This is the first spreader I've purchased. The only complaint I have is that there should be a clicking mechanism built into the setting rate slider. The slider is secured by a wingnut which you manually tighten to lockdown, but if your not careful it's easy to silently dislodge while your using the spreader. There is a manual lever that you'll use to open/close the grate for the spreader to avoid dumping the material your spreading during turns or if your crossing pavement. It's when your opening the grate with the lever that there is a risk of dislodging the wingnut and causing you to start spreading out at a much higher rate than you intend to. It's not really a big deal if your spreading out the same compound since you'll know visually if there is something wrong. For the first timers though pay attention.