Adcraft AGP-75 Heavy Duty Die-Cast Aluminum Garlic Press with Self-Cleaning Design - Perfect for Home Cooking, Restaurants & Professional Kitchens

I completely agree with Allen (the first reviewer) about this garlic press! I searched high and low for a REAL garlic press, one that was not enameled or weak. I previously had a metal press that was "enameled," the enameling began peeling off within 3 months. I also had another garlic press which was okay until I bent the handles a few weeks in, UGH!I started feeling that I would have to shell out a lot of money for the type of garlic press I wanted, I did a lot of searching and came to a $40 german-made one, and this one. It was only because of Allen's review that I bought this one. It turned out to be a wonderful purchase! I don't have to search for a good garlic press anymore. Here are some points of the press:- The garlic press is bigger than I thought, even considering the other review. However, the size was perfect for me, since I have big hands. You can put more cloves inside the press than other presses.- This is CAST aluminum, it feels thick and sturdy, has an awesome heft.- The "self-cleaning" part is a nice bonus, mine works very well and is perfectly aligned. Since the purchase in February, none of the teeth have broken off.- Aluminum concerns: When the press first arrives, it will have some soot inside, you need to clean it out before first use! There is no need to put this in the dishwasher, all I do is run it under hot water and use the "self-cleaner" a few times, and just set it aside, there has been none of the "black soot" for me this way.- Unstoppable pressing! I press a LOT, no signs of wear.- It does feel indestructible.The part that cleans the holes is made of plastic. If all the protrusions are on that plastic part, the garlic gets cleaned out of all the holes. But the protrusions on that plastic part break easily. One cannot leave this in a utensil drawer banging around with other utensils. I order this twice from Amazon and both had to be returned as whoever packed it just threw it into a mailer without any protection to that plastic part. They both arrived broken. If you buy one, be prepared to use a toothpick every time you finish using it because eventually the plastic cleaning part will break.One of the reasons I chose this garlic press is that most of the reviews showed that the self cleaning part would not break. When I received my garlic press, the self cleaning part was missing some of its pieces; it was broken before I had even used it. However, when I complained in my Amazon review, I heard back from the manufacturer. They apologized, reimbursed me, and told me they would complain to Amazon about being more careful with shipping and handling. I was pleasantly surprised to hear from them at all. And besides the damaged self cleaning part, the garlic press is quite effective.The self-cleaning tool had one tooth chipped off some time between opening the package and bringing it to the kitchen to use it. What I am afraid of is melted plastic in my food. You also have to use something thin to clean the self cleaner....It does its job but not well because only 50% comes out through the proper end. I always have to back it up with the cleaner to push and scrape the rest out :(However, I don't mind continuing its usage because it is a cheap tool, and I don't think 100% of the garlic would press out of other pressers anyway.I had a similar garlic press for 15 years and I loved it. Unfortunately, after many hundreds of uses and cycles in the dishwasher, metal fatigue got to it and it broke.I thought the one I just bought from Amamzon was the same thing, but it's a pale copy of my first one. It arrived with a few teeth of the cleaner brush missing and when I rinsed it, a couple more fell off. I just started using it, so far the rest are holding, and the press works ok, but I wonder for how long. If it breaks soon, I will update this review.The black ejector prongs were brittle and 5-10 snapped off the first time I closed it. Awesome.After the first time I used it, I went to flip it around to use the self-cleaning tool and it was difficult and very hard to press down, but when I finally did, 3 of the back "teeth" (cleaning nobs) fell right off, so now I have to still manually dig out the skin, but it's ok. I'm used to doing it, just not a good idea, otherwise it works just fine.I really don't like reviews where somebody hasn't used the item, but... I received this garlic press missing the self-cleaning part, so I sent it back. I thought Amazon was just going to replace it, but they did a refund instead.It looks like it ought to do a good job, and I'll buy another to replace it.