# What's the sturdiest thing in a standard house to handcuff somebody to? **URL:** \ **Category:** Factual Questions\ **Created:** [June 23, 2010, 1:59pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/whats-the-sturdiest-thing-in-a-standard-house-to-handcuff-somebody-to/544236 "2010-06-23T13:59:44Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 20\ **Page:** 1
**Author:** ![Zsofia](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/z/7bcc69/32.png) [@Zsofia](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Zsofia)\ **Post date:** [June 23, 2010, 1:59pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/whats-the-sturdiest-thing-in-a-standard-house-to-handcuff-somebody-to/544236/1 "2010-06-23T13:59:44Z")
Need answer fast! šŸ™‚ Donā€™t worry, itā€™s fictional. Iā€™m working on a book and having a tough time figuring out how the dastardly killer restrains Our Heroine. Heā€™s got to cuff or shackle her to something youā€™d find in your average hunting/fishing shack. Heā€™s done this before, is very methodical, and wouldnā€™t attach her to something he thinks she might be able to move. (No heavy furniture, in other words.) Has to be something a normal sized person isnā€™t going to be able to shift or break without tools. What are some good options? Plumbing? Are there regular standard toilets that have sturdy pipes connecting them to the wall? (Mineā€™s a flexible hose thing.) I need a bathroom or closet or other small room for story purposes. Or I guess he could just have sunk an eyebolt into a concrete floor, but I was kind of planning on there being a crawlspace. Anyway, if you had a girl and some handcuffs and a fishing shack and you donā€™t feel like cutting her up into little pieces until after Jeopardyā€™s over, where would you attach her? ---
**Author:** ![Moonlitherial](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/4bbf92/32.png) [@Moonlitherial](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Moonlitherial)\ **Post date:** [June 23, 2010, 2:03pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/whats-the-sturdiest-thing-in-a-standard-house-to-handcuff-somebody-to/544236/2 "2010-06-23T14:03:57Z")
Is this a habit of his? If heā€™s spent time preparing for this he could have set up a metal bar bolted to (or even through) a wall. Otherwise Iā€™d say that old iron water pipes would be the best bet. Newer plastic types wouldnā€™t seem sturdy enough. ---
**Author:** ![Peremensoe](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/p/ce7236/32.png) [@Peremensoe](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Peremensoe)\ **Post date:** [June 23, 2010, 2:05pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/whats-the-sturdiest-thing-in-a-standard-house-to-handcuff-somebody-to/544236/3 "2010-06-23T14:05:01Z")
Does this fishing shack _have_ plumbing? How about a wood-burning stove pipe? If there are rafters exposed on the inside, the cuffs could hang from that and suspend her in the air. Thatā€™s intriguing. ---
**Author:** ![Giles](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/giles/32/60_2.png) [@Giles](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Giles)\ **Post date:** [June 23, 2010, 2:06pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/whats-the-sturdiest-thing-in-a-standard-house-to-handcuff-somebody-to/544236/4 "2010-06-23T14:06:46Z")
What about the drain pipe under the kitchen sink? That would mean that the handcuffee would have to be lying on the kitchen floor. ---
**Author:** ![brainstall](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/b/35a633/32.png) [@brainstall](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/brainstall)\ **Post date:** [June 23, 2010, 2:07pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/whats-the-sturdiest-thing-in-a-standard-house-to-handcuff-somebody-to/544236/5 "2010-06-23T14:07:23Z")
Roof trusses? If its a fishing shack it could have an open ceiling. Or what about a central support post? ---
**Author:** ![BrotherCadfael](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/b/977dab/32.png) [@BrotherCadfael](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/BrotherCadfael)\ **Post date:** [June 23, 2010, 2:09pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/whats-the-sturdiest-thing-in-a-standard-house-to-handcuff-somebody-to/544236/6 "2010-06-23T14:09:44Z")
Handicap grab bars in the shower. ---
**Author:** ![thelurkinghorror](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/t/7c8e57/32.png) [@thelurkinghorror](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/thelurkinghorror)\ **Post date:** [June 23, 2010, 2:10pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/whats-the-sturdiest-thing-in-a-standard-house-to-handcuff-somebody-to/544236/7 "2010-06-23T14:10:02Z")
An external radiator is the ā€œclassicā€ imprisonment point. I havenā€™t seen one in a house in forever, although hotel rooms seem to, and a rural shack very well may have one. The pipes under a sink can be sturdy. Around the toilet itself or the tank/toilet junction would be good, unless she is a Boondock Saint, in which case heā€™s screwed. ---
