Wartenberg pinwheels are simply designed, but incredibly fun sensation toys. The pinned wheel is made to glide across the skin, providing a light prickly sensation. I would not call the sensation painful, it is more of a tingling. I myself find it to be ticklish, and love using it on my sub during bondage to tickle and torment him.

Just looking at this wheel may be intimidating, but that's part of the appeal for me. Bringing out the shiny pinned tool is very fun during bondage scenes involving sensation and tickling. This wheel isn't going to be the star of a sensation play scene for me; but it is certainly a fun thing to whip out for some surface stimulation. If you use them properly though, wartenberg wheels are more bark then bite.

I would definitely test out running it on your own skin so you can be aware of how little pressure is needed to get the prickly effect. Just the lightest brushing on the skin is all you need. It will not even leave a mark. I have never broken skin with this, but I imagine it is possible to do if you apply a deliberately over-strong force.

For sensory play, you can gently glide this on your partner's skin while blindfolded and/or restrained (this will depend on your comfort level). It's equally fun on an unrestrained partner. The tingly sensation can make for some fun foreplay.

Another thing I love about this particular wartenberg wheel is that it comes with a storage case. Most I've seen before do not, and it is really a necessity if you are going to store this with other toys. The pins may not break skin; but they certainly get snagged on rope or pressed up on your other toys, leaving little pinholes. With the sleeve provided you can safety add it to your toy box without worry. The sleeve is also of a nice quality vinyl, not some flimsy cloth or plastic bag.

I have had this wartenberg pinwheel for almost a year now and it is still as shiny and new looking as when I got it. The wheel glides just as easily as it did the first time I used it. Being made of metal it is easy to clean with a bleach solution or toy wipe.