WhypDancer from Canes4Pain

 WhypDancer is the craftswoman behind Canes4Pain, a Florida-based manufacturer of quality canes, both beautiful and painful.

 WhypDancer thank you for participating in this Q&A.

What would you like people to know about you / your implements?

 

Canes4pain.com delivers thousands of canes each year to homes, movie production companies, and dungeons around the world. I’ve been making these fine rattan canes by hand for nine years and have happy, ecstatic fans everywhere. I feel it is important to make the very highest quality canes possible. I do it all myself. I do it right, and stand behind my work with a lifetime guarantee. If people let me know what kind of play they’d like to do… what color stripes they want, etc… I can match the cane perfectly to the user, to ensure long term happiness. I accept custom orders which are many times made to honor special occasions- collarings, marriages, birthdays, etc. Working time on them varies, depending on the complexity of the design and availability of materials. I can create the perfect cane for anybody.

As for me personally… I am a single female and would love for somebody to step up to the plate to take me under their firm hand.

What is you personal history in the CP /BDSM scene?

I was first introduced to these activities by a wonderful Dominant. I didn’t know anything about dominance back then. We were playing sexually and he slapped my ass/butt/tush. My whole body jumped, and I was shocked that it felt good!  He then did it again, and I was again shocked, and a sort of electrical current ran through my body. It all progressed from there, and I was soon introduced to all sorts of things, including an exquisite mix of pain and pleasure. I was immediately addicted. 

 What led you to making canes?

 

I was seeing a man with an interest in British School Canes. I found out where you could purchase rattan, and made him a cane for his birthday. He whooshed it in the air, and loved it. He was so pleased, he showed some friends. They wanted one too. I made them some canes, and they were also very pleased   Somebody suggested that I post one for sale on eBay. I did, and there was a bidding war. I was shocked. I posted another and the same thing happened. My rattan canes with their high quality, innovative styles, and lifetime guarantee became a huge hit on eBay, until eBay decided they didn’t want disciplinary canes being sold there. It became too frustrating and difficult to stay within their rules, so Canes4pain.com, the website, was born.

What should you do with a cane?

 

BEAT ME!!!!!    LOL

Seriously, it depends on the purpose of the caning, desired effect/results, etc.  

What shouldn’t you do with a cane?

 

Rattan canes don’t like to be whooshed in the air without striking something on the downswing. They travel very rapidly, so many times the user doesn’t see that it makes them curve in a U-shape and weakens the rattan. It can lead to breakage at the handle. 99% of canes broken at the handle were whooshed. It makes a great sound, but please always hit something, even if it is “only” a bed or pillow, etc.

 You also should not allow the cane to extend more than about an inch beyond whichever body part is being struck. 

Do you have a typical customer?

No. My clients come from all walks of life, and have a huge range of preferences in use and the styles of canes preferred.  Some are into very hard-core punishment scenes. I supply them with canes made of the most dense rattan I have, so it holds up to the abuse, and makes the purple marks and slices they want. Some are into more soft and sensuous play– lighter, more whippy canes are usually good for them. And there are many people  in between.

 Some people are buying the canes for themselves, whether they are on the giving or receiving end. Some are given as gifts. Many are used in movies, professional and private dungeons.  Many are used in the spanking community, as well as BDSM circles. Some customers want the classics; the British School Canes, Singapore Punishment Canes, Birch Rods, and undecorated canes.  Others desire only the most ornate decorative handles with sterling silver or gemstones, or custom works that can take me years to design and bring to fruition. 

 It is very satisfying to me to be able to fill the needs of my fans by supplying the perfect cane for their style and preferences, whether it is a $15 undecorated cane, or a $3000 work of art.  I back all of my work with a lifetime guarantee and have very few returned. No matter how ornate, they are all fully working, useable canes. I do not make them to sit on a shelf and be stared at!

You ship canes all over the world, where is the furthest you have ever shipped a cane to?

 

 I have shipped to countries on every continent; from small African countries, to Asia, Europe, South America, Australia, the Middle and Far East, to some third world countries, etc. My canes are  being enjoyed in all US states, and the rest of the world.  I was surprised to have the privilege of sending a number of Singapore Punishment Canes to Singapore.  Maybe the judicial system was short on supply that month!  I suppose the farthest in terms of miles would be Australia (where I ship often), or Antarctica.

Is there an area that has more people that purchase canes from you?

 

 Not really. My orders are really widespread, 50-75% currently go overseas, and the domestic US orders are really spread all over our country. I will notice an upturn in orders in a specific region following vending at an event in that region. I vend at large events all over the country- Boston, New York, New Jersey, DC, Atlanta, Los Angeles, San Francisco, Las Vegas, Tampa, Chicago, Denver, etc.

What type of care should you give a cane?

 

 Rattan canes love moisture. Every few months they should be rehydrated either with steam, a warm bath, or a humid night outdoors.  You don’t want to keep them moist all the time or they will get moldy. You can kill the mold on them, but it does stain and I haven’t found a way to remove the mold stains.

On your website you talk about doing a lot of product testing, what does that involve?

