I have to agree with a number of other reviewers here. The wooden bucket leaks. The only way I could make ice cream at all was to put the whole thing in my kitchen sink & fill the sink with water. That way the brine had nowhere to leak to. The paddle shaft/motor interface is terrible. It started to strip the first time I used it. Yes, I had aluminum shavings in the ice cream, too. With very careful assembly, I was able to use it 3 more times--then I grew frustrated & threw it out. Your money is better spent on a quality ice cream maker.