How to use a sex machine

A sex machine is the one toy that never gets tired and never loses the rhythm. The first night is mostly setup and finding your angle. Get those right and every night after is you lying back and letting it work.

The steps below work on any frame. Where it helps, we point to two we like: the Hismith Premium 3.0 Pro, our pick when you ride big toys, and the Auxfun Basic, the $89 way to find out if machines are your thing.

1. 1.Set it up where it can't move

   Floor or a firm mattress, never a soft pillow top. Lay a towel or a waterproof blanket under the base. A heavy frame like the Hismith stands on its own feet; a light one like the Auxfun Basic has suction feet, so press them onto a clean, smooth floor or table. Run the cord where nobody's knee will catch it. Then run it empty for ten seconds on the lowest setting and watch: it should stay put, not walk across the floor. If it creeps, brace it against a wall or the bed frame.

2. 2.Lock in the attachment, and know your connector

   The connector decides which toys fit. Hismith uses its own KlicLok click-in mount and sells a Vac-U-Lock adapter. The Auxfun Basic uses 3XLR, a three-pin plug. Vac-U-Lock toys need the right adapter, and suction-cup toys need a suction-cup plate. Whatever you use, seat it, lock it, and give it a firm tug. If it wiggles, it isn't ready.

   • Best dildos for sex machines →
   • Best thick dildos for sex machines →

3. 3.Lube more than feels reasonable

   Water-based lube on silicone toys, every time, because silicone lube can break down a silicone attachment. Go thick: a machine strokes faster and longer than any hand, and thin lube is gone in two minutes. Coat the toy and yourself, and keep the bottle within reach so you can top up without getting out of position.

4. 4.Start short and slow, then add depth and speed

   Shortest stroke and lowest speed, even if you've used a machine before. Give it a few minutes to warm you up. On the Hismith, set the stroke near its 1.3-inch minimum before you switch on, and only lengthen it with the machine stopped. The Auxfun's stroke is a fixed 2.4 inches, so you control depth by how close you sit to it. When it feels good, add depth first, then speed, one notch at a time. Depth is what gets intense fast, so stay a little shorter than you think you want.

5. 5.Find your angle, then play with positions

   Move yourself, not the machine, until it hits right. Then try a few: on your back with your knees up and the machine between your legs; on all fours with the machine behind you and its arm set to your hip height; or on your side with a pillow under your hip. When you find a favorite, note the arm angle and height so it's ready to go next time.

6. 6.Stay in control

   Keep the remote, the dial or the app in your own hand the first few times, and know where the stop is before you start. Stop the second anything pinches, burns or goes numb. If a partner is driving, agree on a word that means stop, now. Never fall asleep with it running, never adjust the stroke while it's moving, and unplug it when you're done.

7. 7.Clean it and put it away

   Unplug first. Take the attachment off and wash it in warm water with toy cleaner or mild unscented soap, then let it air dry. Wipe the arm, connector and base with a damp cloth, and never run water into the motor. Store the toy in its own pouch, coil the cord loosely, and keep the machine somewhere dry. A frame lives on the closet floor; the Auxfun slides under the bed.

Still choosing a machine? See Best sex machines for the frames we'd buy, from the $89 wired starter to the one built for big toys. Down to two? Read Hismith Premium 3.0 Pro vs Lovense Mini or Hismith Premium 3.0 vs 3.0 Pro vs 4.0.