# 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:** 3
**Author:** ![Curious\_Mike](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/c/f04885/32.png) [@Curious\_Mike](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Curious_Mike)\ **Post date:** [June 23, 2010, 6:20pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/whats-the-sturdiest-thing-in-a-standard-house-to-handcuff-somebody-to/544236/41 "2010-06-23T18:20:15Z")
> [@Zsofia](#): > > If you can screw a bolt into a stud you can unscrew it. I considered that and discarded. šŸ™‚ Two eye bolts screwed to the floor. The chain on the cuffs runs through one eye bolt with the hands cuffed in a position that is between the legs of the sitting captive. The ankles are then cuffed to the other eye bolt with the legs extended. I think it would be impossible to unscrew the bolt with the chain of the cuffs running through the eye bolts, when the hands and ankles are attached at different points. ---
**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, 6:23pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/whats-the-sturdiest-thing-in-a-standard-house-to-handcuff-somebody-to/544236/42 "2010-06-23T18:23:03Z")
> [@KneadToKnow](#): > > Should I just stop posting today, **Gary**? Then what would I do with myself? šŸ™‚ Sorry, not trying to pick on you, it just sort of fell into place. ---
**Author:** ![dracoi](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/d/90db22/32.png) [@dracoi](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/dracoi)\ **Post date:** [June 23, 2010, 11:55pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/whats-the-sturdiest-thing-in-a-standard-house-to-handcuff-somebody-to/544236/43 "2010-06-23T23:55:01Z")
> [@Max\_Torque](#): > > Or just rip out some wallboards or plaster and cuff her around a stud. Hey, that might make a good one: her hands are on the other side of the wall, so she gropes around for something to free herself, and findsā€¦however you want to proceed from there. Iā€™ll second this one. Iā€™d use a load-bearing wall where carpenters are less likely to take shortcuts. Drywall is easy enough to break that itā€™s simple to set up and virtually all buildings use it. Just make sure thereā€™s no rot due to moisture, termites, etc. ---
**Author:** ![Morbo](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/morbo/32/389_2.png) [@Morbo](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Morbo)\ **Post date:** [June 24, 2010, 12:05am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/whats-the-sturdiest-thing-in-a-standard-house-to-handcuff-somebody-to/544236/44 "2010-06-24T00:05:16Z")
Since heā€™s a cop, how about those police nylon zip ties instead of handcuffs? He zip ties her hands and feet, then zip ties her cuffed feet to a sturdy pipe. She waits for the sun to hit the window just right, then manages to fashion a sort of magnifying device out of her glasses to burn the zip tie on her hands off. ---
**Author:** ![Kent\_Clark](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/kent_clark/32/105_2.png) [@Kent\_Clark](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Kent_Clark)\ **Post date:** [June 24, 2010, 12:20am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/whats-the-sturdiest-thing-in-a-standard-house-to-handcuff-somebody-to/544236/45 "2010-06-24T00:20:47Z")
Letā€™s turn to the experts for advice. > [@](#): > > Scott Evil: Why donā€™t you just kill him? > > Dr. Evil: I have an even better idea. Iā€™m going to place him in an easily escapable situation involving an overly elaborate and exotic death. ---
**Author:** ![JohnGalt](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/johngalt/32/184_2.png) [@JohnGalt](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/JohnGalt)\ **Post date:** [June 24, 2010, 12:22am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/whats-the-sturdiest-thing-in-a-standard-house-to-handcuff-somebody-to/544236/46 "2010-06-24T00:22:52Z")
Or check out Stephen Kingā€™s _Geraldā€™s Game_ - even though you said no furniture, the damsel in distress is handcuffed to a heavy bedframe and is alone (after a sex game gone wrong). She manages to free herself in the end with the lubrication of the blood from the chafing of her wrists. ---
