# 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:** 19\ **Page:** 4
**Author:** ![Nava](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/n/da6949/32.png) [@Nava](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Nava)\ **Post date:** [May 18, 2012, 8:11am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/whats-the-sturdiest-thing-in-a-standard-house-to-handcuff-somebody-to/544236/61 "2012-05-18T08:11:41Z")
> [@Zsofia](#): > > Oh, now _that_ is perfect. Unusual in a man’s fishing retreat, but not impossible. The tub came with the place. Yes, the thread is old. But it’s still a funny subject to poke at, so long as you’re not handcuffed. ---
**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:** [May 18, 2012, 12:22pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/whats-the-sturdiest-thing-in-a-standard-house-to-handcuff-somebody-to/544236/62 "2012-05-18T12:22:16Z")
If that poor woman is still there after two years, I think all hope is lost. ---
**Author:** ![coremelt](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/c/4491bb/32.png) [@coremelt](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/coremelt)\ **Post date:** [May 18, 2012, 3:05pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/whats-the-sturdiest-thing-in-a-standard-house-to-handcuff-somebody-to/544236/63 "2012-05-18T15:05:44Z")
> [@postcards](#): > > Not for nothing, but I think **Zsofia** ’s finished her story by now… So what method did she use? And is there a link to it anywhere online? ---
**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:** [May 18, 2012, 3:17pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/whats-the-sturdiest-thing-in-a-standard-house-to-handcuff-somebody-to/544236/64 "2012-05-18T15:17:24Z")
Every now and then I remember a thread where I posted a couple of things and kept getting shot down by the same person, and then replying something like “should I just give up?” Funny to see it pop up again out of the blue. ---
**Author:** ![Zsofia](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/z/7bcc69/32.png) [@Zsofia](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Zsofia)\ **Post date:** [May 18, 2012, 3:51pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/whats-the-sturdiest-thing-in-a-standard-house-to-handcuff-somebody-to/544236/65 "2012-05-18T15:51:52Z")
You know, that damned book is still only 3/4 written. ---
**Author:** ![Tastes\_of\_Chocolate](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/tastes_of_chocolate/32/3232_2.png) [@Tastes\_of\_Chocolate](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Tastes_of_Chocolate)\ **Post date:** [May 21, 2012, 9:39pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/whats-the-sturdiest-thing-in-a-standard-house-to-handcuff-somebody-to/544236/66 "2012-05-21T21:39:52Z")
> [@Zsofia](#): > > You know, that damned book is still only 3/4 written. In that case, I hope you used the toilet, because by now she needs it. ---
**Author:** ![Ludovic](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/l/7ab992/32.png) [@Ludovic](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Ludovic)\ **Post date:** [May 21, 2012, 9:56pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/whats-the-sturdiest-thing-in-a-standard-house-to-handcuff-somebody-to/544236/67 "2012-05-21T21:56:09Z")
> [@thelurkinghorror](#): > > Around the toilet itself or the tank/toilet junction would be good, unless she is a Boondock Saint, in which case he’s screwed. > [@Jackmannii](#): > > \*I vote against the towel rack in the bathroom. Also shown to be detachable in that fine documentary. ---
**Author:** ![jasg](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/j/f0a364/32.png) [@jasg](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/jasg)\ **Post date:** [May 21, 2012, 10:10pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/whats-the-sturdiest-thing-in-a-standard-house-to-handcuff-somebody-to/544236/68 "2012-05-21T22:10:27Z")
My home has a steel spiral staircase set into a concrete slab, so I know what I would use. ---
**Author:** ![Darth\_Panda](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/d/ee7513/32.png) [@Darth\_Panda](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Darth_Panda)\ **Post date:** [May 21, 2012, 10:45pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/whats-the-sturdiest-thing-in-a-standard-house-to-handcuff-somebody-to/544236/69 "2012-05-21T22:45:50Z")
A toddler. Or a zombie. Whatever. ---
**Author:** ![Ethilrist](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/ethilrist/32/4604_2.png) [@Ethilrist](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Ethilrist)\ **Post date:** [May 21, 2012, 11:11pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/whats-the-sturdiest-thing-in-a-standard-house-to-handcuff-somebody-to/544236/70 "2012-05-21T23:11:17Z")
Well, she’s probably a zombie now… ---
**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:** [May 21, 2012, 11:42pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/whats-the-sturdiest-thing-in-a-standard-house-to-handcuff-somebody-to/544236/71 "2012-05-21T23:42:15Z")
If one’s spouse is a Walmartian, then the sturdiest thing in one’s house to handcuff one’s self to . . . . ---
**Author:** ![Leo\_Bloom](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/leo_bloom/32/10377_2.png) [@Leo\_Bloom](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Leo_Bloom)\ **Post date:** [May 22, 2012, 7:43pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/whats-the-sturdiest-thing-in-a-standard-house-to-handcuff-somebody-to/544236/72 "2012-05-22T19:43:29Z")
> [@KneadToKnow](#): > > I’ve always thought that if I needed to handcuff somebody to immobilize them and I didn’t have anything handy to cuff them _to_, I’d cuff one wrist to the opposite ankle behind their back. Google “hojojitsu” on web, images, and YouTube, and knock yourself out. They were very very good at this. NB: If the cop has a sex thing, it could be a side benefit (an offshoot of the traditional technique) but going by your rules, efficiency and speed are paramount. Ah, the Japanese. ---
