What is e-Stim *like*? Tips to get started?

[ryvenheart]

So... I've been really into self bondage lately, and (of course ;)) I also like the idea of combining self bondage with forced stimulation. I've tried vibrators, but the sensation really isn't my thing; sometimes it starts to annoy me even before climax.

The idea of e-Stim really intrigues me, but wonder: how does it even feel? Tingling, pulling, pain? And what products would be ideal for a starter; I'm guessing the low-cost ~30bucks units on amazon are probably exactly that: cheap, aren't they?

[Tedlington9099]

Hi Ryvenheart,

Estim is fantastic ... It can be all of the feelings you mentioned depending on the electrodes you use ...
You are quite correct to be suspicious of the cheapies ... they are just ordinary TENS units ... they will give you a tickle or buzz but they are as different from Estim as a cheap cider compared to a vintage champagne.
The cheapest way to get into it if you are in anyway handy with a soldering iron is to build your own box ... The author of some of the best Estim teases Lolol2 has posted how to do this on the forum ... viewtopic.php?f=12&t=23302
Another very useful source of general info is a kinky lady by the name of Joanne Summers ... you can download her beginners guide as a PDF here ... https://www.sexmachinereviews.co.uk/fil ... E-Book.pdf
I own 2 boxes, a 3rdH and a 2B ... they both have their devotees ... I prefer the 3rdH (from France) as I find it more versatile as it has a built in ramp function ... interesting when you are in bondage and the excitement is growing and you can't quite remember what duration you set ...
Hope this helps ... Happy to supply any further info if you need it.

[throwawayacct]

So... I've been really into self bondage lately, and (of course ;)) I also like the idea of combining self bondage with forced stimulation. I've tried vibrators, but the sensation really isn't my thing; sometimes it starts to annoy me even before climax.

The idea of e-Stim really intrigues me, but wonder: how does it even feel? Tingling, pulling, pain? And what products would be ideal for a starter; I'm guessing the low-cost ~30bucks units on amazon are probably exactly that: cheap, aren't they?

The sensations involved depend on a few factors, and ultimately whatever you're into for the most part, can be accomplished with e-stim. Want a little pain to help you edge with a stroking sensation? Can do. Want a "cannot resist" forced orgasm? Yup. Soft and sensual? Uh-huh. The files for these kinds of movement-based sensations are numerous, and there are a couple archives out there online to dive into. A lot of E-Stim these days is pretty much open source - audio tracks aren't copyrighted and are easily shared, there's a github "funscript converter" that turns scripts for Fleshlights and Handys into stim tracks, and if you're a technical kind of person, you can do well creating your own tracks.

It depends on the device you're using, whether it's capable or designed to transmit more complex audio routines. It also depends on the contacts or electrodes you're using. At the end of the day, it boils down to you being able to relax into the sensations - it's an opposite of how we tend to operate manually.

A TENS unit will be the basic stuff, and IMO it is a good way to test the waters before going whole-hog. E-Stim is not really a cheap kink and there are consumables that have to be replaced, maintenance on a device or electrodes, and because these are all niche specialty items they reflect it in the cost. Playing around with frequencies and pulse rates, figuring out what electrode placements do what in which config, and finding out whether you tolerate the kind of stimulation makes the TENS a decent gateway provided you get a halfway decent one.

A basic built device isn't too expensive, but you'll need to have some comfort and familiarity with electrical "stuff", to put a durable one together. The advantage here is that you'll be able to set it up to accept audio files and experiment around with "tri-phase", where a signal gives the sensation of movement between the channels used. A commercial device can give you piece of mind and some improved durability aspects, but a good one is not easy to come by these days since ErosTek just announced discontinuing the ET-312, and BT is not building new BT-Stim devices. The E-stim Systems 2B is more or less well regarded, but it has some significant limitations when it comes to certain kinds of teases and files.

Sky's the limit, you don't need to be an electrical engineer to have fun with it, though some of the more tecchy aspects get mired in a bunch of jargon and deep details that mean nothing to someone outside the field.

[JakofClubs]

Estim can create a wide variety of feelings, from intense pleasure to pain, depending on stim track and electrode placement.