 

Product testing involves some blood, sweat and tears on my part. It is painful. Before I introduce a new product design to my fans, I want to see what it feels like, so I can describe it on the Canes4pain.com website. I want to know that it is comfortable in the top’s hand, and that it is properly balanced and accurate. Those things ensure that it will be easy and fun for the top to use.  I need to know how difficult it is to break (a serious concern when giving a lifetime guarantee), and I need to know its marking ability and how intense it is, and the degree of sting vs. thud at various velocities. This is all done on my skin, so I know and can share the information when people need assistance in selecting their canes.

 

As each batch of rattan can be different testing is done on a sample from various batches and on specific designs, but no cane I send out has been used on human flesh before sending it out.

What is the most difficult cane you have ever made?

 

 Hmmm, tough question, a few come to mind. 

There is the wickedly beautiful masterpiece that took me 2.5 years to complete, named Lily.  It was a specially commissioned piece. My client wanted something with a Lily of the Valley. The top of this cane has three stalks of Lily of the Valley with 31 florets total, two detailed leaves, all life sized, created from sterling silver sheets. Each floret moves freely, like it is blowing in the wind. They jingle beautifully when the cane moves and they strike each other. Sterling silver is frequently used for baby rattles because of the clean, pure sound of it jingling.  Each floret has a pearl stamen in it. Even vanillas are taken aback by the beauty of this cane. I’ve hand carried it through numerous airports during the process, and gotten a lot of comments from vanilla people, including one that wanted to purchase it. Some people that should know better commented that it is too beautiful to use.  That is absolutely incorrect. This beauty is built atop what is probably the wickedest piece of 9mm rattan that I’ve felt in my life.  It perfectly lives up to the Canes4pain slogan…  ”Canes as wicked as they are beautiful”.

Click on the picture to be taken to the enlarged version of Lily or click on Lily to link to the cane gallery.

 

That was probably the most difficult cane so far- or maybe the commemorative cane for Black Rose 08 which is pictured near the top of the Cane Gallery on the website. I spent a few hundred hours on that cane too.  It is also challenging to design the Limited Edition Winter Holiday and Valentines Day Canes every year. If you look on the Canes Gallery page, you will see some canes with pure silver that is braided on the handles. That is very difficult.  If I make a mistake, I can waste several ounces of silver. I also get a lot of cuts on my fingers doing that kind of work. It is certainly beautiful when complete, but it can be painful. Due to the difficulty and loss from mistakes that can be involved,   I rarely braid with silver anymore.

 

 

What is your favorite specialty cane? 

 

Not counting the canes in the Crown Jewels Collection, I think my current favorites are the Twisted Loopy Canes. They are fun to make, and fun to feel!  If we count the Crown Jewels, I have many favorites, but the Lily Cane mentioned above would probably currently be it. I am working on a new cane now that might rival it.  It will be a life sized rose with 18 petals, in sterling silver. The large, open rose should measure around six inches across and three or so inches tall… stay tuned!  As with most of my extremely “way out” designs, it is a piece commissioned by one of my fans. I love when I am given a very loose general idea of what they desire, and then let me go wild on teh idea without a deadline or budget. That makes for a lot of fun in my design studio!

 What was the most unusual special order you ever got?

 

 I thought sending Singapore Punishment Canes to Singapore was a little bit unusual.  I’d say maybe the most unusual request was to make a set of eight canes with a mermaid theme, but they weren’t to be ”girly”!!  The thought of making mermaids not girly made me a bit nervous, but the set was beautiful when complete and delivered at Thunder in the Mountains (Denver) last July, and I am working on Mermaid #9 to join the set now.

Some people use straps on the palms of the hand, is it safe to use canes that way as well?

 

Canes can be used anywhere on the body including the palms of the hands. You don’t want to use a heavy cane hard on the palms, unless it is a VERY accurate cane and the top is VERY skilled.  Being caned on knuckles and other bony parts really hurts and can do serious physical damage. A nice light very thin cane (7mm or less) is very good for laying on the sting without doing damage to delicate body parts.

How has the spanking / BDSM world changed since you first became involved?

 

 It is much more widespread thanks to the dissemination of information via the internet!  There are many more people interested in it, many more parties to attend, a lot more information is out there and it is much easier to get the information. There are great events with classes, where you can meet people interact with hundreds of people with the same interests!  There are websites where you can post ads and find out about events, and other happenings.  The changes since I was introduced to this are profound and happened quickly!

Whangee Cane

 How mainstream do you think the cane has become?

 

 

 Canes were originally used in the vanilla world. Canes were very mainstream from Victorian times to recently. Now they are not as widely used in the vanilla world as they used to be, although some countries do still allow caning.  In the Spanking/BDSM world, cane use is very widespread, and is considered a basic need in any-body’s toy bag. Some people are still afraid of canes, but they need to be afraid of whoever made them afraid, not the implement! Even hands, straps and hairbrushes can be something to cause fear, when used beyond a persons skill or a recipients desire.

You have a lifetime warranty on your canes, have you had to replace many? 

