As I said in the article about ropes and knots I like self bondage to end with a real torment. Timers of various kinds are fine, but when the ice finally melts or whatever, it's good to have the extra torment of a chore which must be undertaken completely before that final moment of release. This one uses several identical padlocks, scattered around the house, garden, or whatever space you have available. It works particularly well when combined with bondage that makes moving around slow and painful, such as high heels, hobble chains, or awkward postures like all-fours. As each key is released in turn, you have no idea which lock it will open, so you have to totter or crawl around all of them until you find the right one. In fact, if you use enough locks you could make this last long enough to be the primary release for a self-bondage session.
The basic idea is a collection of identical-looking padlocks, with different keys. You can use as many or as few padlocks as you want. The locks will open only in the right sequence, starting with one key which is left free at the beginning. The final lock releases the key which will free you from your bondage. The tricky part is getting the keys and locks organised so you can be sure they will indeed open in the right sequence. Here's how to do it. Buy as many padlocks as you want, somewhere between six and twelve will probably be right. Depending on how big your home is and how restrictive your bondage, it could easily take five to ten minutes for each lock. You'll also need the same number of heavy-duty keyrings, strong enough that there's no chance of getting the keys off them while you are in bondage (heavy-duty industrial rubber gloves are ideal by the way). Make sure the padlocks all have different keys - don't buy packages where several locks share the same keys.
Lay all of the padlocks out in a row, each with its key. Then take the key from the one at one end, put it on a ring, and set it aside. This will be the key that you use to start the sequence. Take the key from the next lock along, put it on a ring, and put the ring over the hasp of the first padlock (without closing it of course). Now repeat this all along the line of padlocks, so that each lock has the key of the next one in line. When you get to the last lock, attach to it the key for whatever will release you from your bondage. Now jumble up all the locks, being careful not to separate any of them from the associated key.
You will also need the same number of widely-scattered places around your house, flat, garden or whatever, where you can securely fasten the locks. Rings screwed into doorframes, beams, floorboards and so on are ideal. If this isn't possible everywhere, you can also use a short length of chain around convenient parts of heavy furniture. Make sure the rings are at a height and position where you will be able to reach the locks even when you are in bondage. Pick a lock, with its key, at random, and take it to one of the places. Repeat this for each lock, until each of the locks is fastened somewhere. Personally I like to wear high heels and maybe some mild nipple clips while I do this, to get me in the mood. Of course I have to be careful not to get too in the mood.
Once this has been done, you can apply your full self-bondage, and if you have some other thing to wait for before you start this, set that up. Once you have been freed for this part, take the first key, and try each of the locks in turn until you find the one it opens. I love to do this in very restrictive bondage, like high heels and a short hobble chain - or none, just my locking ankle straps fixed together with a padlock so I can only take the tiniest of steps. My hands are fastened together and maybe to a chain running down through my crotch, holding them down low. I have some vicious metal clips on my nipples, a heavy rubber hood, and a big ball gag strapped tightly into my mouth. Maybe I'm wearing full-body heavy rubber, or maybe I'm mainly naked or wearing a lightweight rubber outfit. Of course I have a butt plug inside me, and maybe some cock-and-ball bondage. Every tiny step is an effort, and of course I'm excited and sweating like a pig. I totter unsteadily in tiny steps from one lock to another, desperately hoping that this will be the one. Sometimes I get to the last lock and none of them have opened, and I have to start over, since I've obviously made a mistake. Sometimes I get confused in my excitement and pain, and forget one of the locks. Eventually the first lock opens, and I have another key. Now I have to teeter round again until I find the one I can open. It's painful, and my feet hurt, and maybe I've done something extra so I can't sit down or take the weight off my legs. Eventually, I get to the last one, and open it. It may have taken me an hour or two, on my legs which were already tired from waiting before, and all of me hurts. My cock is bursting. This is self-bondage at its best!
Some other things to bear in mind or to try...
Anton