The Wartenberg pinwheel is a fantastic addition to the kit of anyone interested in pain (or sensation) play, from beginners to old hands alike. It offers a great deal of sensation for a very small amount of effort, and it'd be difficult to actually hurt someone with this. I could see drawing blood if you were really trying to, but during normal play I found it difficult to leave even the faintest of marks on extremely delicate skin. This could make it an amazing toy for someone interested in pain, but in a situation where any physical marks from rough play would be difficult to explain.

The sharp, pricking sensation is like no other. The best way I can explain it is that it's like holding the stem of a thorned rose. If you're careful and gentle, there's just a prickle of sensation. If you grab it firmly, you'll feel the pain.

Given the price of this toy and how much it offers, I was surprised by how solid the build of it is. A very firm, ridged handle (the ridges help with grip, even with lube on your hands) leads up through a natural curve to the pronged wheel.

The mention of rounded tips had me expecting the points to be far duller than they are in reality. They don't come to needle-points, but they are sharp. Setting the wheel sideways against the skin and pulling down instead of rotating the wheel made it easy to draw scratches and even welts.

The wheel does have a bit of a gap between it and the handle holding it in place. Because of that, it can wobble slightly, and it will rattle if you shake it.

After inspecting the very tips of the prongs, I found that one of them has a slight, sharp bend to it. This doesn't take away from use, but I thought it was worth mentioning.

What amazes me the most about this wheel is the sheer amount of sensation offered for so little effort. As long as it's touching the skin, there will be a reaction.

The caveat of that, though, is that this wheel takes a bit of skill to use. The difference between a barely-there touch and the first prickle of pain isn't much in pressure. Something as simple as supporting the weight of the handle vs. letting the body you're using it on support the weight through the wheel can give a very different experience.

If you're planning to use this on someone else, use it on yourself first. You'll find that the amount of pressure needed varies on where you're using it. Light touches on places where the skin is thin work well, and places with a lot of give - like a soft belly or breasts - need a different approach altogether.

I don't think there's anything I could ask from a pinwheel that this model doesn't offer.

This is a sharp toy, and if used roughly, it can draw blood. Treat it with the same care and respect that you would for a knife that you planned to bring into the bedroom. Don't store it alongside toys that can be punctured, clean it thoroughly after use, and sterilize between partners.

If discretion is an issue, keep this one well-hidden. It looks vaguely threatening, and I have trouble thinking of any explanations that you could give for it other than 'this is my kinky sex toy.'

The wheel came in a thin plastic sleeve suitable for light storage, with nothing else. If you plan to use it often, I would suggest getting a different sleeve. This one feels like it'll be shreds within a few weeks.

I've been meaning to get one of these for a while, but always forgot to add it onto an order. Now that I have it, I wish I'd done it far, far sooner.

The first time the Wartenberg wheel touched my skin, my eyes went wide.

I'd expected a lot of things. Pain, probably. A tickling sensation. Something indescribable. The more I read about it, the more it sounded like electrostimulation in the sensations it brought.

Nothing really prepared me for that first moment. A light, barely-there touch meant that I felt every prong as it touched my skin. The slow movement triggered anticipation, and my breath started to quicken. It was all I could do to hold still and not ask for more - something faster, something deeper, something harder.

When the touch grew firmer, tiny flashes of pain started to creep in. I'm a masochist, so for me it feels like a tease. A promise.