irons
 

Which iron would you recommend for quilting? I need to buy a better one.

I like mine a lot, but it's pricey. I have the Oliso - the yellow one (don't remember the model number).

I like the fact that it stays hot! Even when ironing yardage, I don't have to wait for it to cycle to hot again and again - it remains a constant usable hot no matter how long I use it.

I love the long 12' cord!

I love the plate - nothing sticks to it, I never get scorching, and it's easy to clean with a damp cloth.

Of course it has the feet that will lift it - which is a nice feature - but I turn it off quite often. For example if I am pressing pieces of blocks (say HST's) I'll drop the iron one while I finger press the next open, then swap them - this way I can keep going. But I do like the feet option for when I'm ironing yardage - my board is 45" long so once I have the fabric over the board no room for the iron, but with the feet raised I can place the iron on my cutting board (right behind me) without a problem!!

I also like the fact that it's heavy - I prefer a heavy iron to a light iron. I know some people like a lighter weight iron.

I don't ever use steam so I can't tell you how that function of the iron performs.W

Would I buy it again even though it's very pricey ... yes ... but I'll shop around for the best price :)

Rowentas USED to be good, now they're nightmares waiting to happen; ditto with the Shark. Haven't tried the Oliso yet
but that's probably my next one. Good luck!

I have a Reliable digital velocity, pricey but it works very well.

Having spent big $$$ on two top of the line Rowenta's and had them both stop working... I have gone to cheap Walmart irons. My only advise is get a good sole plate .. stay away from the teflon coated. Should you get some fusible on the teflon .. nightmare to get it off. A good sole plate can handle the clean -up from the occasional ... mishap.

I've also been burned by Rowenta, no pun intended, and won't buy their irons anymore. I'm using a Digital Velocity V100 from the Reliable Corp. I like it. I don't use the steam much, but when I do it is AWESOME, much better than any other iron I've tried, and it is designed so that it is never supposed to leak.

Some people prefer lightweight irons (I like heavy ones), some use steam all the time, others always iron dry. Your preference in an iron may not match mine.

I have the Oliso, the blue one. I use it both with and without steam. It works well for me because I don't have to lift it.

I have a Rowenta and love it!

I have my moms oreck and i really like that.

I love my T-Fal!

My friend bought the yellow Oliso, it lasted a little over a year. She had bought it at a quilt expo from Nancy's Notions. Needless to say, she isn't a happy camper. I use a cheapy Black & Decker from St. Vinnies $2.

if you put "iron" into the search feature you will get even more opinions. We have had many discussions on irons. I like my Black and Decker Digital Advantage.

I use this one. It's reasonable priced at $15 from Amazon and no holes in the sole plate. I use the Black and Decker Classic if I want steam. [h=1]Continental Electric CP43001 Classic Dry Iron[/h]

i love my $20 black & decker- it is not too heavy- but not too light- it does not shut itself off when i need it to be hot- i gave up on spending hundreds on irons- for me $20 or less is the way to go- they last me 3-5 years- i feel i get my money's worth over & over- my $159 iron lasted 6 months...
i never put water into an iron- i keep a spray bottle of water on the end of my ironing board- that lets me have a spritz of steam when i need one- and i never have a sputtering/leaking iron to contend with.

I don't like having a steam function on my iron. I love the one I purchased not long ago. It's a classic dry iron from Home Depot made by Continental Electric. It cost just under $30

I bought the yellow 1800 watt Oliso last month on eBay. Pricey at $150, but I thought well worth it. The heat is even and consistent, the sole plate designed in such a way as to save your fingers from burns, the steam function and water spout the best designed I have ever experienced, and the cord is REALLY long. Before the Oliso, I was an inveterate fan of Rowenta (the Costco models) but I got steam-a-seam all over the sole plate and after cleaning off the goo, I wanted to get a second iron for piecing, reserving the Rowenta for use with applique. I thought the heat and steam from a Rowenta were really great, but the Oliso is so much better. It delivers a different kind of heat and steam and I really like the difference.

But, there's always a 'but' right? Halfway through the construction of a large quilt, the feet periodically stopped retracting when I replaced my hand on the handle, resulting in some major gouges across my blocks. No permanent damage to the blocks, and it is possible to turn off the "foot function" (i.e., take your hand off the handle and the feet automatically jut out and lift the iron off the board about 2 inches, saving you from having to stand the iron up, remove it from your fabric, having the iron topple while standing up, as well as saving your fabric from scorching), but this malfunction is a little unsettling given the cost and the fact that the iron is so new. Best I can figure, the foot function doesn't stand up to a 12-hour day of piecing, as this has only happened after the iron has been on for hours. Next day the foot function seems fine again and I can iron away as the iron was designed and intended. Glad it's under warranty but was alarmed to read about the one-year experience of one member's friend. This thing is way too pricey to be so short-lived.

I swear by the Reliable Velocity. It puts out MOUNTAINS of steam - and doesn't stop. Once you hit the steam, it steams until the water runs out. It has an internal boiler, so you never have to stop and wait for the steam to start again. I've had mine for almost two years, and it has never, ever spit (like the Rowenta's are notorious for doing) and the heat is amazing.

I bought a Black and Decker through Walmart.com although I'm sure it is available elsewhere. It has 1500 watts of power and I love it more than my old Black and Decker which had about half of the wattage... http://www.walmart.com/ip/Black-Deck...urple/16816451
I absolutely love the long power cord. I think it's about 3' longer than my old iron which I now take to quilting groups. I'm keeping my new iron at home for awhile ;)

Oliso all the way! The yellow one, I love it

I also have the Velocity by Reliable. It ROARS when you hit the steam button. The steam just ROARS out. It has an extra large tank to hold lots of water. It's awesome!!! I also have the Oliso, but I use my Velocity now.