Possible resource? Not sure, any mod wants to change it feel free.
As a quick disclaimer, I fucking suck at explaining things, I'm gonna do my best to make this as clear as possible, but it might just be a mess, but here goes...
My 'rig'
It's a 1 inch strap, I cut a lot of excess strap off, as you can't wind the whole lot up, there's kind of a sweet spot for the length, but as long as you get it over your head, and tighten it without it binding up your good.
I have used two pieces of rolled up sock material for my 'padding', this took a bit of figuring to get to this point. I was able to block the carotid with my fingers but not with the larger padding, so I tried to imitate my fingers with the rolled up material.
This was a pain in the ass, trying to get the padding to stay in place, as they are quite small.
To help with this, I have duct tape them to the strap. What you can't really see is HOW I have done it, I'll try and explain..
First of I got my roll of duct tape, and used half the width, so tore it down the middle.
I then wrapped a piece round the strap, so I have a somewhat free moving 'base' to attach the socks. (Does that make sense?)
Imagine wrapping a piece of tape round your finger, that what it should look like.
I then cut a piece of sock material, and rolled to the size one of those camera film pots (2inchs long by 1inch wide) this may need A piece of tape keeps it rolled up.
Then I simply placed the paddings on the tape wrapped round the strap, VERTICALLY, (this is very important for me to get the sweet spot) and wrapped a length of tape round to hold it in place.
Now I have a strap with two bits of padding that can move up and down the strap, this great because I can make fine adjustments to get dead on the sweet spot!
Now, getting the sweet spot. This was a pain in the ass and I just figured out last night that the trick is to hold your neck back, as if your pushing the front of your neck forward, (show me your Adams apple!!)
This feels like it pushes the carotid to the front.
This could be a problem, as when I tilt my head forward, it will release the pressure, this a double edged sword. On one hand its good, it means I can adjust the padding with the strap pretty fucking tight, then all I have to do is one more crank and lean my head back and I'm gone.
On the other hand, if I move while passing out / dying I there is I'd chance of releasing the pressure. I'll get to that one that times comes ( you get only get one practice I would have thought)
The carotid is more up the top of the neck, (please see the mega thread NIGHT NIGHT METHOD for info on this.)
So this means we can sit the strap under the sweet spot, so we can feel for it while the strap is still round the neck.
I highly recommend getting to know your neck area, getting a feel for all the stuff inside, the muscles, the carotid, where it sits in the neck, where it pushes up against etcetera. You should be able to block both with just your fingers, ( and a fair bit of pressure)
I've practiced and practiced, I can mark on my neck the exact point I need pressure.
Become an expert on your neck!
So we're almost ready, rig made, and round our neck, we know what we're looking for in the neck, let's get to it!! (I've rambled long enough)
Now sit your padding under the area of the carotid, so it's out the way, ONE SIDE AT A TIME you then want to find your sweet spot, (this may take a bit faffing, bit its doable) now, keep your finger there, feel your fingers on neck, remember where you felt the finger on your neck, burn this feeling into your brain, you then want to move the padding on to where you felt your fingers (I'm using some kind of touch memory for this process)
Do the same for the other side.
You should now have a pretty tight strap round your neck with the padding on the carotid, you should be able to apply pressure to the padding (just by pushing on it) and make yourself feel fucking weird. Do this till your hearts content, be confident I it. At this point you should be able to tilt your neck back and feel the pressure. Depending on how tight the strap is. You want it tight enough so it's somewhat uncomfortable, but still able to do stuff.
So that's all that I've learned through trial and error, I'm confident I will get this done. I hope this explains well enough!!
Much love and hugs to all