It can feel something like a infinitely variable vibrator coming from the inside of your cock, like the way headphones make music sound like it's coming from inside your head.

The best thing about Estim (IMHO) is that you can do it for hours, keeping yourself near orgasm. The worst thing about Estim is that it can be addictive because it can be pure sexual pleasure, when you're set up right.

[Jackall]

My kink why i got into Estim is forced stimulation too. just love taking it passively. It requires some experimenting and patience to make it right. Vibrating toys just dont usually bring that intensity , where i feel being used and forced-aroused. Strong vibration on the cockhead and or fucking machines should do it but i havent had the pleasure to try any contraption like that yet. estim absolutely does it ,as the intensity can be turned up and up and up until your cock feels like it wants to burst. Being there in the head still matters (mood) but the intensity is not a matter of imagination. It feels like tension , straining on higher volumes, to the rhythm of the stim files and pain is there like an after-taste briefly. A change in the volume turning up on already high volume can linger on the side of painful for a moment but the feeling of tension take it over unless its a painfile which is usually made of short bursts.
Its a unique mixture of being kneaded (the muscles tense so it feels like it) and buzzing and not need to be painful at all. If its not high volume then how pleasant it is is also very subjective. All in all it ranges between excellent sensitivity torture and a comfy inside massage. But has a bit of a learning curve, (be shaven but not too freshly shaven or it pinches. need to try many different electrode placements and variations. cant vouch for TENS i never tried them. & at least my diy setup is a bit of a hassle to plug together and equip. I have an anal trode but besides that mostly just prefer using the pads.

[LondonGent]

A TENS unit will be the basic stuff, and IMO it is a good way to test the waters before going whole-hog. E-Stim is not really a cheap kink and there are consumables that have to be replaced, maintenance on a device or electrodes, and because these are all niche specialty items they reflect it in the cost. Playing around with frequencies and pulse rates, figuring out what electrode placements do what in which config, and finding out whether you tolerate the kind of stimulation makes the TENS a decent gateway provided you get a halfway decent one.

I'd say quite the opposite - my first box cost less than a fleshlight and is infinitely more fun. It needs no real maintenance and the only replacements I've had to buy over several years was new set of conductive rubber tubing for ~£5.

A TENS unit will cost more than a basic DIY box and will be missing out on the best bit of estim - the ability to play files that perform whole sequences of actions, rather than just a short patterns. These can just be pleasurable rides or they can be synchronised to the beats of a cock hero or the actions of the stars themselves. Particularly when combined with a VR headset (cheap phone-holder headset is fine), it's a whole new level of porn.

As for the sensations themselves, everyone talks about pain but I guess that's just because it's what everyone expects from electricity. The reality is far more subtle and pleasurable, a bit like a squeezing tickle that strokes up and down. I have zero interest in pain and my estim box is still the best toy I've ever tried.

[throwawayacct]

A TENS unit will be the basic stuff, and IMO it is a good way to test the waters before going whole-hog. E-Stim is not really a cheap kink and there are consumables that have to be replaced, maintenance on a device or electrodes, and because these are all niche specialty items they reflect it in the cost. Playing around with frequencies and pulse rates, figuring out what electrode placements do what in which config, and finding out whether you tolerate the kind of stimulation makes the TENS a decent gateway provided you get a halfway decent one.

I'd say quite the opposite - my first box cost less than a fleshlight and is infinitely more fun. It needs no real maintenance and the only replacements I've had to buy over several years was new set of conductive rubber tubing for ~£5.

A TENS unit will cost more than a basic DIY box and will be missing out on the best bit of estim - the ability to play files that perform whole sequences of actions, rather than just a short patterns. These can just be pleasurable rides or they can be synchronised to the beats of a cock hero or the actions of the stars themselves. Particularly when combined with a VR headset (cheap phone-holder headset is fine), it's a whole new level of porn.

As for the sensations themselves, everyone talks about pain but I guess that's just because it's what everyone expects from electricity. The reality is far more subtle and pleasurable, a bit like a squeezing tickle that strokes up and down. I have zero interest in pain and my estim box is still the best toy I've ever tried.