**Author:** ![Kaboodle](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/k/8edcca/32.png) [@Kaboodle](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Kaboodle)\ **Post date:** [June 24, 2010, 1:37am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/whats-the-sturdiest-thing-in-a-standard-house-to-handcuff-somebody-to/544236/47 "2010-06-24T01:37:50Z")
**Zsofia** you should rent the movie [9 to 5](http://www.imdb.com/title/tt0080319/). An oldie but a goodie. Three women kidnap their boss and have to keep him restrained for a few weeks. Of course theyā€™re checking on him every day too. Itā€™s been too long for me to describe from memory but you should see the rig they use to keep him restrained but give him some freedom of movement. It took more than a little prep work though. ---
**Author:** ![meanoldman](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/7ab992/32.png) [@meanoldman](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/meanoldman)\ **Post date:** [June 24, 2010, 2:18am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/whats-the-sturdiest-thing-in-a-standard-house-to-handcuff-somebody-to/544236/48 "2010-06-24T02:18:49Z")
Do you use LP Gas for water heaters in rural wherever? Gas pipe is usually quite thick and sturdy. If forcibly yanked out of the water heater, a spark saved for later could help make an interesting escape. The wiring and conduit for an electric water heater might also have shocking results. Being a cop, he knows he wants it secure, but also not suspicious looking if someone happens upon his cabin on all those days that he isnā€™t using it. ---
**Author:** ![carnivorousplant](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/carnivorousplant/32/3563_2.png) [@carnivorousplant](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/carnivorousplant)\ **Post date:** [June 24, 2010, 2:28am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/whats-the-sturdiest-thing-in-a-standard-house-to-handcuff-somebody-to/544236/49 "2010-06-24T02:28:21Z")
> [@meanoldman](#): > > Do you use LP Gas for water heaters in rural wherever? Gas pipe is usually quite thick and sturdy. If forcibly yanked out of the water heater, a spark saved for later could help make an interesting escape. The wiring and conduit for an electric water heater might also have shocking results. > > Being a cop, he knows he wants it secure, but also not suspicious looking if someone happens upon his cabin on all those days that he isnā€™t using it. Interesting to be cuffed around the pipe, unscrew it and have the gas burn ferociously. Good distraction for the escape. ---
**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 24, 2010, 2:39am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/whats-the-sturdiest-thing-in-a-standard-house-to-handcuff-somebody-to/544236/50 "2010-06-24T02:39:11Z")
> [@Kaboodle](#): > > **Zsofia** you should rent the movie [9 to 5](http://www.imdb.com/title/tt0080319/). An oldie but a goodie. I _love_ M&Ms. ---
**Author:** ![panache45](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/panache45/32/64_2.png) [@panache45](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/panache45)\ **Post date:** [June 24, 2010, 2:59am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/whats-the-sturdiest-thing-in-a-standard-house-to-handcuff-somebody-to/544236/51 "2010-06-24T02:59:47Z")
My primary chimney goes right through my attic. If I were to keep someone up there with no chance of escape, Iā€™d just run a heavy chain around the chimney and connect it to a steel collar around the neck. Just to be sure, Iā€™d also suspend the person by their ankles. ---
**Author:** ![Superhal](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/b4bc9f/32.png) [@Superhal](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Superhal)\ **Post date:** [June 24, 2010, 3:51am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/whats-the-sturdiest-thing-in-a-standard-house-to-handcuff-somebody-to/544236/52 "2010-06-24T03:51:36Z")
Iā€™d drill a hole just outside of a door frame, thread the handcuffs through the hole, and then handcuff her there so each hand is on one side of the wall. The door beams should be sturdy enough to prevent escape. ---
**Author:** ![spinky](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/59ef9b/32.png) [@spinky](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/spinky)\ **Post date:** [June 24, 2010, 6:33am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/whats-the-sturdiest-thing-in-a-standard-house-to-handcuff-somebody-to/544236/53 "2010-06-24T06:33:02Z")
> [@Gary\_T](#): > > Unless she drains it. This could actually help with the escape part. Sheā€™s got her hands cuffed with the chain looped around one of the feet of the tub, at the end away from the drain. Itā€™s full of water. Eventually she manages to contort herself up so that she can get her leg into the tub and just barely reach the stopper with her toe. The tub drains, but is still pretty heavy. With great effort, she manages to briefly lift it just far enough to slip the chain under the foot, and sheā€™s free (but still cuffed). ETA: You could even add that the tub drain is clogged and takes hours to actually drain. šŸ˜ƒ ---
