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GrizzlyBear -> RE: seeking reasibly priced floggers (6/8/2007 9:56:59 AM)
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Everybody seems to have their own ideas of what makes a good flogger, and what is cheap. Just remember there is no such thing as a free lunch. You don't get premium grade leather and hours of the finest hand workmanship for $50. That doesn't mean that all $150 floggers are worth the money though.
I've seen quite a few of beauty's floggers. My main impression is inconsistency. They seem to be made to have the same look, but the leather is not chosen with care, and is often too thin, or has flaws that will affect the durability. Some seem like nice floggers, other seem like they will come apart. And in my opinion they are poorly balanced. But they don't cost much, so why not try one? If you never do much flogging, you probably won't wear them out. If you do a lot of flogging, you will end up with a whole toybag full of floggers, and what you buy later will not be what you buy at first. If you get one and it seems flimsy, send it back.
I have seen other vendors that are selling inexpensive floggers that are imported from third world countries but are not identified as such; they photograph well but feel like crap when you pick them up. They are made to look like floggers, not be used.
When you sell your floggers based on lowest possible price, you have to get as many as possible as quickly as possible out of every hide, which means using all the parts of it that are really too thin or too soft, or have nicks or flaws. Leather is not like fabric, it is not all the same even within a single hide. Cutting a hide for quality might mean you get only 1/2 or 2/3 as many floggers out of it. The rest is just waste, or maybe suitable for handles or lining something. The leather is bought based on price and color, not on how it will perform once the flogger is finished. Knots and braids are done quickly and loosely, then held in place with lacquer, which only works till the lacquer is worked loose as the flogger is used. Then it comes apart.
I would never buy any flogger if I could not pick it up, feel the quality and density of the leather, and test the swing and balance. It really is all about the leather. Flogging artists don't choose which flogger to use when by its color or the sheer number of tails, and neither should you.
As far as the ones made of bootlaces, why not just buy some bootlaces and wrap with string yourself? $5 worth of materials and a half hour spent, not worth $40 to me. Very ouchy though.
If at all possible, go to a BDSM gathering or vendor fair where several makers are represented. Handle all their floggers and make a pest of yourself, find out how they are made and why the leather was chosen, what the difference in feel is of each kind. Swing them, hit something or someone if they will let you.. Do not buy based on a picture and the color and number of tails.
Failing the ability to do that, go to play parties and ask the tops to show you their floggers. Most will be glad to.
Oh, and yes I make and sell floggers too, generally custom made to order and not cheap.
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