I tend to default to TENS for starters, because let's face it, *very few people* in the general population have skills to build a DIY device. I mean, shit, have you seen how badly people out there perform any basic tasks? Erring on the side of caution might be a wiser option - as well as being a lot less intimidating than a DIY build.

Remember, if you are of average intelligence, half of the world's population out there is dumber than you.

[LondonGent]

I tend to default to TENS for starters, because let's face it, *very few people* in the general population have skills to build a DIY device. I mean, shit, have you seen how badly people out there perform any basic tasks? Erring on the side of caution might be a wiser option - as well as being a lot less intimidating than a DIY build.

Remember, if you are of average intelligence, half of the world's population out there is dumber than you.

I can see your point, but it feels a bit like saying "if you want a really good steak but can't cook well, try a McDonalds quarter-pounder instead". They're both technically beef, but the experience is totally different.

I know they get looked down upon a lot, but a basic "davey-box" is buildable by just about anyone. It's a cheap set of speakers, two small transformers and a little bit of wire to connect them together. A grand total of 4 connections, which could even be done without soldering if you're not concerned about it lasting very long. It won't perform quite as well as the fancier boxes, but it'll still be a much better introduction to what estim can actually do.

That's my take on it anyway

[47dahc]

The idea of e-Stim really intrigues me, but wonder: how does it even feel? Tingling, pulling, pain? And what products would be ideal for a starter...?

With being an electronics tech, I've been zapped a few times. Some hurt like a mother fucker, and others not so much. With that, and everything I read on it, I kind of had an idea what it might feel like when I decided to give it a try. With my background in repairing wiring, diving into a DIY box was an easy decision. Once I got it complete, I started very slow with the volume settings as I wasn't quite sure what a zap on my junk would feel like. The first trodes I tried was some simple silver solder wrapped around the head, shaft and base. It felt weird but not painful. After a few sessions, testing different DIY trodes, frequencies and programs for creating the stim files, and reading in between them I eventually came up with my current setup of copper rings made from a copper sheet and using files from the funstim creator with frequencies 784 and 1568 in a tri-phase setup. This setup has given me some of the most intense orgasms short of real sex and sometimes even better. The biggest thing is, everybody is different. If something doesn't feel good, try something else. Eventually, you'll find what works for you. Whether its different frequencies, trode placement, or both. One of the best things I ever read on the subject is that the common trode(s) should be bigger than the signal trode(s). The smaller the trode, the more focused and intense the electrical current will be. I had a lot of unpleasant zaps when the common was smaller. Can't remember where I read that at but it was a game changer for sessions. Good luck and have fun.

[roobie]

I tried to get into this, and bought some cheap handheld box called the "Zeus".

It seems I'm rather sensitive to pain, because it has like maybe 8 levels of intensity, but already at level 3 it feels painful enough that I can't really enjoy it. It also has different frequencies (in the sense that it can pulse at faster intervals), and the highest sensation gives a nice "tingly" feeling that was interesting enough to be worth the purchase to experience.

However I've never achieved orgasm with this (or gotten even very close). I guess you need one of those fancier boxes, or perhaps estim just isn't for me?

[LondonGent]

I tried to get into this, and bought some cheap handheld box called the "Zeus".

It seems I'm rather sensitive to pain, because it has like maybe 8 levels of intensity, but already at level 3 it feels painful enough that I can't really enjoy it. It also has different frequencies (in the sense that it can pulse at faster intervals), and the highest sensation gives a nice "tingly" feeling that was interesting enough to be worth the purchase to experience.

However I've never achieved orgasm with this (or gotten even very close). I guess you need one of those fancier boxes, or perhaps estim just isn't for me?

Those cheap boxes nothing like the 'proper' estim boxes that we mostly talk about here. The different pulsing speeds are not the same thing as different carrier frequencies and 8 levels of intensity is nowhere near enough. The difference between maximum pleasure and starting to become painful is very small - when I'm creating estim files I'd never put a step up in volume of even 2%, let alone the 10+% steps that your volume control gives you. You've also probably only got one channel, even if there are two connections. It certainly won't produce the stroking sensations that tri-phase setups can generate. So don't judge all estim based your experiences so far!

