Perfect for my needs as a desktop tool. It's light enough to put away when you're done with a project. This also means that you have to clamp or screw it down during use. So far I've used mine to turn hammer heads and handles as well as a few small projects and it's worked fine. The engine power is only 1/3 hp. means it can easily stall when you download it. This is a compromise between price and portability. This also makes it safer for beginners. And it's an effective tool to encourage you to keep your tools sharp. When I press the switch in my device, the motor takes a few seconds to turn. I'm not sure if this is related to the variable speed feature or a faulty ECU. It's another price compromise and it doesn't matter to me. The tailstock pops out a bit but is not easy to get out, so it is not suitable for horizontal drilling. I hit the rubber end of the tailstock with a hammer to drive it into the workpiece before clamping the tailstock (not an uncommon alternative to turning). As with most lathes, no cutting tools or personal protective equipment are included. Gear apart from that it comes with the gear you need to get started. That being said, it's still a great tool for the price.