I purchased this ice cream maker as a gift for my mom. We used it for the first time on 4th of July.  The ice cream maker worked very well, except the hand crank is a little odd because it only allows 180 degrees rotation in one direction, then 180 degrees in the other direction, because of a stop in the lid of the cannister.  Also, the handle on the crank is a little flimsy.  But the ice cream came out so creamy, and was firmer than I can ever remember our homemade ice cream as being.  Hint: One additional tip I would like to pass along.  A vendor selling homemade ice in Genoa, NV, last year told me the trick to getting firm ice cream was to use Solar Salt instead of regular Ice Cream salt.  This was the first time I had tried that tip, and the ice cream was definitely firmer.