Glass and metal: what to look out for with hard materials
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by Verpakkingdeals.nl
5 min reading time
Glass and metal behave differently from silicone: heavier, harder, and non-porous. This has implications for sizing, temperature, damage inspection, and cleaning.
When you first take a glass or metal item out of its box, one thing usually surprises you: its weight. A model that looks identical to a silicone version in a product photo often weighs twice as much in your hand and feels completely different. This difference is not a minor detail, as it determines how you choose, use, clean, and store such an item. This guide outlines the practical aspects of hard materials, without fuss.
Why people choose glass or metal
The main difference from soft materials lies in the surface. Glass and metal are non-porous: there are no microscopic pores in which residue from lubricant or dirt can remain. This makes cleaning easier and more controllable, as you can see from a smooth surface whether it is clean.
In addition, they are dimensionally stable. A silicone model flexes, a glass model does not. This means that the stated diameter is truly the diameter you feel, without play. For some, this is precisely the reason to choose it, for others a reason not to. Models like the Glass Dildo Black 17 cm (€ 19.95) and the Glass Dildo Transparent 20 cm (€ 19.95) demonstrate this well: the shape you see is the shape it will remain.
A third reason is practical: glass and metal tolerate both water-based and silicone-based lubricants. For silicone items, silicone lubricant is generally not recommended because it can damage the surface. If you have a strong preference for a particular type of lubricant, a hard material means you are never restricted.
Reading measurements for a hard material
With soft materials, the shape forgives an incorrect estimation; with hard materials, it does not. Therefore, look at three numbers instead of just one. The total length indicates manageability, the diameter indicates the size you actually notice, and for plugs, the shape of the neck and base is most important.
For anal use, there is one hard and fast rule that has nothing to do with preference: only choose models with a wide, flat base that is clearly wider than the body of the item. Plugs such as the Glass Plug Clear (€ 19.95) and the Glass Plug Transparent with Yellow (€ 19.95) are designed for this purpose. A dildo without such a base, however beautiful, is not suitable for that purpose.
Also pay attention to surface texture. A smooth model like the Glass Dildo Clear with Rose (€ 19.95) feels different from a ribbed model like the Glass Dildo Plug Clear with Blue Ribble (€ 19.95). For the same diameter, the ribbed version is noticeably more pronounced.
Temperature: the advantage and the limit
Glass and metal adopt the temperature of their surroundings and retain it for a while. For many people, this is precisely the reason to choose these materials. Metal items such as the Stainless Steel Buttplug with Ashtray Design (€ 39.95) do this even more strongly than glass, because metal conducts heat more quickly.
There is a clear limit to this. Only use lukewarm water to change the temperature: for example, place an item briefly in a bowl of lukewarm water and then always test it on the inside of your wrist before proceeding. Freezer, boiling water, microwave, or dishwasher are not suitable. Besides the fact that the material is not designed for this, glass and metal conduct so well that you cannot correct a wrong estimation.
Checking before use
This is the step that is really important for hard materials and hardly applies to soft materials. Before each use, examine a glass item under good light and feel the entire surface with your fingertips. You are looking for chipped edges, hairline cracks, and rough spots, especially around the base and the tip.
Do you feel a sharp edge or see a crack? Then do not use the item, not even once.
Do not drop glass on a tiled floor or sink edge; damage can sometimes be internal and therefore not visible.
Do not store hard items loosely together, as glass against metal will cause precisely the knocks that lead to damage.
If the product page does not state the type of glass an item is made from, do not assume it is resistant to temperature differences.
Because the surface is non-porous, warm water with a mild, unscented soap or a cleaner made for this purpose, such as Toy Cleaner Odorless 120 ml (€ 7.95) or Toy Cleaner Spray 150 ml (€ 8.95), will suffice. Rinse thoroughly, as soap residue will remain visible on a smooth surface and feel sticky.
Then dry with a clean, lint-free cloth and let the item air dry for a while before storing it. Preferably store it in the box or pouch in which it was delivered, so that nothing bumps against it. Do not put glass in a drawer where metal objects also roll around.
Lubricant included
Hard materials are not inherently slippery, and glass initially feels cool at room temperature. Therefore, using plenty of lubricant and replenishing it in between is not a luxury. For daily use, water-based lubricant works perfectly: Lotus Flower Aqua Lubricant 150 ml (€ 4.15), Peep Pleasure Water-Based Lubricant 100 ml (€ 7.95) or Water-Based Lubricant 150 ml (€ 9.95). Water-based lubricant is also the easiest to rinse away when cleaning.
Property
Glass
Metal
Weight
Heavy
Heavier
Temperature retention
Good
Very good, changes faster
Surface
Non-porous, smooth
Non-porous, smooth
Lubricant
Water- or silicone-based
Water- or silicone-based
Most important check
Cracks and chips
Seams and set stones
Would you like to compare for yourself? View the models in Dildo and Buttplugs, the wider range in Anal Sex Toys and the corresponding maintenance in Lubricant, Toy Cleaners and Erotic Drugstore. Do you have doubts about the sizing or material of a specific item? Email your question to info@verpakkingdeals.nl; we will answer it professionally and discreetly.
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