this brings up a question - are you all steaming your quilt-tops? Blocks? Pieces? Pre-washed fabric?

I've had two Rowentas but won't buy a third. One of my quilting teachers said she gets one from Wal*Mart.

I receintly bought a sunbeam iron. I really like it. It is heavier than I am used to, but that's a good thing.

The cheapo Reliable from WalMart

I have a Rowenta that I have had since around 1995. It is still working but does not get as hot as it use to. The feature that I love about it is that it does not have an auto shut off. That is very annoying when you are sewing and need to sew and press and sew and press.
Has anyone purchased an iron recently, for not too much $$, where it does NOT have an auto shut off but gives good heat and lots of steam?

I say stick with the Rowenta. You don't always have to get the top of the line Rowenta. I have gotten some good ones in the $50-60 price range. I also have a Sunbeam and a EuroPro, but I still like the Rowenta the best.

I just got a new rowenta an i love it

I've used Rowenta's and they have been great until they start leaking. Tuesday Morning carries them for quiet a bit less than other stores! They are short lived but good irons. I have recently started using an Oliso. Very good specially when have to do a lot of ironing! Easier on the wrist but they do take some getting used too! I prefer a hot iron to get the job done a lot faster and the Oliso so far has been great!

I just wrote a huge reply and boom, lost it!!! dislike

I have a Rowenta steam iron purchased on ebay from Allbrands-com $150, love the base unit. I have dropped so many irons that I have had to replace.
love the heat and steam. the cord length is comfortable. and doesn't easily entangle.

I like the skinny ones best. Do not think the new Rowenta are worth the big money.

I bought Rowenta and it didn't steam very well, so I wrote to the company to see where to take it to have in looked at in the Seattle area, but didn't even get a reply. I have a GE Light n Easy and love the dial. I have a Black and Decker steam express but really hard to see the dial to set it for the fabric you are ironing or pressing on. The B & D has automatic shut off which my husband loves because he is afraid I will leave the iron on. I find it annoying but getting use to it.

I bought a Rowenta several years ago but I really did not use it that much. My concern at the time was to get something that would shut off on it's own. I tend to forget to do that. (grin) But lately I have been using it more because I am back into quilting (more time because I am retired now) and It does leak water sometimes. I couldn't figure that one out until I realized that I was just touching the top spray button on the handle just alittle. So I am careful when I pick up the iron. I know when this one dies I will buy a cheap one. I don't think that it is worth the money for all the bells and whistles. Thanks for all the suggestions here.

I got a Rowenta at a yard sale for $1 that looks like someone dropped it because it has a few cracks in it but its the best iron I've ever had. My other is a Rowenta too but one of the cheapy ones. I'm pretty hard on my irons so I don't get the pricey ones. I've had it for about 4 years now. Thats pretty good for me. So more expensive is not always better.

HAve to say I bought a Rowenta back in 95. Still going strong but I don't use the steam function because of the hard water in my area. I buy cheap sprayers from dollar store and replace as needed. I love my Rowenta but when it dies, I'll buy a chaep one. Mine was made in Germany and has survived several falls so far. I think I paid about $100.00 for it then but it was great for pressing DHs and my BDUs for the Army.

I have a full size Rowenta (check where it's made - the German ones are best, not all of them are made in Germany). That said my travel size Rowenta (made in China) works well. I also have the Petite Press that works pretty well and is small.

I have no opinion about the brand but I would recommend that you buy a travel iron. They are terrific for taking to classes and great for pressing as you're piecing. The only time I drag out my full size iron is if I'm pressing a twin size or larger top. Have fun shopping.

I would buy a sunbeam or black and decker for $30.00, the new Rowena and other expensive irons seem to have more problems!!

I have given up on the Rowenta's. Now I just buy an inexpensive one that has the features I want. When it dies, it dies and I'm not out lots of $$$.

Black and Decker or GE at WalMart. Both have good steam and automatic cut off, both of which are important to me. You can probably find one or the other for less that $25. I've had a GE that I paid less than $20 for 10 years ago and it is still going strong.

However, I confess that I also love the Rowenta my daughter gave me--but it cost an arm and a leg. froggyintexas

I bought the same iron at Walmart. Our Wal Mart is only about 5 miles away, and I'm usually
there about once a week.....but... after using it for 2 or 3 months I went back and bought another
one just like it...for a backup iron. I am always sewing, pressing, sewing, pressing and somedays
I want to keep going without having to make a run to town...and also in bad weather I just don't
get out. That shows you how much I like mine. I do use distilled water, but that's fine with me.

I have two inexpensive ones -- a Black & Decker that's lasted 5 years so far and a toastmaster that I keep in the travel trailer or drag to class. No problems with either. Since I don't like ironing, it seemed logical not to spend much on something I didn't like. :)

I have 2 Rivals from Wal*Mart. both were under $10 and they do what I want them to do. I have one on my sewing table to do fast pressing the other is in another area to do larger pressing. I spent less than $20 for the two. :o:thumbup::)

I got mine basic iron at the thrift store - $4.00. I rarely use steam but if needed, there's always the spray bottle.

