Instruction Manual for Mark II and Mark IIa Bondage Chairs.

Contents

Parts Identification

Assembly

Operation and Care

Parts Identification

Wood

Legrest

Seat

Back

Top left: Footrest (2), Neck Block. Bottom Left: Ankle Block (2), Elbow Rest (2)

Sides Left and Right, for Mark II Chair

Sides Left and Right, for Mark IIa Chair

Metal

Hardware Kit: 4-1/2" bolt - with nut and two washers (2) 3-1/2" bolt - with nut and two washers (2) 3" bolt - with nut and two washers (8) Wing Nut (10) Washers (10) Extra dowel pins (variable)

Leather

Legrest Set: From top: Knee, Ankle, Foot

Seat Set: Top: Lower Thigh. Bottom : Upper Thigh

Back Set: From the top: Head Harness clip, Collar, Shoulder (2), Chest (2)

X-Harness Option: Top: Crossed Shoulder Straps. Bottom: Split Crotch Strap.

Y-Harness Option

:

Mark II Only. Elbow Strap.

Mark IIa Only. Top: Wrist Strap (2), Bottom: Elbow Strap (2)

Assembly

Important note!

When new, the paint on this chair is slightly "Green". While certainly dry to the touch, it may take a month or more to fully "cure". For the first several months, it is STRONGLY recommended that the chair be disassembled between uses (you can leave the straps installed for convenience). Failure to do so can cause the painted surfaces to stick together and cause damage when separated. To help prevent this, Paraffin wax has been applied to mating surfaces. If you notice any tendency toward sticking, rub a plain white candle on the affected area, and melt it in with a hair dryer and paper towel. It doesn't take much, but it will protect your investment.

General Notes:

When assembling the chair, leave all bolts significantly loose (just put the nut on far enough to stay on) until all parts are assembled, and then tighten finger tight only! Do not overtighten. If you find you need a wrench to disassemble the chair later, use a 9/16" wrench or socket. Periodically check the bolt tightness with use.

Each bolt is supplied with two washers. One goes under the head of the bolt, and one goes under the nut. This helps prevent damage to the wood.

The neck block, ankle blocks, and elbow rests have permanently attached bolts. The 10 washers and wing nuts are for fastening them in their respective slots. The washers are essential and go on just before the wing nuts. Do not put them between the blocks and the chair.

Take your time, and double check the fasteners.

When installing straps, remove the dowel pin, squeeze the folded end slightly and force it through the slot. Leading with a corner makes inserting the strap easy. Then push the dowel pin in through the folded end of the strap. In general, the buckle portions go along the outer edges of the chair, and the belt ends toward the center.

Step 1: On a clear flat area, set the legrest on the floor. Stand one side (left or right) against it. Insert one of the 3-1/2" bolts through the bottom hole on the side, align it with the corresponding hole on the legrest, and slide the two pieces together. Apply the washer and nut loosely, then insert one of the 3" bolts in the hole joining the side and the top of the legrest, and loosely apply the washer and nut.

Lower bolt

Step 2: Attach the remaining side in the same manner

Step 3: Install the knee straps. This would be more difficult when the seat is installed. Push the folded end through the slot...

...then install the dowel.

Step 4: Install the belt portion of the lower thigh strap in the Seat. The dowel ends are inaccessible when the seat is installed.

Step 5: Slide the seat into the slot in the sides. Make sure that it is all the way against the stops, and press the sides together on it. Install four 3" bolts to hold it in place.

Mark II

Mark IIa

Step 6: Slide the back into the slots from the top. Install the 4-1/2" bolts in the upper holes, and the last two 3" bolts in the lower holes

Mark II

Mark IIa

Step 7:

Hand tighten all of the nuts. Visit each nut twice as it may loosen as other bolts are tightened. Shake the chair by the back and tighten any loose nuts, but with your fingers. If you use a wrench and hear creaking sounds as you crush the wood fibers, you're damaging your chair.

Step 8: Install the footrests in the legrest. Place a footrest so that the long slots align with the slots in the legrest, then install an ankle block so that the bolts go through both slots. Attach the ankle block with washers and wing nuts. Be sure that the footrest and the ankle block slide smoothly and independently before tightening the wing nuts fully.

Step 9: Install the elbow rests. Both bolts on each elbow rest go into the same slot, the narrow long one in the armrest. Attach it with two washers and wing nuts.

Step 10: Install the neck block. The side with the narrower and deeper cut away is the top. Use the last two washers and wing nuts.

Step 11: Install footrest straps. The ankle strap goes through the metal bars on the ankle block. The buckle should be toward the outside, and the finished side of the leather against the block. The foot strap goes down through one of the two slots on the outside edge of the footrest and up through the corresponding slot on the inside edge. Choose the slots that fit you best.

Step 12: Install the thigh straps. This step can be conducted during step 4 as well. The belt portions of the lower thigh straps have already been installed. Install the belt and buckle portions of the upper thigh strap in the seat. Install the buckle portion of the lower thigh straps into the sides.

Step 13: Y-Harness: Install the folded end of the Y-harness in the center hole in the seat.

X-Harness: Install the wide folded end of the split crotch strap in the center hole of the seat, then attach the d-rings on the 1" straps to the eye-bolts under the arms of the chair with the provided quick link.

