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Troubleshooting Guide For Device Restorers
I have benefitted greatly from reading the experiences of others, my restoration techniques have evolved considerably ever since I first learned this was possible.
I encountered several infuriating road blocks along the way, and to date have overcome them all. It was challenging to find solutions to these problems because even though there is a lot of information out there, I could not find specific answers to my individual road blocks.
I want to share my specific road blocks and how I solved them. Some of these are very basic and others I hope if you haven’t already discovered for yourself, are beneficial to someone out there.
For more info on my motivation to start restoring and personal routine check out my “introduce yourself.”
Trouble getting devices “installed” or to stay on.
I started out as a CI1 and very tight with almost no skin mobility. I wanted to start restoring with a device so I bought a TLC-X. When I received the device I wasn’t even close to being able to push enough skin forward to install it as intended.
For the first several months I used my TLC-X like a standard TLC. I completely removed the pusher rod, plate, collet everything. The shortened overall length of the tugger made it possible (still difficult) to install. I used the 2 cones on their own and successfully grew tissue. When I was ready I added the elastic tension, but in light moderation. Eventually I was able to add the push plate and rod and use the device as intended. This process took me probably 6 months just to use the device as intended.
Wearing devices with “skinny” jeans or tight fitting clothing.
Originally I tugged solely at night (carefully) because I thought I could not possibly use devices during the day without it being obvious under my normally snug fitting jeans.
With a simple twist on Ron’s TLC elastic leg strap technique I was able to make the TLC-X completely invisible under skinny jeans. In Ron’s tutorials he wraps the elastic over the top of his thigh before going behind the knee and to the ultimate clamping area.
My tweak involves first pulling the elastic down along the inside of the thigh and then wrapping it behind the thigh before continuing down the leg. Yes this does slightly trap the penis and testicles between the thighs, so don’t crush anything but if done properly a device can be worn with skinny jeans and no one will know.
Dealing with discomfort.
This is definitely the most difficult and ongoing development in my tugging. I have experienced all the commonly reported forms of discomfort with devices except numbness. Pinching, burning, pins and needles shooting pains etc. obviously are not good or acceptable and should not be ignored.
The first problems I encountered were simple burning issues resulting from excessive tension. Back it off, I have learned there is an element of less is more in restoring, if you use such excessive tension that you can’t tolerate the device for long you won’t wear it for long. Medium tension that stays comfortable all day has resulted in equal wrinkles and bunching upon device removal for me.
The next issue I encountered was abrasions, not skin tears as a result of tension but rather device fitment. I have done extensive customization to my devices (both TLC-X and DTR). Even though these are designed to have smooth edges and reliefs for frenulum remnants I still had rubbing issues. Look for even micro-small rubber or plastic flashing, a sand paper-backed drywall finishing sponge has worked great for me when it comes to fine polishing and smoothing. For bigger jobs I have deepened frenulum grooves, reduced the diameter of push plates to reduce pressure on the inside of my skin tube, succulus or other problem area.
Even after all my customization I still could not make any form of push plate work for me without abrasions. Ultimately I fabricated my own pusher.
Borrowing design from the DILE insert device I purchased a bag of 1-inch diameter nylon balls, I drilled and tapped these for the threads on the DTR push rod and the 1-inch ball fits perfectly inside the original bell. I now apply inner tension with this ball, there are no pressure points, flashing edges or anything to cause abrasions.
Padding or lubricating.
I have heard of using small cloth makeup applicator sponges as padding between the glans and a pusher, but I have never tried this. I have done quite a bit of experimenting with a Chap Stick-like lip balm (I use a Vegan alternative, I’m not Vegan but I want anything I’m putting down there to be all organic). Applying a thin layer of balm to the glans, frenulum and remaining inner skin goes a long way toward extended comfort wearing a device. Excess balm will cause the device to slip off, or the glans to slip past the pusher so use sparingly. For me I only apply to the frenulum area and succulus down to the scar line. This provides me the lubrication for the pusher to glide down through my skin tube but not compromise the grip of the device.
Binding or Pinching.
We are all encouraged to roll as much skin as possible forward onto the bell or cone of a device like the TLC or DTR before the silicone gripped is placed down. In my experience this is true because more surface area of skin clamped means the force is distributed over a greater area for better grip and comfort. However, it is possible to go too far. On a number of occasions I have rolled skin forward far enough such that when I flip down the silicone gripper on my DTR some skin protrudes out the small hole on top, this creates a pinch area that must be fixed.
Binding is another area I could not consistently avoid until a recent breakthrough. When I say binding, I mean the ability to push the plunger or pusher inside the skin tube after the device is installed. Sometimes I could only move the rod ½ inch or so and other times, more like 3 inches. I could not figure out what I was doing differently to have different binding scenarios. I apply the DTR first rolling as much skin as possible onto the bell, and then rolling it back so that only one doubled over layer of skin will be trapped by the silicone retainer. I have found this scenario allows the pusher to glide without any binding or pinching.
To Be Continued.
I still get discouraged, but as everyone says and my wife keeps emphasizing, YOU WILL GET THERE, and don’t give up. I’m sorry I don’t have pictures for all these specific scenarios but I may be able to provide some if someone has a specific question or I didn’t describe something well enough to visualize. I am by no means any authority on restoring problem solving but these things were hard learned for me and I hope they help someone.