**Author:** ![drachillix](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/d/48db29/32.png) [@drachillix](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/drachillix)\ **Post date:** [June 24, 2010, 8:16am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/whats-the-sturdiest-thing-in-a-standard-house-to-handcuff-somebody-to/544236/54 "2010-06-24T08:16:50Z")
> [@meanoldman](#): > > Being a cop, he knows he wants it secure, but also not suspicious looking if someone happens upon his cabin on all those days that he isnā€™t using it. A large eybolt or chain strung over a rafter would blend nicely, you just claim you hang up your hunting kills to clean them. Would also easily explain large volumes of bloody mess at that spot. ---
**Author:** ![Superhal](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/b4bc9f/32.png) [@Superhal](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Superhal)\ **Post date:** [June 24, 2010, 10:17pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/whats-the-sturdiest-thing-in-a-standard-house-to-handcuff-somebody-to/544236/55 "2010-06-24T22:17:37Z")
Another idea using eyebolts: If you want to avoid them unscrewing it, I would place the bolt far enough away that they couldnā€™t reach it. Letā€™s say the handcuffs allow for a maximum reach of 6". If the eyebolt is placed into a beam 6" thick, the bolt on the other side of the beam would be too far away to reach. ---
**Author:** ![SmartAlecCat](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/67e7ee/32.png) [@SmartAlecCat](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/SmartAlecCat)\ **Post date:** [June 25, 2010, 1:16am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/whats-the-sturdiest-thing-in-a-standard-house-to-handcuff-somebody-to/544236/56 "2010-06-25T01:16:32Z")
> [@Kaboodle](#): > > **Zsofia** you should rent the movie [9 to 5](http://www.imdb.com/title/tt0080319/). Also [Black Snake Moan](http://www.imdb.com/title/tt0462200/) ---
**Author:** ![Add99](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/a/977dab/32.png) [@Add99](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Add99)\ **Post date:** [June 25, 2010, 3:55pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/whats-the-sturdiest-thing-in-a-standard-house-to-handcuff-somebody-to/544236/57 "2010-06-25T15:55:19Z")
Water heater. Yeah, itā€™s heavy. Itā€™s full of water. There is also a knob at the bottom to drain itā€¦ Or at least a pipe stub to break off, being heavily corroded. The drain may or may not lead outside. If not, the floor is ankle deep in water. Electrocution of bad guy follows as she stands on the toilet, safe. Of course, she slips and now has amnesiaā€¦ ---
**Author:** ![wood\_duck](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/w/779978/32.png) [@wood\_duck](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/wood_duck)\ **Post date:** [May 16, 2012, 10:57pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/whats-the-sturdiest-thing-in-a-standard-house-to-handcuff-somebody-to/544236/58 "2012-05-16T22:57:39Z")
Its not much fun,but handcuffed,around the base of a toilet,ā€œhuggingā€ it & told to stay reclinedā€¦my mistress,uses this for one of her punishments,when iā€™ve been badā€¦ ---
**Author:** ![postcards](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/p/8e8cbc/32.png) [@postcards](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/postcards)\ **Post date:** [May 16, 2012, 11:51pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/whats-the-sturdiest-thing-in-a-standard-house-to-handcuff-somebody-to/544236/59 "2012-05-16T23:51:39Z")
> [@wood\_duck](#): > > Its not much fun,but handcuffed,around the base of a toilet,ā€œhuggingā€ it & told to stay reclined..my mistress,uses this for one of her punishments,when iā€™ve been badā€¦ Not for nothing, but I think **Zsofia** ā€™s finished her story by nowā€¦ ---
**Author:** ![Dereknocue67](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/d/6de8d8/32.png) [@Dereknocue67](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Dereknocue67)\ **Post date:** [May 18, 2012, 8:06am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/whats-the-sturdiest-thing-in-a-standard-house-to-handcuff-somebody-to/544236/60 "2012-05-18T08:06:34Z")
Refrigerator door handle? This method would certainly slow down an escape but allow the character to overcome some challenges in order to eventually get free. [Previous page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/whats-the-sturdiest-thing-in-a-standard-house-to-handcuff-somebody-to/544236.md?page=2) [Next page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/whats-the-sturdiest-thing-in-a-standard-house-to-handcuff-somebody-to/544236.md?page=4)