Below Mixed Makers

Smooth designs can be realistic or abstract shapes some smoothed out for a more ergonomic experience. There may be a bit of a misconception that smooth dildos are not as interesting but there are so many outlandish designs! Think bottles, chess pawns, werewolf and sea creatures! Themes across smooth and textured designs overlap to appeal to a broader audience and sizes are such that they are inclusive to the vast majority.

Textured designs encompass all varieties of mould, there are key differences in the levels of texture and type. As in where a dildo has plentiful small bumps or ridges and lumps the details are highly concentrated (i.e. corn on the cob -phreak) would be easily recognised as a high frequency texture and can offer a completely different amount and type of sensation to lower frequency textures. Dependant on the exact design but high frequency patterns can swing from being overstimulating to some and barely detectable to others- it is personal.

Lower frequency textures apply to models like Dovah where the texture is chunkier bolder and more prominent, these textures can be an utter dream to some and a complete off put for others it is your choice which would suit your own scenario. I very much enjoy both forms of texture and lean away from smoother designs unless they are rather large or fit the theme I bought it for like some knotted designs are easier to use with less textures (anal toys I prefer smooth).

 

Variants in design shapes :

As i have slipped in a few here are some basic concepts of styles of dildo/sex toys available in the platinum cure market.

Knotted are often werewolf inspired or similar, have a proportionately slim shaft that suddenly expands into a bulb/ball forming the 'knot' before either becoming the base or having a small amount of shaft just before the base to allow the toy to be fully hilted and 'worn' better inside, locking the dildo inside you. 

Swell designs can function much like knotted designs but are easier to thrust and less bulbous in shape, they tend to stand like they have a stomach or a wide point towards the centre of the shaft, which is the swell itself a great example of this is Ceela (SBF) or even Dovah (Phreak).

Curved pleasure point stim designs tend to be smooth and fairly generic in my view across the board some have little low intensity waves or ribs that are high intensity some designs incorporate a curve but better fit another theme also so i don't judge all curved dildos in the same way but for the purpose of describing this feature generically they are often simple efficient and can be budget friendly options, giving way to also being great starting points to become familiar with the materials and firmness options.

MAWs had me at a loss for a while in the early days of purchasing dildos as they are less commonly sold here in the uk, since then there have been a few but nothing compared to in the states. simply put it is any design with teeth, tongue and mouth with or without nose ,eyes and any other facial features of a creature or human- even hybrids of the two. That's all.

Flared vs tapered toys, is just as it sounds, for flared the tip is wider than the shaft by varying amounts due to models differing in exaggeration of the flare. Tapering dildos are just the opposite, allowing gradual expansion of shaft girth until the base as in a unicorn horn or splicer(phreak).

Hand/Paw/Claw designs are just as they sound, a foot, a hand or any extremity usually found on a limb. Some are very realistic in actual appearance and scale , whereas others are gargantuan in scale for catering to those who have a size kink or a yearning to feel the pressure of a giant caress.

Grocery/off-licence inspired dildos are available too, just be sure they are genuinely platinum cure by buying from reputable companies, as there are a lot in this category that are mis-sold as body safe online.  The types of dildo you can see are corn cobs, carrots , champagne bottles, strawberries, drinks cans and many many more.

Egg and ovipositors, can be used together as part of fetishes around egg laying, impregnation by alien etc. The ovipositors are just essentially hollow channelled dildos that allow lubricated eggs to be deposited (inserted) via the dildo and when ready laid (pushed out). The eggs cross over into Kegel exercise fun and the feeling of fullness so many enjoy without a specific fetish about eggs or aliens.

Heads or Tails , there are MAWS which are insertables (vaginal/anal use) but then there are snout like or mouth style penetrables which come in a vast array of styles from werewolves to dragons. These are intended for males to use and have a hollow lined with stimulating textures. There is more risk of ripping on these products due to the structure essentially being a wall of silicone rather than a solid block, any small tear is readily torn further with minimal effort as is the nature of silicone. Some penetrables have vibe slots for a bullet vibrator, others are closed to add a suction sensation. There are loads available but I have noticed they aren't as easy to find as dildos, so shop around you'll be surprised!

Genital inspired styles for either gender are around too in abstract and realist styles but are a little less common in general.

Grinders are meant for external stimulation, where sensitive erogenous zones like a clitoris are rubbed and ground against a textured toy, there are specific models made just with this main purpose in mind although some dildos can be ground against.

Packers are in essence a prosthetic penis and usually scrotum. Most are in a flaccid state to be worn with harness or inside a slot in underwear tailored for this purpose.

Sleeves/sheaths are penetrable and usually have a ball strap to help hold the toy in place. Sleeves can be for adding texture for both involved or to add girth/length to the wearer some encompass both aspects. Sleeves come in an array of fittings and thicknesses so do double check all available size guides from each maker. The designs range from long and smooth to shorter and knotted! These are great for partners and as masturbators!

Butt/vaginal plugs are two separate toys with similar function, one key difference is that the bases on anal toys are designed with safety in mind (wider/flared to prevent complete insertion) whereas vaginal toys can have bases that are NOT anal safe as they can require assistance from a doctor to remove from anal passages. Plugs are worn during sexual activities to provide a pleasing pressure which can intensify other sensations for the wearer, but are also worn as a little secret whilst out and about.

vibe sleeves and wand toppers are great additions to toys you already own, they add a different texture and can alter how a vibration feels whilst adding girth to bullets.

double shaft/ multi shaft toys have as it sounds, more than one shaft and can be used any way you see fit.

