is made of a firmer shore of silicone. The size and firmness level will also effect whether the toy can stand up on its own, or whether it leans or falls over.
SO ALL SILICONE TOYS ARE EQUAL, RIGHT.....?
Well, unfortunately no. Sadly, the adult toy industry is largely unregulated due to prejudices against the sex industry as a whole. There are mass-produced toys on the market which may be listed as a "silicone blend" or even "silicone", when they may not contain a single gram of silicone. If you have doubts about the safety of a cheap toy you have bought in the past, there are a few ways to check if it may be made of a cheaper inferior material such as TPE (thermoplastic elastomer). If the surface feels greasy then it has already started to break down, or if it is left on a sunny windowsill for a few weeks you may notice an acceleration in the break-down. When offered up to a flame, platinum silicone will not melt; it will merely form ash on the surface whereas a TPE toy will melt and burn strongly. It can be tempting to opt for a cheap deal when it comes to soft sex toys (I have been guilty of this in the past), but the chemical stability, safety and durability of platinum silicone is what makes it worth the extra cost.
CARING FOR PLATINUM SILICONE TOYS
As mentioned before, the chemical stability and non-porous nature of platinum silicone makes it ideal as a safe and durable sex toy. It can be sterilised effectively by either soaking in boiling water, using antibacterial soap and warm water or using a dedicated toy cleaner. Some people even choose to clean their toys in a dishwasher (without detergent) when they have multiple toys to clean! Talk about time-saving! It is best practice to store silicone toys away from other non-silicone toys and to avoid silicone-based lubricants. It is also wise to avoid compressing silicone toys under large amounts of other toys for long periods of time as this can eventually warp their shape a little. Platinum silicone loves to attract dust and lint, and this issue can be helped by storing toys in drawstring bags made of a material like linen or polyester. If you choose to do this then be sure to prewash the bag, which limits the staining from any excess fabric dye. Despite its durability platinum silicone should be kept away from sharp objects, since once it is sliced into it will be vulnerable to tearing.
Hopefully this have given you a better understanding of what makes your platinum silicone toy great, and why it is a worthwhile investment in terms of safety and durability. Until regulations catch up with the need to keep sex toy users safe, now you can at least apply your own silicone knowledge when it comes to toy purchases.
]]>After decided to try out two medium Tentons she picked her colours (and wonderful colour combinations they were!), I poured her toys in soft and medium silicone and sent them on their way to the Netherlands. You can read more about Tess's delightful experiment in her review.
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Amy Gledhill Intimate Physical Therapy works with people of all genders and sexualities as individuals or couples to concentrate on issues within your partnered or solo sex life. Whether you're struggling with orgasm or aren't sure how to communicate with your partner on pleasure or want to build a better relationship with your body, we're here to help.
Since 2018, Amy and Mike have been building awareness of good sexual health through hands-on treatments, LGBT fairs and offering talks at Leicester General Hospital. They have worked with hundreds of people on intimate bodywork, guiding through genital workshops and advising on toys and lubricant to improve pleasure and assist through difficulties. All products we sell come recommended by us.
"These beautiful humans are professional, trustworthy and kind. They have a vast knowledge of their trade and a wonderful compassion for people. I fully vouch for Amy and Michael and wish them continued success with their already thriving business."
We offer a safe space to explore your body and ask the questions you feel you can't ask elsewhere with no judgement. Available for face to face appointments or via phone/video call.
For more information on treatments and how to book, feel free to browse our website at www.alm-therapy.com
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That is NOT a sentence I imagined myself saying up until my late thirties, when the idea came about for Tentickle. Myself and a good friend were putting the world to rights over a few beers, and at some point we joked about the fact that my skillset would be perfect for making sex toys. Then at some point the joke subsided and it appeared I was weighing up the logistics...?
After this night I went back to freelancing in my job as an SFX Technician/Makeup Artist and Prop-Maker, but the seed was planted in my mind and I found the hypothetical thoughts turning into plans. You see, I enjoy the nature of the work in my regular profession, but the reality of working in the industry is HARD. The jobs are often underpaid as practical FX tries to hold its own up against CGI, the hours are long to the point of physically damaging and working on set can be pretty intense (especially if you're a natural introvert like me!). I've met countless industry veterans who are struggling with toll that years of poor lifestyle, stress and lack of sleep has had on their body and decided that I didn't want to end up in their shoes.
I bought a 3D printer and a Zbrush licence in 2019 through some funding I managed to acquire, and set to work teaching myself digital sculpting. I started discovering the world of indie toy sellers and that excited me, but I was equally horrified to discover how unregulated the sale of sex toys is. Some of the large companies who I had assumed would do things "by the book" actually had free reign to sell cheaply made toys in non-body-safe materials such as TPE and jelly. I knew from my own experience applying prosthetic makeup that platinum silicone is a medical-grade skin-safe choice, and I had plenty of experience in working with it.
Then the pandemic hit and the UK went into lockdown in March 2020.
No film and TV sets. No theatre. No events. No work.
Shit. SHIT.
I panicked for a bit, especially because I was also facing eviction at this time (my landlord decided there was DEFINITELY room to squeeze an extra bedroom in my flat and hike up the rent. Arsehole). I stopped panicking when I realised that so many people were in the same position as me, and started filling my days with plans and designs for Tentickle. Everything slowly fell into place. It gave my days a lot of purpose and really helped get me through the past year mentally intact.
I launched Tentickle during December 2020 and I'm pleased with the feedback so far, though I'm still finding my niche in what is a fast-expanding cottage industry. Currently I'm still juggling the business with my regular day job, though I am being more selective over the jobs I take on. Oh, and I now rent a house from a friend who doesn't mind that I've turned the spare bedroom into a monstrous-dick-making-haven.
]]>Read the full review, where Izzy discusses the merits of using Tenton's textured surface as a a grinding toy.
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How did I not see that the 'mahogany' Woodsman looks like Darth Maul's dick? And how will I ever unsee Inkstar Art's oddly arousing depiction?
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