I love this iron. It "fits" my hand. It heats up soooo fast. It does NOT have an automatic turn-off. The steam feature is great: it doesn't hold much water but it does come with its own little spout-cup for filling. For piecing and applique, it is the best iron I've ever used and so convenient. I seldom have to drag out the big ironing board and iron anymore. I do have a home-made ironing board that sits to the left of my chair, on a small cabinet. It's about 24 x 18 inches, a particle board covered with batting and canvas. I keep the iron "on", sitting on a little hot plate.