Depth trainers are usually very long and have a tapered slim shaft, most are smooth as they are intended for anal use but there are many that are high or low frequency textured if preferred.

There are probably a few I have failed to mention but half the fun in collecting sex toys is discovering new and interesting designs along the way !

Although it can seem daunting to try and start figuring out what works for you, it is a positive journey and you should be open to explore things that both work and don't, so you know better what to purchase in the future.

FANTASY is the key word here almost anything including a cheese grater have been made from platinum cure silicone for the purpose of being a sex toy so you will most likely find something that you love no matter how individual your preferences are.

Firmness is the question 

shops use a shore scale which for a new customer appears as helpful as a chocolate teapot, but it does help give an idea of what you can expect from one store compared to another once you become familiar with the conversions. 

generally speaking shops offer:

0020 as super or extra soft and this is a very gelatinous squishy soft 

0300 is offered as super/extra soft but some stores say this is soft. Pliable squishy but offers a little resistance

0400 is soft - medium range firmness (also shown as 00A) bendable and compresses has a little squish

0450 

0500 yet again can be listed as medium by some- but check each stores guides. Bends with resistance and rapidly returns with strong flex, squish felt more on the thinnest parts.

8A / 10A firm not all stores offer this level of firm and most will not make a larger toy with firm unless you specify how absolutely sure you are about the decision. Very solid rubber feeling, compresses very little, some designs don't bend very much/easily and thinner toys can still be bent round.

my summary is not the best - but each shop provides guides that best suit for their products respectively so do always check !

Firmness can vary from maker to maker so getting to know which you are after is a little hit and miss but sometimes you can like an array of firmness's as well as textures, sizes and colours.

The feeling of firmness really does depend on the size toy you buy, the bigger the more dense it is so overall to your hand feels firmer than a smaller toy in the same shore firmness. you can find lots about shore firmness scales online but nothing beats squishing for yourself to decide, luckily most companies do offer firmness pucks if you would like to get a little feel before committing to purchasing a full size/price toy. 

In my experience the medium is great for the smaller toys or designs made for G-spot pressure/grinders but anything bigger than this i purchase soft-although it is down to your preference and opinion which option you enjoy most!

Screw by Phreak.Club

Size Ranges:

Size ranges vary from shop to model, each toy has its own chart and so it can be a little bit of a minefield to navigate at first, average penis size(4.5/5.5 inch circ) is often mini/extra small/small size but do ALWAYS reference the stores guides.

There are sizes from super slender (4inch circ) to xxxl (15 inch circ+) which caters for many and most people, you will find that your ideal preference may not be available for all toys, which is a consideration when I buy or do not buy a particular model.

It seems simple in hindsight but took a while to grasp, Max circumference is very literally the widest point on the model, so even if its only that wide for a small portion/length of the toy that's what is written. I say this because early into collecting i had been a little disheartened by the 'smaller than i thought in my head' toys but when I measured I understood. Shops have become clearer and have even more measurements to help so it is easier to know what you are buying. I loop a dress makers tape around into a circle to the specs shown to help visualise before I buy.

Storage is simple, all PLATINUM CURE toys can be stored together safely without adverse effect but weight and sharp angles like the bottom of a storage box can deform the toy, sometimes permanently.

Cardboard will draw out harmless silicone oils from your toy even just overnight, it wont damage the toy but you are best putting a layer/barrier of 100% cotton or zip-lock bags regardless of what storage container you use.

As an added precaution I store them together by brand when not on display on the glass shelves. To be clear the shelves are not chromed or coated. Glass has small almost invisible pits to the surface so when standing silicone there for prolonged time without disturbance it will press and suck to the glass , seeming stuck- this is NOT a chemical reaction, but gravity and a soft material over time pressing and suctioning together.

Some people use wooden shelving with no adverse effects, personally I won't because you can't know how it will react, some are laminated with PVC which will permanently melt your toys or are treated with unknown chemicals so be careful.

I had seen a handy piece of advice worth passing on, use a teeny/squishy/puck or other sacrificial piece of platinum cure silicone to test for reactions, leave said squishy on the surface in question for a few days at least check for surface changes like it has become sticky or formed liquid on the surface. If these changes happen then you know not to put your more valued collection on/in that material.

Precautions:

NEVER store with lesser materials such as jelly, tpe, pvc or questionable as this will 'melt' and chemically  react with your toy to negative effect.

Direct prolonged sunlight will fade toys so avoid putting them for long times on a windowsill. GITD/UV reactive toys can suffer worse with this, you can charge them but just don't keep them in a full sun window year round! I charge mine with a UV light for a few minutes and they glow spectacularly.

Silicone once nicked or torn will further tear easily, there are special silicone 'glues' available for small rips in  platinum cure toys but it can be harder to get hold of in the U.K. (out of the USA in general it seems).

Always clean routinely and inspect your toys regularly for any potential damage.

Best to use water based lubricants or natural oil like coconut oil.

Faerie <3