This is a very nice looking machine and it works. The concern we have is that the "silver" colored part that pushes the ice down and the part inside is not metal, it's plastic. So, you have to be very careful how hard you push down to move the ice through, or it feels like it will break. As a result, it takes a long time to make the crushed ice. I expected more from Cuisinart, but so far it's working.
This is a fabulous snow cone machine. One of the reasons is that the motor for crushing the ice is so strong, that the crushed ice is very soft. Also, and the mechanism for crushing the ice is very easy to do. I made a snow cone for my granddaughter and she liked it so much that she's purchasing one.
What a relief to make snow cones and not have to twist Snoopy’s arm for hours!! TIP It works really well and quickly. Works better with the bag of ice we bought than with the ice from our freezer’s ice maker.