The Tanni Machine is a lightweight, lovely functional art piece made of oak that makes it possible to penetrate yourself without an awkward reach. It costs about $200, comes in Natural or Black, and while it doesn’t match the smooth, hands-free glide of the Monkey Rocker, it’s also a quarter of the price.

The comparison is inevitable. Both machines are hand-made. Both aim for a subtle aesthetic, not an industrial or high-tech vibe. And both have caused me to re-think the role of dildos in my sex life, partnered and solo. I’ve always leaned more toward vibration and could take or leave the dildo … but not having to crank my hand around at an awkward angle and pump makes a huge difference.

The Tanni, like the Fantasy Glide (aka Jack Hammer Johnson, reviewed in this Sex Drive column), puts the “handle” of the dildo within easy reach. Unlike the Fantasy Glide, it has no spring. It does translate a small amount of hand motion into a larger amount of vaginal or anal penetration, so that a small push with the hand becomes a nice thrust with the dildo. (I suppose you could use it for oral, too, particularly in a BDSM/humiliation context, if whoever is at the helm works the thing carefully.)

I used it in conjunction with the Eroscillator, both on the stable surface of the hard floor and the unstable surface of my pillowtop mattress. In both cases it was easy and natural to steady the base of the Tanni with my feet or legs, and to work it into place one-handed even when the dildo came all the way out on a particularly enthusiastic stroke. My only complaint was that I didn’t have a hand free to hold a book.

The motion is a bit clunky and if I pushed too hard or at a bad angle, the nuts and bolts clanked. Much of the wobble it has on its own goes away once it’s inside you, though, as your body steadies the thrusting arm. I’ve had this prototype for two months (yeah, yeah, just call me Scoop) so he might have figured out a smoother solution since he sent me this sample.

The handle moves in a full arc, so a friend can maneuver it for you. There’s also a way to use two Tannis at the same time for partner play, and you can see simulations and videos on the website for more ideas.

Now, I don’t assemble, so I can’t speak to how hard it is for a normal person to put together. The friend who assembled mine said it was a snap. Way easier than anything from IKEA. I will reserve judgment on that, and please feel free to let me know, if you get one, how it all came together for you.

You need a dildo with a vac-u-lock attachment or a hole for a bullet vibrator (I was able to squeeze a Tantus on there).

I’m not sure if the inventor will let me name him, but I can tell you this: he put this together over the summer and seems to have launched himself a new “retirement career” by accident. He has a couple of stores interested in carrying the Tanni already and is working on other accessories and machines as we speak.

Overall, I like it. I’d like it better if it were in the $130 range, but that’s probably impossible given the quality of the materials and the “individually hand made” aspect.