Finally found a Dry Iron!!!!
 

I have been looking for a dry iron for quilting as I was tired of trying to iron fabric smooth from the holes in a steam iron. Saw on this board that people had found them and ordered from Vermont Country Store. I had searched their catalogs and website for one and never found one. Recently found it listed again and quickly ordered one, arrived yesterday and I am so pleased with it. Thought I would let you all know in case it had been on your listed of "wants", would make a great Christmas gift. If you are interested it is called Classic Dry Iron and stock number is 42277. Love this board, lovely people willing to help each other, and tons of great ideas and inspirations. Thank you all.

You can buy it here and get free shipping: http://www.always-free-shipping.com/...-dry-iron.html
Also Amazon has them in stock too. I love this iron, it's the only one I use. I have a new one for back up in case it is discontinued down the road.

I'm still using my best friend's Mom's iron (my friend and I are in our mid-70s) - no teflon, no holes, no steam, black and white fabric cover on cord - still hotter than any other iron.
Another friend, fearing I'd go mad when it died, bought me the VT Country Store iron - which I love and take to retreats, workshops etc.

I too have bought many irons and been disappointed. I finally remembered that we had mom's old iron in the garage that we had saved for workshop use. (Like the one mentioned with a black and white fabric cord) I drug it out last week and it works great! It actually gets hot! I love that. I absolutely hate the newer irons. I have had some pretty dang expensive ones and they really are stupid in design and heating ability.

My mom used to have things worked on with they gave up. I wonder if there is anyone around these days that would do this? Crossing my fingers if mine ever gives out. I love this iron!

I only use a dry iron, if I need moisture I use a little spray bottle of water. It does have holes that sometimes folds over a tiny piece of fabric.

Thanks BellaBoo! Just ordered!Been looking for this for some time.

Thanks BellaBoo! :)

Serendipity? Thanks to BellaBoo and her link to buying, I finally am getting my dry iron. Kept meaning to, but just put it off. Yesterday, my Rowenta started acting up, ( I know, I know, I can hear all the "told you so's") so was thinking about looking for a new iron today. Problem solved:)

I too just scored an iron on sale and with free shipping! Love that free shipping and no sales tax. This is better than any of the black Friday deals I saw.

I never buy quilting tools unless it is a super deal. That's how I have most all of the them! I searched and waited until I found a Bernina I've been wanting, used, one owner, shop maintained, for less then $500. I saved thousands. LOL Now I'm on a quest to find a sit down machine quilting set up for 1/4 the original price. I'll find it.

Okay, what is the purpose of buying a separate "dry" iron when all you have to do is NOT add water to your steam iron? you all must know something I don't.

I had to send 2 of them back to the Country Store. One overheated and I think the 2nd one did the same. Finally just asked for my money back. Im glad I had saved my receipts.

I LOVE MY old vintage irons!!!! They stay hot, don't shut down, have no holes in them and run about 2 1/4 and 2 1/2 pounds so they do the "heavyweight" work so I have LOT less pain in shoulders, arm and back. I got mine thru e-bay and ever so much happy for it.

Tricia

I guess we do! LOL. Really the holes in the steam iron is what we don't like. Those holes do not heat the fabric evenly which makes a big difference when using fusible or applique pieces.

Also, some hole designs grab the fabric and end up distorting the portion of the block. I use a travel iron with a smooth plate when pressing small pieces -- works so much better than my fancy pants steam iron.

All you have to do is to move the iron so that solid metal hits where the holes were a couple seconds ago. I 'm still missing something!

I raved about the dry iron after my mom bought me one. Then it stopped working and Vermont Country Store couldn't get them. They found them again and I promptly ordered another one and also wrote a review for them. Best iron I have ever used and reasonably priced.

Ok ladies, you really should be looking at an Oliso Pro Iron! and don't put water in it if you don't like steam! The bottom is flat, flat, flat! I do recommend that you catch one at a quilt show! Cheaper that way! They are hotter, have a 12ft cord and a two year warranty! I love mine, own two of them, one for steam, one dry! Worth every penny!

Well, yeah, Chrystina, but not everyone wants to spend $150 or $200 on an iron, dry or steam. I just don't buy into that Madison Avenue hype. My GE Classic -- without water -- works just fine for me. JMHO

The spots where the holes were would still get a different amount of heat. Some people are purists, and I can see their point. I am not a purist, but I have had issues with those holes showing up when I really wanted to get some heat on a spot and pressed for a while. And I have always been wondering why my iron never got really hot. I always said, "Hasn't scorched yet." - Like the Bon-Ami chick.

This discussion almost had me convinced to order one, but then I remembered how much I rely on the auto-turnoff feature of my current steam iron. I never put water in it anymore, because it always leaked, but I do think the safety features are important.

I found my dry iron at a Hospice Resale shop. Love it! And yep, it does get hot.

Until you use a solid plate iron you won't know the difference it makes.

The good place to find old solid plate irons is at a church rummage sale. I have found two this last year, Sunbeam models. Good secret Santa gifts even if used.

I love my dry iron. I got mine thru Home Depot on line only for $30.00. Mom still has hers from the 50's and still uses it.

Such a good idea, buying a backup while it is available. These days if I find anything I think I can't live without, I buy more than one, knowing it won't be there when I need it again. What ever happened to reliability in products?

i just found my mother inlaw's iron. it is old.needs a new cord and plug. it looks to be made of cloth binding.it is a singer iron. hope to use it soon as fixed.

What is the advantage to having a dry iron?

Thanks for the tip. This iron is going to be ordered as soon as I sign off this forum.

Now is they'd only make a rectangle one. Same size as a regular iron only not pointed on one end. My neice and I both said this when we were working on the T-shirt quilts. No holes, of course.

Thanks for the info.

Thanks for the info. I'll check it out.

BellaBoo if you find a site that has a sit down quilting machine at a great discount please let me know i have been looking on Craigs list and e-bay and in our local newspaper but cant find a deal
Thanks !

You can plug an old iron into a power strip. If the light is on, the iron is on.

I lucked out and found an early 60s dry iron, brand new in the box on ebay. I love it.

Thanks, I just ordered one. I have been looking for a good iron. I purchased one that had steam vents in it and it kept catching the fabric and creating more creases each time I passed it over the fabric. I gave that one away and have not found a good substitute. I had a Rowenta and after a couple of years it stopped getting hot enough.

I bought one from them a few years ago for the same reason and I love it.

Also my friend bought one - the yellow Oliso - and sent it back 3 times. Finally just asked for a refund, which they did give her. The feet were defective. She turned around and it was down all on it's own and left a huge burn mark on her board. Thankfully did not burn down the house.

Amazon also carries the Dry Iron - same as Vermont Store. The price has a tendency to vary though between $15-$25. So if you don't need one right now, you can watch for it to go down.

http://www.amazon.com/Continental-El...words=dry+iron

Thanks for the tips. I like a iron that gets hot and am always looking for an older iron to replace if mine goes out.

Just had to let every one know---keep you r eye out at Thrift Shops---I found one still in box, probably from the 60's, a travel iron. I love it. Not as big as a regular iron and "hotter than the dickens".

I have a very, very simple question. Other than there not being holes in the bottom of the iron, what is the difference between a dry iron and a steam iron where you do not put any water in it and do not use the steam?