I use the same ones, but I found a silicone iron shaped pad that I just put the cooling iron on face down, and now it doesn't get knocked over any more.

Don't buy Rowenta made in China. I have three Rowenta irons and they are all good ones. Don't leak, and all three were made in Germany.

I have had 2 Rowenta iron and both of them leaked and sputtered. No more for me especially after reading on this board how many catch on fire.

I had a Rowenta that literally smoked -- it set off the smoke detectors. I replaced it with a Panasonic and it has been great (so far)

I also use a cheap one from Walmart..and it does the trick and as the others mentioned , "no quilt tossing it and getting a new one when it dies"
Also use the little Clover teeny-tiny one for paper piecing and what a charmer!

THANKS everyone for your insights on ironing!! I believe I'm off to find a cheapie! & use the rest of my savings
FOR FABRIC!

I bought a T-Fal with a ceramic plate. It does not overheat my piecing. Am now looking to perfect this idea by buying a wooden ironing board. Was told that you don't know the difference that no steam and a wooden board can make til you try it. So thinking I'll try it. I love my iron!! Got it at KMart. Only place I've ever seen one. It cost about $50.

I love that little Rowenta iron. It's perfect to sit on my small ironing surface when I am doing paper piecing. I don't like the fact that it doesn't have an on/off switch. I've solve that by plugging it into a multi-plug with an on/off switch. It gets hot super fast and is small enough to use on an 12 x 18 surface. If I am ironing big things I go back to one of my big irons. For those, the cheaper the better, as long as it gets hot. The one I'm using now cost less than $10 at WM about 10 years ago.

Edited to add: If I am piecing or ironing 100% cotton, I always use the hottest setting. I am careful not to leave the iron on the fabric and to only use 100% cotton thread. I gave up putting water in any of my irons a long time ago due to several over the years spitting out blackish, rusty looking stuff that couldn't be removed from the fabric it spit on.

Happy Quilting!

I too use the cheapies. If they start to give me trouble they go into the recycle bin. A good place to look for cheapies is in thrift and consignment shops. Asking to check if they leak/sputter/don't heat is not atrocious and the really good thrift/consignments will help you do it.

Oh, and the Rowenta I bought, it wound up in the trash. The customer service rep told me about the "made in China" issue and then confided that the "real" Rowentas were made in Germany. Problem of leaking irons was known but Rowenta made no effort to fix it. And we should buy what from a company with that attitude? Yikes.

Anyway, enjoy today.

Pat

I have a Rowenta with the separate water tank. Pricey but have had it for years and love it