Step 14: Install the chest belts. For men, use the upper and lower slots. For Women, use the middle and lower slots.

If using a head harness, stick the belt end of the head harness clip through the slot at the top of the back, and attach the loose buckle to it to keep it from being pulled through.

Stick the collar through the metal loops on the neck block, finished side against the block.

Step 14A: If using the X-harness, insert the shoulder straps through any of the four angled slots as appropriate for the person to be seated. Attach the crossed chest straps to the lower eye-bolts in the sides of the chair with the provided quick links.

Step 14B: If using the Y-harness, insert the shoulder straps through any of the four angled slots as appropriate for the person to be seated. The shoulder straps attach to the two buckles at the top of the Y-harness.

Step 15: Mark II: Install the elbow strap by passing the folded end through the inner slots of the elbow rests from the back, then pull through enough of the strap to push the folded end through the outer slot from the front, and insert the dowel pin.

Mark IIa: Install the elbow straps by attaching buckle portion to the outer slot, and the belt part to the inner slot, then install the wrist straps the same way to the slots in the armrest.

Step 16: Mark II only: If not already installed, put the trigger hooks into the tubes on the sides and hook the elastic over the dowel pin in the top of the mechanism cabinet. Be sure to distinguish the left and right hooks from one another. The tips should be pointed forward.

Operation and Care

Adjustments

The easiest way to adjust the footrests is with two people. The person to be fitted sits in the chair. The wing nuts on the ankle blocks are loosened, then the ankle block is slid into position at the most comfortable place behind the ankle, making room for the heel underneath it, and the ankle strap is tightened. Then the footrest is slid upward between the block and the legrest until the foot is comfortably supported, at which point the wing nuts are tightened firmly. Doing this solo may require trial and error. Avoid standing on the tips of the footrests when getting in and out of the chair, as this can cause the chair to tip forward, or if the nuts are not sufficiently tight, the footrest could slip unexpectedly.

The elbow blocks are adjusted forward or back so that when the subject's elbows are touching the armrest in the center, the elbow rest touches the back of the arm.

The neck block is adjusted up or down so that the hollow in the top of the block fits under the base of the skull and the bottom edge fits across the shoulders.

Cleaning

Never use cleaners containing Ammonia, and avoid those containing Alcohol. They will damage the paint.

Furniture wax is a good idea, but test on an obscure area first, like the bottom of the legrest. Johnson's Paste Wax is a good one to try.

Scratches can be touched up with Duramax Ultra high gloss latex paint. Color matching on a gray chair will be difficult though.

Mark II mechanism

IMPORTANT SAFETY NOTES:

• NEVER EVER EVER tamper with or disable the release mechanism. Do not make alterations to make self-release "More difficult". Simply put, if you make a modification that causes the mechanism to malfunction, you could die. I know you'd probably like to have it controlled by a timer or something, but you're just going to have to exercise a little discipline.
• When using the chair Solo, always have a backup plan, like a trusted friend with a house key who will come by if you don't make a scheduled call. Examples of bad backup plans: A scheduled visitor to whom you're not Out. Turning on the Gas and expecting the Apartment Manager to investigate the funny smell.
• Every time you use the chair, first test the mechanism by running it through a complete cycle, one side at a time, without using any of the other chair straps. In other words, try it out, keeping one hand free in case there's a problem. While I have never had an issue with the release failing, it is better to make sure.
• One of the greatest dangers in self-bondage is the desire to improvise at the last minute to make escape more difficult. It may occur to you that adding fist mitts while using the chair would be cool. During supervised use, yes. Alone, NO! If you can't grasp the wire, you can't get out, and when you need to get out, that's a bad thing.

If at any time you have a problem with the release, contact me immediately.

Setting the Mechanism

1. Starting in the released state:

2:First move the rope out of the V-Cleat so that it may move. Just run it beside the cleat

3: Fasten the snap shackle through the bottom of the swivel. You may need to tug on the release slightly to get it to close.

4: It should look like this when properly fastened.

5: Firmly grip the bottom of the wrist strap and pull up on the strap until the top of the swivel is even with the hook, or slightly higher. You may need your foot to hold down the chair. With your other hand, turn the hook until it is inside the top of the swivel, and the swivel is resting in the notch in the hook.

6: If done correctly, it should look like this. The tension of the bungee keeps the hook in the forward position.

7: Put the rope back into the V-Cleat. This is an easy step to forget! Then close the door, the mechanism is set.

Getting In

1: After fastening the rest of the straps (Start at your feet, work up to your neck, then do the elbows to get to this point), place your hands through the wrist straps. Give them a sharp tug upwards...

... so that the hook pops out of the swivel...

... then lower your hand to the armrest.

The bungee will take up all the slack in the rope. The V-Cleat is meant to hold the cuff, not the tension in the bungee. Too much tension can also make it difficult to trigger the mechanism. Tension can be adjusted by re-tying the free end of the rope at the back of the chair.

If the wrist strap is too long for you to be able to activate the mechanism, it can be shortened, but it needs to be long enough that you can maneuver your hand into it with your elbow secured. You could also grab the edge of the strap with your hand and pull upwards.

Getting out.

Pull on the inboard side of the wire. Take up the slack, and then with a firm pull, pop the snap shackle.