Pinwheel
$14.00 from Good Vibes

The Wartenberg Wheel was originally a medical instrument used to test sensitivity. It has since been adopted by kinksters who enjoy all sorts of stimulation, and many non-kinky sex toy retailers have started to sell it as well, including Good Vibes. They bill it as the pinwheel, which I will use from here on out.

So I asked for the pinwheel, and it showed up shortly thereafter. Immediately, I was surprised by how sharp the pins are. I guess I expected them to be a bit duller and others have said the same. However, I am wondering if different brands of pinwheel (this one’s made my Kookie International) may actually be more dull. I only have one, so I cannot say. Nevertheless, I do know that some brands come with a storage pouch/sheath, and the one that Good Vibes says it does, but mine did not. This is a shame because it’s sharp enough that I’d want to wrap it up to avoid damaging anything else or, Heaven forbid, stepping on it!

Let me back up a bit to describe this. The pinwheel is a long, metal handle with a slightly angled head that holds a wheel consisting of 20 or so metal protrusions or pins. A flathead screw connects the layers of the handle and the wheel itself to allow it to spin. The space around the wheel is enough to allow it to move slightly to the left and right, so there is a bit of wobble, and this causes it to make a metallic sound as well. The pins actually flatten toward the end, so they’re not exactly conical.

I am partnerless so I tried this one on for size myself. I quickly discovered that a super light roll across my upper back tickled in the way that I love. It sent shivers down my spine and created goosebumps that made the touch of the pins painful in a not-so-bad sort of way. It also worked to sensitize my lips (the northern ones). The same light tough was pleasurable along my thighs and outer arms.

Yet, I didn’t really enjoy it on my breasts at all. As I said, the pins are much sharper than I expected. So I have barely tried to apply any pressure at all. However, I can tell that the type of sensation a firmer touch would provide would be more enjoyable with a partner, especially because being aroused typically makes it easier to take more pain. With pressure, you can draw blood, and it becomes more apparent that the pinwheel isn’t perfectly produced. Some of the spokes are a little rough or a bit bent.

That doesn’t stop my mind from racing to determine other ways to use this. Over clothes or fabric? Sure. Heated or cooled? A little side-to-side scratching? If you so desire. If you hold the wheel still, you can use it to poke. And even the typical roll can vary from a steady path that never leaves the skin to quick strokes that pull away from it.

Traditional Wartenberg wheels were stainless steel, but there’s an area on mine where the finish has been scratched off, and I can see something coppery or brassy beneath it. I filed off a speck on the handle, and it seemed to be the same metal throughout. I have no idea what’s going on with that. And it doesn’t affect the functionality in the least, it’s just.. weird.

So, my final thoughts are that this Pinwheel is pretty neat. I don’t know what’s up with the sheath and coating, but I do know you should be careful when dropping it. Don’t catch it and cut yourself.

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Categories: BDSM, Reviews