 

No, not many. Cane breakage is pretty rare. I do my best to ensure that they are properly conditioned before I send them out to my fans. I do my best to make it so they are perfect enough that the guarantee is not used. There is the occasional issue though… especially in the winter, and very early spring.  Humidity is down in our country at those times, and people use heat in their homes, which also has a drying effect. If a cane is moist and supple, it can withstand a lot more abuse than a dry cane.

I allow my customers to send their canes to me for a “spa treatment” where I will rehydrate them and let them luxuriate in the cane spa- oil treatment until they are perfect again and ready to travel back to their parents.  I would much prefer to do that for my fans so their canes serve them forever, than to allow them to have issues with their canes due to dryness, etc.

What distinction do you see between spanking and BDSM?

 

 The distinctions seem to be getting hazier over time. I attend quite a few large spanking parties, and am frequently amazed at the spankee’s engaging in a level of play that would have many “BDSM enthusiasts” safe wording.  But the spankee’s, many times seem to deny that they are ”into S&M”; but from what I see many times, the spanker vs. spankee dance is truly one of a sadist and masochist. Call it what you like– just be happy in what you do!

 Also, many people “into BDSM” spank or get spanked, but don’t consider themselves spankers or spankee’s. I don’t know. I like it ALL and wouldn’t want to give any of it up. I rarely see bondage (the B of BDSM) at spanking events. But discipline? (the D of BDSM) YES!  And S&M? YES!  

 I am now seeing whips and floggers used at spanking events. Paddles, canes, straps, etc are used at both. The line between the two groups is getting hazier all the time, in my opinion. I love the parties of “both groups” and wouldn’t want to choose one over the other.  It’s all fun!

What can you tell me about your Grand Dukes collection?

 

The Grand Dukes Canes start with one inch thick rattan that still has the bark on it.  Many think that because of the thickness, it is Bamboo… but it is not. You can tell the difference by looking at the end of a stick. If it is hollow inside, it is Bamboo. It is solid, it is Rattan.  All of my canes are rattan. I add a nice black glossy handle and a decorative top piece to the Grand Dukes- which are also known as “Thumpers” or TNT Canes.  (TNT= Thick N Thuddy) 

 People like them because they are very thuddy and have a great vibration.  Some buy a set of two and put one between a woman’s legs and strike it with the other, and it vibrates rather nicely (from what I hear!). Others use them at moderate intensity for warming the skin and preparing it for the thinner canes. They are very popular.  Usually after somebody feels one (or two at the same time), they are hooked.

What should a beginner understand before using a cane? Before having one used on them?

 

 A beginning caner should understand that with the right cane used at the right intensity, you can cane anywhere on the body. More delicate parts of the body need lighter strokes with lighter canes. It would also be nice if everybody understood the concept of warming the skin and gradually building a person up to taking hard strokes, even if they want to do a hard disciplinary caning, they should still have this understanding in their repertoire. I don’t think anything will take a person’s breath away like a good hard stinging/burning cane stroke. But there are ways to do it so you don’t damage the skin as much, and there are ways to do it where you can inflict a lot of damage. Different people have different end results in mind, but the knowledge should be there, so you can do it either way, when wanted.

 They should also know about proper technique to keep a cane in good shape. Keep it hydrated, don’t extend more than about an inch beyond the body part you are striking (to prevent ”wrapping” and/or damage to the cane tip), and strike parallel to the body part you are hitting (again, to prevent damage to the cane).

 Bottoms should really trust the person that is caning them. If they have fears, discuss it with the top, discuss past experiences and what you want and/or don’t want from the caning. If you don’t want marks, tell them! If you do want marks, tell them!  If you want a nice warm up so you can take a lot, tell them! Pre-scene negotiation goes a long way to ensure you are both happy with the outcome. Personally, I don’t let anybody cane me unless I’ve seen them play with others. I consider it an audition on somebody else’s skin. I feel it is a very good policy for single bottoms that want to play.

Birch Rod Blue tip

 

 

 What is your favorite implement?

 

I wouldn’t want to live without the sting and burn of a fine rattan cane, or the sting/burn of leather paddles, straps and hands to warm me up. I don’t think I can choose just one favorite. I want it all!!!! 

 

 

 

 

What is your favorite implement to make?

 

 I love to make my Crown Jewels Collection Canes the most. I get to really be creative. The techniques I use are very challenging. I have been taking silversmith classes for years, as well as courses in high end gemstone setting, design, chasing and repousse. I’ve taken classes from some of the best jewelry arts instructors in the world, including the head of the chasing department for Tiffany & Co, and famous gemstone setters. Every year I attend the huge Tucson Gem Show to take classes, shop and gather inspiration. There are thousands of gem and jewelry dealers, and hundreds of classes! I love to learn new things and attempt to ”outdo” my previous Crown Jewels Canes designs that I’ve created over the years. 

 I love vending at events, and seeing the rapid intake of breath as passers-by see the Crown Jewels Canes for the first time; then basking in the praise for days on end. I just love it!  I love when somebody purchases and tries canes for the first time too, and comes back and tells me about how much they loved the experience. It all makes me feel really good

The following cane is found on the Crown Jewels page  and is a limited numbered edition for the 2009 holiday season