/diy/ - Do It Yourself

>>197156
Mostly it depends on how much cash and time you have. Lots of cash = buy all the things! No cash and lots of free time = make your own out of damn near anything. Wooden spoons and hair brushes make cheap paddles. Several lengths of rope can be doubled over, tied at the loop, and frayed at the ends to make a wide variety of floggers. Wooden dowel rods are made into canes. Clusters of small rods, acetal rods, and sometimes fiberglass (though beware of splintering/shattering!) can be made into synthetic birching rods. If you're really confident in your abilities and have a sub that likes it really rough, steel dowel rods can be used as canes, too. That can break bones though, so be careful!

If you have the cash to drop on toys, by all means do so. A good flogger runs from $70-300 and up. A nice whippy rattan cane can go for as little as $5, though it won't be very fancy. If you're like most people, you can still rack up an insane variety out of household items. Or, go without or borrow toys. The palm of your hand or a bundle of twigs soaked in brine can be just as punishing as a good cane. ;)

Personally, I always try to give my homemade toys a bit of flare. I like to think it makes them look more professional and a bit more intimidating. I could have gone just with the bare wood on the canes and it would have been equally functional. I just like the extra aesthetic appeal. It's really a personal call. For under $50, and with some creativity, you can have a well-stocked toy chest in an afternoon. If you want to spend the time and a little extra money, you can make things that look professional.