So this past weekend I attended a "Smart Piecing" class at my LQS. Before the class they have their iron setup so we can press our fabric. They had a new one there, it was an "Ironing Station".

Now I have an $8 iron from Walmart, and it spits and spills. I've always bought a cheap iron and then thrown it out and got a new one when it starts leaking, as they seem to always do.

Anyway this iron was kinda of a DREAM to work with. No spitting, it had some heft to it (which I prefer) and it did a GREAT job. Now what would you imagine the price would be for a great iron like this?...Are you ready for me to tell you?

Here's the Iron: http://www.amazon.com/Reliable-IronM...966055&sr=1-14

$350.00!!!!!!!! I was in shock and I'm sure my eyes flew right open when they told me.

So I went online and looked around for the brand and found it on Amazon for the bargain price of $250.

Now unless the Quilt Fairy comes and leaves it in my sewing room I fear I will be left to my cheap irons. Obviously I use it a lot, but I just can't seem to justify this cost.

Has anyone used or have any experience with these types of irons? I would start saving for one, but just wanted opinions. THANKS!

Pat Sloan uses a reliable Iron. Hers is not this particular one but she sells them too I do believe. I would love one that got hot and didn't spit

I would rather use a cheaper iron and save the rest of the money for fabric. I find my irons don't last long, I think because when I am sewing they are on most of the day. Just bought a new, cheap one and it is driving me crazy with automatic shutoff. I iron, go to machine to piece, get up to iron and the darned thing is turned itself off and I have to waste time waiting for it to heat back up.

Here is what I do to cope with auto shutoff. I chain stitch assembly line style. When I have a bunch of units all chain stitched and ready to press I take the whole chain to my ironing board. Then I tip the iron to get it to heat up again and while it is heating I snip the theards between my chain stitched units. By the time I am done snipping the iron is heated up and ready to use.

That was ANOTHER plus to this iron it sits on a silicon pad and it doesn't turn off. It was on all through class so if anyone needed to use it.

I figure in the past 2 years I've probably purchased 6 different irons....so am I REALLY saving that much. I wouldn't mind investing in a good solid iron if I knew it would work well.

Maybe I should look into their warranty policy. For that price I assume it should be good?

I have the Delongi which is almost the same but quite a bit cheaper. I do love it, the water is in the chamber below the iron rather than in the iron itself and it really works well. I think it's important to have a good steam iron for piecing.

I have had a Black and Decker ProFinish 705 for about 10 years. It has an automatic shut off which is nice except sometimes it shuts off before I'm ready for it to. Use only distilled water in it, the iron and mineral deposits I understand is what causes an iron to clog up and spit and sputter. This one irons like a dream after all these years. I can't remember what I paid for it, but I can assure you it was not $350. Probably more like $40

Search on ebay for cheaper. I've wanted one myself and almost bought one at an estate sale. But, it was dirty and they couldn't tell me if it worked and they still wanted $50 for it. Also CL...

There are good, inexpensive irons out there; $350 appears to be a gimmick to remove people from their money. Perhaps I am too Iowa frugal (laughter).

Hey now I'm an Iowan as well. :)

I guess I'm chasing after my dream iron, no spitting, will last, and won't break the bank. I have no problem in investing in a good quality built product. But in the case of Irons....they all seem to be hit or miss.

I hear so many people who love their old irons that they've had for 30 years....guess they just don't make'em like they used to.