This is part of Wolf-garten's modular garden tool system, consisting of an aluminum handle and a series of snap-in attachments. I own this Soil Crumbler, the Push-Pull Weeder attachment, and the 59-inch aluminum handle. Each piece is of high quality, is durable, and works really well.The Crumbler consists of a set of spiked wheels which I will call rowels (like the rowels on a spur) separated by a spacing bar, and a large cutting attachment that is essentially a stirrup hoe connected onto the frame behind the rowels. Pushing it back and forth through the soil (not too deep or it will get stuck) will, depending on the composition of your soil and the degree of moisture, break the clods up into smaller (and smaller) pieces while the stirrup loosens and turns the soil. It works especially well on hard crust after a winter of neglect or previously tilled soil that has become packed due to rain.If you plan to use it to turn soil that has not been previously broken and tilled at some point you will be exhausted and disappointed, but used for its intended purpose it will do a nice job of breaking loose crust, that can then be crumbled by the rowels. If the soil is too dry and the colds are very hard, they will get stuck in between the teeth of the rowels. This isn't always a problem, because you can keep pushing the unit back and forth and the other spikes will continue to work. At some point the rowels will become so clogged that you will have to stop and pick them out. But if the soil is really dry and full of hard clods the tool will not break it down, or not into small enough pieces to plant in.The same is true of wet soil. Don't use it in wet soil! It will only bring you heartbreak, and will annoy the tool as well. You can make a big mess of your garden bed trying to use this in wet soil. Wait until it is dry but the earth is slightly moist. Soil in good condition, relatively dry and with no very large clods, can be crumbled down to a powdery consistency. You can actually crumble the soil several times, and in various directions (I drive it across a section several times, then work it again at an angle perpendicular to the first). Worked this way, and using the stirrup to smooth it out, you can create a level and smooth planting surface pretty quickly.This is an excellent tool that can make garden prep much easier, and can save you time and an aching back.