**Author:** ![Philster](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/p/13edae/32.png) [@Philster](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Philster)\ **Post date:** [June 23, 2010, 2:10pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/whats-the-sturdiest-thing-in-a-standard-house-to-handcuff-somebody-to/544236/8 "2010-06-23T14:10:07Z")
If heā€™s done it before, then he isnā€™t depending on one set of handcuffs and a great spot to restrain her to that wonā€™t break. He already knows from experience this is not easy and/or even do-able. Ergo, he cuffs her to a bed and also cuffs her ankles. Whatever the result, he ainā€™t depending on a single set of cuffs and one magical perfect place that can be found in almost any place. ---
**Author:** ![muldoonthief](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/muldoonthief/32/3188_2.png) [@muldoonthief](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/muldoonthief)\ **Post date:** [June 23, 2010, 2:11pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/whats-the-sturdiest-thing-in-a-standard-house-to-handcuff-somebody-to/544236/9 "2010-06-23T14:11:10Z")
Does he plan to put one cuff on her, and one cuff on the sturdy thing, or cuff both her hands around the sturdy thing? The second would be much more secure, especially if he does it behind her back. ---
**Author:** ![Muffin](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/muffin/32/4341_2.png) [@Muffin](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Muffin)\ **Post date:** [June 23, 2010, 2:12pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/whats-the-sturdiest-thing-in-a-standard-house-to-handcuff-somebody-to/544236/10 "2010-06-23T14:12:28Z")
> [@Zsofia](#): > > Whatā€™s the sturdiest thing in a standard house to handcuff somebody to? The wife. ---
**Author:** ![Zsofia](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/z/7bcc69/32.png) [@Zsofia](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Zsofia)\ **Post date:** [June 23, 2010, 2:14pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/whats-the-sturdiest-thing-in-a-standard-house-to-handcuff-somebody-to/544236/11 "2010-06-23T14:14:25Z")
Hands behind her back cuffed around a sturdy point. Thereā€™s definitely plumbing but no radiators - this is South Carolina, man. Cuffing her ankles is a good idea. Thing is, she does have to be able to escape because nobody wants to read a lighthearted mystery where the main character dies in a bathroom in the end. So it canā€™t be _too_ secure. ---
**Author:** ![Sage\_Rat](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/sage_rat/32/399_2.png) [@Sage\_Rat](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Sage_Rat)\ **Post date:** [June 23, 2010, 2:25pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/whats-the-sturdiest-thing-in-a-standard-house-to-handcuff-somebody-to/544236/12 "2010-06-23T14:25:12Z")
If he plans to keep her for a long time, keeping her near the toilet makes sense. If it were me, Iā€™d probably have a couple of lengths of fairly light chain and do all four limbs to something different. Then she can move about and tend to herself, and if any one point fails thereā€™s still three backups. The important thing, of course, is to make sure that thereā€™s no tools or sharp objects within reach. Hereā€™s a set of photos of a hunting shack: [http://www.hollowellhuntingpreserve.com/](http://www.hollowellhuntingpreserve.com/) Iā€™d put her in the bathroom, stripping out the shower stall door, all the cabinet doors, the toilet seat, mirror, etc.; wrap a chain around the base of the toilet, another chain around the sinkā€™s piping, and then screw or bolt two more chains to the floor or the wall if you have a beam finder. Of course, if youā€™re hoping that your character finds a way to escape, doing it how Iā€™d do it isnā€™t going to be the right choice. šŸ˜› ---
**Author:** ![Sage\_Rat](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/sage_rat/32/399_2.png) [@Sage\_Rat](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Sage_Rat)\ **Post date:** [June 23, 2010, 2:28pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/whats-the-sturdiest-thing-in-a-standard-house-to-handcuff-somebody-to/544236/13 "2010-06-23T14:28:09Z")
> [@Zsofia](#): > > Thing is, she does have to be able to escape because nobody wants to read a lighthearted mystery where the main character dies in a bathroom in the end. So it canā€™t be _too_ secure. Well she could always climb up and take the light bulb out of the fixture, crack it open, and pick the locks of her cuffs, or find a nail that she is able to slowly work free. Humans are pretty inventive buggers in a tight spot. ---
