I did eventually succumb to an electric El Cheapo model, but making your own ice cream with rock salt and ice in a White Mountain hand-cranked ice cream maker had its own special glory. I found the device to be well made and never had any issues with any part of it. Expect to do a fair amount of cranking, and expect things to get kind of messy. Keep in mind that rock salt is not kind to lawns, among other things.