**Author:** ![aceplace57](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/aceplace57/32/3500_2.png) [@aceplace57](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/aceplace57)\ **Post date:** [May 22, 2012, 7:50pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/whats-the-sturdiest-thing-in-a-standard-house-to-handcuff-somebody-to/544236/73 "2012-05-22T19:50:34Z")
Eye bolts are a couple bucks. Drill hole in wall stud. 1/8 bit should work. Tighten eyebolt (a screwdriver through the hole gives good leverage). A resourceful character wouldn’t need a drill & bit. A hammer & large nail will make a starter hole for the eye bolt. Use a 14 inch zip tie. Pass through the eye bolt and around victims wrists. Snug tight. They won’t be going anywhere. [![](https://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/thumb/9/90/Eye_bolt_wood_thread.jpg/220px-Eye_bolt_wood_thread.jpg) ](https://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/thumb/9/90/Eye_bolt_wood_thread.jpg/220px-Eye_bolt_wood_thread.jpg) ---
**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:** [May 22, 2012, 8:48pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/whats-the-sturdiest-thing-in-a-standard-house-to-handcuff-somebody-to/544236/74 "2012-05-22T20:48:30Z")
> [@Leo\_Bloom](#): > > Google “hojojitsu” on web, images, and YouTube, and knock yourself out. They were very very good at this. > > NB: If the cop has a sex thing, it could be a side benefit (an offshoot of the traditional technique) but going by your rules, efficiency and speed are paramount. > > Ah, the Japanese. Yeah, in my original description of that, I did a really bad job of explaining what I meant, but the idea I had was to make them lie down, reach over their (e.g.) left shoulder with their left hand, then bring their (e.g.) right ankle up until it was close enough to cuff. Possibly as ineffective as several people suggested, but I know _I’d_ be immobilized. 🙂 ---
**Author:** ![phreesh](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/p/9fc29f/32.png) [@phreesh](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/phreesh)\ **Post date:** [May 22, 2012, 8:59pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/whats-the-sturdiest-thing-in-a-standard-house-to-handcuff-somebody-to/544236/75 "2012-05-22T20:59:06Z")
> [@aceplace57](#): > > Eye bolts are a couple bucks. > > Drill hole in wall stud. 1/8 bit should work. Tighten eyebolt (a screwdriver through the hole gives good leverage). A resourceful character wouldn’t need a drill & bit. A hammer & large nail will make a starter hole for the eye bolt. > > Use a 14 inch zip tie. Pass through the eye bolt and around victims wrists. Snug tight. > > They won’t be going anywhere. > > [http://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/thumb/9/90/Eye\_bolt\_wood\_thread.jpg/220px-Eye\_bolt\_wood\_thread.jpg](http://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/thumb/9/90/Eye_bolt_wood_thread.jpg/220px-Eye_bolt_wood_thread.jpg) The zip tie is a good addition. All those people who wanted cuffs and an eye-bolt failed to consider getting the cuffs through the eye bolt. I still like the tub idea. Believable, challenging, but still possible for a normal housewife (or whatever) to figure out. The wall stud is also a good idea with the mystery of what’s on the other side. ---
**Author:** ![Ethilrist](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/ethilrist/32/4604_2.png) [@Ethilrist](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Ethilrist)\ **Post date:** [May 23, 2012, 3:47pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/whats-the-sturdiest-thing-in-a-standard-house-to-handcuff-somebody-to/544236/76 "2012-05-23T15:47:41Z")
How about a stuffed bear, standing in the corner? Or a moose head bolted to the wall? ---
**Author:** ![StJoan](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/bc79bd/32.png) [@StJoan](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/StJoan)\ **Post date:** [May 24, 2012, 10:44am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/whats-the-sturdiest-thing-in-a-standard-house-to-handcuff-somebody-to/544236/77 "2012-05-24T10:44:03Z")
How about the window grilles? If the bathroom has a small window, high up, and the lodge is sufficiently isolated, the victim is essentially stuck, no? ---
**Author:** ![Buck\_Godot](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/buck_godot/32/6573_2.png) [@Buck\_Godot](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Buck_Godot)\ **Post date:** [May 24, 2012, 4:01pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/whats-the-sturdiest-thing-in-a-standard-house-to-handcuff-somebody-to/544236/78 "2012-05-24T16:01:51Z")
She could be handcuffed to the drain pipes of a heavy sink. If she managed to unscrew the U joint then she could slip her cuffs of the end. This would be difficult without a wrench although she might be able to jurry rig something to get her some leverage, possible even using the cuffs she is bound with. ---
**Author:** ![tullsterx](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/t/e9bcb4/32.png) [@tullsterx](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/tullsterx)\ **Post date:** [May 24, 2012, 4:25pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/whats-the-sturdiest-thing-in-a-standard-house-to-handcuff-somebody-to/544236/79 "2012-05-24T16:25:41Z")
If it’s a fishing/hunting shack, then there would likely be gun racks, or equipment hooks, etc, on the walls, like in a garage where one keeps various tools. [Previous page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/whats-the-sturdiest-thing-in-a-standard-house-to-handcuff-somebody-to/544236.md?page=3)