**Author:** ![Zsofia](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/z/7bcc69/32.png) [@Zsofia](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Zsofia)\ **Post date:** [June 23, 2010, 2:32pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/whats-the-sturdiest-thing-in-a-standard-house-to-handcuff-somebody-to/544236/14 "2010-06-23T14:32:36Z")
Heā€™s planning on keeping her there for more than a day, at least. The problem is, obviously, once you come up with a reasonable way to keep her there itā€™s hard to come up with a reasonable way for her to escape. Slipping the cuffs is an easy answer but probably not a realistic one - I was toying with the idea of one wrist being swollen from the struggle when he puts her there and the swelling going down because sheā€™s chained to a cold toilet for a couple days, but I donā€™t know if that would really work. ETA - or the nail idea, thatā€™s pretty good. ETAA - my killerā€™s a cop, so itā€™s unreasonable to expect that he doesnā€™t know how to cuff somebody securely, by the way. Heā€™d put them on tight. ETAAA - even though you know that you should totally still buy my book when I finish it and get that six figure advance. ---
**Author:** ![KneadToKnow](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/kneadtoknow/32/3999_2.png) [@KneadToKnow](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/KneadToKnow)\ **Post date:** [June 23, 2010, 2:37pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/whats-the-sturdiest-thing-in-a-standard-house-to-handcuff-somebody-to/544236/15 "2010-06-23T14:37:19Z")
Iā€™ve always thought that if I needed to handcuff somebody to immobilize them and I didnā€™t have anything handy to cuff them _to_, Iā€™d cuff one wrist to the opposite ankle behind their back. ---
**Author:** ![Gary\_T](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/g/3ec8ea/32.png) [@Gary\_T](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Gary_T)\ **Post date:** [June 23, 2010, 2:48pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/whats-the-sturdiest-thing-in-a-standard-house-to-handcuff-somebody-to/544236/16 "2010-06-23T14:48:40Z")
> [@KneadToKnow](#): > > Iā€™ve always thought that if I needed to handcuff somebody to immobilize them and I didnā€™t have anything handy to cuff them _to_, Iā€™d cuff one wrist to the opposite ankle behind their back. Most people could step through that so that the arm is in front. Theyā€™d be in an awkward position but not immobilized. ---
**Author:** ![ZipperJJ](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/zipperjj/32/211_2.png) [@ZipperJJ](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/ZipperJJ)\ **Post date:** [June 23, 2010, 2:54pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/whats-the-sturdiest-thing-in-a-standard-house-to-handcuff-somebody-to/544236/17 "2010-06-23T14:54:13Z")
If thereā€™s a crawlspace might there be a [jack post](http://homerenovations.about.com/od/toolsbuildingmaterials/g/LallyColumn.htm) in it to hold up a sagging floor? ---
**Author:** ![Omar\_Little](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/omar_little/32/269_2.png) [@Omar\_Little](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Omar_Little)\ **Post date:** [June 23, 2010, 2:55pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/whats-the-sturdiest-thing-in-a-standard-house-to-handcuff-somebody-to/544236/18 "2010-06-23T14:55:55Z")
If the cabin has no interior walls, there could be a few support columns that bear the load of the roof. She could be handcuffed to one of these columns. ---
**Author:** ![psychonaut](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/psychonaut/32/4655_2.png) [@psychonaut](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/psychonaut)\ **Post date:** [June 23, 2010, 2:57pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/whats-the-sturdiest-thing-in-a-standard-house-to-handcuff-somebody-to/544236/19 "2010-06-23T14:57:59Z")
> [@thelurkinghorror](#): > > An external radiator is the ā€œclassicā€ imprisonment point. I havenā€™t seen one in a house in forever, although hotel rooms seem to, and a rural shack very well may have one. Iā€™ve never seen a house or apartment in Europe that _didnā€™t_ have a radiator. If this is such an important plot point, then maybe the OP should consider moving the setting of her story from South Carolina to Moldova. šŸ˜‰ ---
**Author:** ![KneadToKnow](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/kneadtoknow/32/3999_2.png) [@KneadToKnow](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/KneadToKnow)\ **Post date:** [June 23, 2010, 3:27pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/whats-the-sturdiest-thing-in-a-standard-house-to-handcuff-somebody-to/544236/20 "2010-06-23T15:27:34Z")
> [@Gary\_T](#): > > Most people could step through that so that the arm is in front. Theyā€™d be in an awkward position but not immobilized. Good thing Iā€™ve never tried it, then. [Next page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/whats-the-sturdiest-thing-in-a-standard-house-to-handcuff-somebody-to/544236.md?page=2)