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.

Michael, for what it's worth....go to thrift shops or check out ebay. I have purchased excellent irons from thrift shops for $2.00 - $5.00. They are the older ones that most people don't want because they are not new. They are the best. On ebay you have to be careful and check out the seller, and read the descriptions really well. I have paid a lot more money for some of my irons in my collection on ebay but most were like brand new and heat like a dream. Irons are easy to clean with a bit of elbow grease. I use "Nevr Dull Wadding Polish" which comes in a can. It is actual wadding that you pull small pieces out of and rub the iron clean and it works like a dream. It can be used for so many things and doesn't scratch your iron at all. My old Betty Crocker iron from the 40's or 50's (maybe earlier) has the water container you have to attach if you want steam and works like the day it was made. I would be ashamed to tell you of the newer irons I spent a fortune on only to go into the trash heap. It might take a bit of searching but the older irons are so worth it and free of frustrations and none of them have those blasted automatic turnoffs.

My iron is a Black and Decker that I paid $30 for and I love it. Had a Rowenta and it was the worst piece of crap I ever bought. I won't buy an iron that cost $8, but $30-35 isn't that bad and I've had this one for a year and a half and still love it. $250 will buy me lots more fabric and other stuff so I would never spend that on an iron. I have priorities that do not include spending that much on an iron.

I'm afraid I can't give you any advice on expensive, high end irons. I replace mine every few years with another cheap one.

I got a Rowenta iron similar to that one from JoAnn's. If I remember correctly I paid about $120 with my coupon. I love it! It never turns off, has a separate water well that lasts a long time, is a steamer and doesn't spit water. The book recommends regular tap water unless your water source has a lot of minerals in it and if it does, simply use spring water you can buy from the grocery store really cheap but it definately says not to use distilled water. I did have a problem with my tap water but once I started using the spring water I had no problem! Just be careful--some brands of spring water had added minerals for "taste". This is probably true for the cheaper irons also.

I don't think irons last as long as the ones made prior to the 70's :roll:
Also, I don't think they are made to be used the way we quilters use them. Mine can be on for the whole day, day after day. I think we literally tend to "burn them out" quickly.
I still stick to the cheaper models, replace them every few years and I am way ahead of the game. I would not be happy to have one that spendy that did not last atleast 10 years :D:D:D

I love my cheap Black & Decker iron - no steam and no mess. :)

I keep a small Conair iron on my sewing table, and a Quilter's Cut-n-Press under the table. The cut-n-press is easy to grab when I need to iron a seam. The iron heats very quickly, and doesn't turn itself off. I just use it for ironing seams. I've had it for a couple of years and it is still going strong. I have never used it for steam, however.