I can tell you of one I WOULD NOT buy again. It's a Black & Decker All Temp Steam. The darn thing shuts completely off in a matter of seconds once it's reached the set temperature. You have to rock it when it beeps so it will heat again and that's really aggravating!!! Bought it off of Ebay and there was no manual so found one online thinking maybe this option could be overridden or reset. Nope! That's just how it is. HATE THIS THING!!! Can't wait until it dies but it will probably last forever. You know....Murphy's Law type of thing. LOL!!

I have the "dry iron" with a smooth soleplate from Vermont Country Store. It is VERY simple and gets VERY hot. If I want steam, I use a spray bottle.

I just bought a cheap Black and Decker for 13 bucks. The jury is still out on it but it is lightweight and seems to be doing a good job! Sure beats the heck out of spending a forturne for one of those huge heavy ones!

best iron
 

Did the expensive Rowenta thing...lasted less than a year. Love my black and decker.:cool:

Cheaper the better, they just don't last. The new Rowenta irons aren't what their cracked up to be. I have a Black and Decker I bought at Walmart for $12 and it works great, and I've had it for 8 years.

A cheap black and decker works fine, however I had some prize money coming from the state fair and sprung for an oliso--I must say I love it. Its the one that pops up when you move it off the fabric and take your hand off the handle. Was a bit wild getting used to it, but now it just seems to save so much time when pressing a lot of small pieces.

I have the very same problem with my Rowenta, when I am ironing i hit the steam button or water button and it gets wet, so it isn't leaking it is just the way the handle is made and I hit it with my hand. I also do not like the auto shut off. I have bought many irons through the years and have never found one I really liked. They all seemed to not get hot enough to iron out wrinkles in cotton fabric. Rowenta does. I have a nice cordless iron I bought several years ago but it doesn't get hot enough either, but I sure loved not having the cord.

I have Black and Decker that must be 20 years old and its still going strong. I don't think it was too expensive. Probably middle price range. Its been a really good iron.

I really like my Reliable.I had an Oliso but it only lasted 3 years.For retreats and classes I have 3 Subeams that I bought at Wally World 4 years ago for $ 4.00 each at the black Friday sale.thought well at that price if it lasted a year fine.I am still on the first 1.Years ago I had a Rowenta and was at a retreat had asked the last person out of the room to please turn off the iron as everyone was using it.Guess what someone did not and it did not function after that.All that I have now cut off after 10 min.it is bothersome at times,but I have gotten used to it.

I like the idea of the old iron but I do have to tell you in 1959 my mom used the iron in the basement, she used to leave it plugged in, always turned it off, and one day we smelled something was hot, went to the basement the face of the iron had melted. It looked like a candle - thank heavens we smelled it before it started to flame. I never leave my iron plugged in to this day.

how did you get oliso to replace your iron? i'm on my third one in a little over a year. dealer replaced the first one a month after DH bought it for me, then i sent that one back, wouldn't heat at all. they sent me a new one and it spits and leaks water like crazy. they said the warranty was one year only. did you talk to someone specific? thanks in advance, connie

I went from a Rowena to cheap and light.

I have a simple Black and Decker from Wally world that I bought 12 yrs ago and is still going strong. I keep saying if it breaks I will buy and Oliso but after reading some of the posts I may not. I have had NO trouble with my cheap iron but it doesn't get as hot as the Oliso.

Had a Rowenta professional, very expensive, and started to leak, thought it was a fluke, purchased another one and within 6 months leaked like a faucet. Bought a T Fal at Shopco for about 40.00 and couldn't be happier.

Want an old fashioned dry iron? The Vermont Country Store has one. With shipping it's about $35. Great iron, light and get hot.

SandyQuilter

I really like my Oliso. It is the second one. I bought the first one 3yrs ago. Then my mother got sick and I had no time to quilt, so it never made it out of the box until after she passed away last year. The thing leaked like a sieve from the first time I used it. I emailed the company and got an immediate response. They sent me a new iron one model higher than the one I had purchased. Their customer service is great. i love the self-lift feature. However, I will say that it does create a problem when I am sewing at retreats, etc. When I am using a diferent iron, I forget to set it on its heel. When I replace my iron, I will probably go with a Sunbeam. I have seen good reviews. When it quits, you don't have so much invested. You can buy 6 or 7 Sunbeams for the price of one Oliso

Bought a small Rowenta for it's light weight. Not long after I read a thread on here about Rowenta's leaking water, mine did a guyser out of the handle. Went to Target and bought a Sunbeam on sale and love it. It' not as heavy as my old Black and Decker but it fits my hand and I love it. No more pricey Rowentas for me.