That being said, there are likely things that you can do to get more pleasure out of it. The intensity and pain are proportional to the size of the electrodes - the larger the surface area that you have in contact with your skin, the less it will hurt and (usually) the better it will feel. What are you types of electrodes are you using at the moment? Tens pads, rubber loops, or something else?

[BoundSquirrel]

I tried to get into this, and bought some cheap handheld box called the "Zeus".

It seems I'm rather sensitive to pain, because it has like maybe 8 levels of intensity, but already at level 3 it feels painful enough that I can't really enjoy it. It also has different frequencies (in the sense that it can pulse at faster intervals), and the highest sensation gives a nice "tingly" feeling that was interesting enough to be worth the purchase to experience.

However I've never achieved orgasm with this (or gotten even very close). I guess you need one of those fancier boxes, or perhaps estim just isn't for me?

Those cheap boxes nothing like the 'proper' estim boxes that we mostly talk about here. The different pulsing speeds are not the same thing as different carrier frequencies and 8 levels of intensity is nowhere near enough. The difference between maximum pleasure and starting to become painful is very small - when I'm creating estim files I'd never put a step up in volume of even 2%, let alone the 10+% steps that your volume control gives you. You've also probably only got one channel, even if there are two connections. It certainly won't produce the stroking sensations that tri-phase setups can generate. So don't judge all estim based your experiences so far!

That being said, there are likely things that you can do to get more pleasure out of it. The intensity and pain are proportional to the size of the electrodes - the larger the surface area that you have in contact with your skin, the less it will hurt and (usually) the better it will feel. What are you types of electrodes are you using at the moment? Tens pads, rubber loops, or something else?

I'll echo all of this and add - I also started with a Zeus hand held box. I used the pads that came with it and kept them on with hair ties, I think. Looking back now, I have to laughs because I had NO idea what I was doing! It was pleasant enough to make me curious, but no way was it anything close to what I experience with either the commercial 2b or my home made midistim box.

Imagine someone trying to convince you to take up racing as a hobby. You try it out with a cheap car and go around the track in a 2005 Honda Civic. Yeah, it's cool, but eh. It just gets a little boring, and if you push it too far, you might hurt yourself. Now go racing in a Porsche (2b) or the a car that you built and modified and know exactly how it works (midistim). It suddenly gets a LOT more fun!

I went from my Zeus to a home made davy box, using a pair of computer speakers I got at the local resale shop for $5 and a couple of cheap components I got from Mouser. THAT'S what got me hooked. Being able to play audio files and feel the stim signals in tube with a cock hero video? Hell yes. From there it was a 2b and now I've made 4 different iterations of midistim boxes and have a Deep on order if Kink ever gets around to shipping them.

You're going to do things that zap your junk and every once in a while it's going to sting. Did you ever fall off your bike? It hurts. Did you stop riding your bike? No. Why? Because even though it hurt, the fun is worth the risk. Same here. Gets a learning curve, you're going to take a spill, but once you get it right, it can be amazing.

You can turn up any box too high. To Londongent's point, with estim, that's a very fine line between pleasure and pain and even the expensive boxes tend to blow right past pleasure into pain with way too coarse of volume controls. You'll learn to manipulate your computers volume, the player volume, and your box volume to get it right.

With the right box and the right signals, you may find yourself literally shaking because it feels so good. Then again, maybe not. But stopping because the Zeus didn't do it for you is short changing yourself in my estimation.

Good luck! All of the resources you need to source or build your own box are here.

[alexjackman]

Lots of really thoughtful responses. I'll add my quick two cents. If you're interested in experiencing a range of sensations separate from the videos/audios here, really have to recommend DG-Lab / Dungeon Lab device called Coyote. It's great for the price and it gives you enough control to really experiment and figure out what feels best and works for you. However, none of the TENS type devices like this (or 2b, etc) feel like the DIY stereostim devices. Lots of variety using the DIY but I would single out using it with phase shift signals (like LondonGent makes for many of the videos) as being even better than anything I've found with TENS. All that said, after years of trying, stim is not enough on its own for me. DIY plus The Handy is mind blowing though. Or for a different experience, the Humming Bird wand attachment.