I have benefitted greatly from reading the experiences of others, my restoration techniques have evolved considerably ever since I first learned this was possible.
I encountered several infuriating road blocks along the way, and to date have overcome them all. It was challenging to find solutions to these problems because even though there is a lot of information out there, I could not find specific answers to my individual road blocks.
I want to share my specific road blocks and how I solved them. Some of these are very basic and others I hope if you haven’t already discovered for yourself, are beneficial to someone out there.
For more info on my motivation to start restoring and personal routine check out my “introduce yourself.”
Trouble getting devices “installed” or to stay on.
I started out as a CI1 and very tight with almost no skin mobility. I wanted to start restoring with a device so I bought a TLC-X. When I received the device I wasn’t even close to being able to push enough skin forward to install it as intended.
For the first several months I used my TLC-X like a standard TLC. I completely removed the pusher rod, plate, collet everything. The shortened overall length of the tugger made it possible (still difficult) to install. I used the 2 cones on their own and successfully grew tissue. When I was ready I added the elastic tension, but in light moderation. Eventually I was able to add the push plate and rod and use the device as intended. This process took me probably 6 months just to use the device as intended.
Wearing devices with “skinny” jeans or tight fitting clothing.
Originally I tugged solely at night (carefully) because I thought I could not possibly use devices during the day without it being obvious under my normally snug fitting jeans.
With a simple twist on Ron’s TLC elastic leg strap technique I was able to make the TLC-X completely invisible under skinny jeans. In Ron’s tutorials he wraps the elastic over the top of his thigh before going behind the knee and to the ultimate clamping area.
My tweak involves first pulling the elastic down along the inside of the thigh and then wrapping it behind the thigh before continuing down the leg. Yes this does slightly trap the penis and testicles between the thighs, so don’t crush anything but if done properly a device can be worn with skinny jeans and no one will know.
Dealing with discomfort.
This is definitely the most difficult and ongoing development in my tugging. I have experienced all the commonly reported forms of discomfort with devices except numbness. Pinching, burning, pins and needles shooting pains etc. obviously are not good or acceptable and should not be ignored.
The first problems I encountered were simple burning issues resulting from excessive tension. Back it off, I have learned there is an element of less is more in restoring, if you use such excessive tension that you can’t tolerate the device for long you won’t wear it for long. Medium tension that stays comfortable all day has resulted in equal wrinkles and bunching upon device removal for me.
The next issue I encountered was abrasions, not skin tears as a result of tension but rather device fitment. I have done extensive customization to my devices (both TLC-X and DTR). Even though these are designed to have smooth edges and reliefs for frenulum remnants I still had rubbing issues. Look for even micro-small rubber or plastic flashing, a sand paper-backed drywall finishing sponge has worked great for me when it comes to fine polishing and smoothing. For bigger jobs I have deepened frenulum grooves, reduced the diameter of push plates to reduce pressure on the inside of my skin tube, succulus or other problem area.
Even after all my customization I still could not make any form of push plate work for me without abrasions. Ultimately I fabricated my own pusher.
Borrowing design from the DILE insert device I purchased a bag of 1-inch diameter nylon balls, I drilled and tapped these for the threads on the DTR push rod and the 1-inch ball fits perfectly inside the original bell. I now apply inner tension with this ball, there are no pressure points, flashing edges or anything to cause abrasions.
Padding or lubricating.
I have heard of using small cloth makeup applicator sponges as padding between the glans and a pusher, but I have never tried this. I have done quite a bit of experimenting with a Chap Stick-like lip balm (I use a Vegan alternative, I’m not Vegan but I want anything I’m putting down there to be all organic). Applying a thin layer of balm to the glans, frenulum and remaining inner skin goes a long way toward extended comfort wearing a device. Excess balm will cause the device to slip off, or the glans to slip past the pusher so use sparingly. For me I only apply to the frenulum area and succulus down to the scar line. This provides me the lubrication for the pusher to glide down through my skin tube but not compromise the grip of the device.
Binding or Pinching.
We are all encouraged to roll as much skin as possible forward onto the bell or cone of a device like the TLC or DTR before the silicone gripped is placed down. In my experience this is true because more surface area of skin clamped means the force is distributed over a greater area for better grip and comfort. However, it is possible to go too far. On a number of occasions I have rolled skin forward far enough such that when I flip down the silicone gripper on my DTR some skin protrudes out the small hole on top, this creates a pinch area that must be fixed.
Binding is another area I could not consistently avoid until a recent breakthrough. When I say binding, I mean the ability to push the plunger or pusher inside the skin tube after the device is installed. Sometimes I could only move the rod ½ inch or so and other times, more like 3 inches. I could not figure out what I was doing differently to have different binding scenarios. I apply the DTR first rolling as much skin as possible onto the bell, and then rolling it back so that only one doubled over layer of skin will be trapped by the silicone retainer. I have found this scenario allows the pusher to glide without any binding or pinching.
To Be Continued.
I still get discouraged, but as everyone says and my wife keeps emphasizing, YOU WILL GET THERE, and don’t give up. I’m sorry I don’t have pictures for all these specific scenarios but I may be able to provide some if someone has a specific question or I didn’t describe something well enough to visualize. I am by no means any authority on restoring problem solving but these things were hard learned for me and I hope they help someone.
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