Sounds like Derek just told you the easy part and skipped the part that actually matters.

Man that crack sound is the worst. I had a similar deal with a cheap arbor press I got for flattening bottle caps, thing flexed so bad the handle just spun loose after like five caps. My grandpa used to say you can't trust cast anything unless you know the guy who poured it, and I never got what he meant until I started buying tools online. Half these listings just say "cast steel" when it's pot metal with a nice paint job. For 10 books a month you might honestly do better with two thick cutting boards and a stack of encyclopedias, sounds dumb but it works and nothing bends.

Digital gear has its place but nothing beats a needle you can trust when it counts.