Does anyone use a crafting iron? I'm thinking about getting one since it's so much smaller than a regular iron. I have a bad habit of bumping my hand against it. This is the one I'm looking at but would like to know what others are using.

haven't seen one like that, what kind is it?

Clover 9101 Mini Iron II Handheld Crafting Iron with Interchangeable Tips

I found this one at Amazon.com and people who wrote reviews said positive things about it.

I thought I owned that one but on closer inspection I havent.

I like the one from Joann's that looks more like a little iron with a tip.

I have a different type of small iron, I bought it in a hobby shop and the plate is teflon so if i'm using webbing or fusible, and it gets it on my iron, it just wipes off. But I know several people who have this one, they love it for applique, and all say good things about it.

Would you mind posting a picture of it?

It will depend on the size pieces of fabric or other material you intend to iron. It is a very small surface. There are mini irons shaped like regular size irons that would be more productive imho. This little one is fine for pressing ribbon or other narrow fabrics and trims. I have one myself. The minis are sold at Joanns. Clotilde.com Has these two; #261014 and #266040 The soleplateon the first one measures1 3/4 inches wide by 4 3/4 long.

I have the original Clover and so far I haven't found it very useful, I think something with a bit bigger plate would work better.

The longer I look at different ones the more I agree with you the one I was looking at would be too small. Thanks for your suggestions. :-)

I'm leaning that way too now.

I have the original Clover and once I learned (here on this board! ;) ) that you have to cycle it off and on a few times to get it to heat up enough, it's been great for the starch-method of preparing applique pieces.

I'm thinking of getting one with interchangeable tips, though. The plate on this one is actually too big sometimes - a wand shape or a very small flat shape would work better on some pieces.

I also have a cute little Sharptek iron that is really great for this type of applique, for pressing seams on blocks and for paper foundation piecing. Aside from being cute as can be, they're really good for places where you need a larger sole plate. http://polymerclayexpress.com/equip.html

Have one, but haven't used it yet, when I start applique I will

Had one, gave it away, never got hot enough for me.

yep, I have this one...it is over kill really, unless you do a lot of other crafts and will use the other attachments..I do lots of other crafts and have yet to use any of the attachments!

I have the small iron that you get for $9.99 at different places, comes in colors, mine is pink, the cord is a regular size and it plugs into the side, so it is heavy and gets in the way and the iron never gets hot enough. So needless to say, put it up and out of the way. Didn't think it was useful at all. So its up and down and back to the regular iron and ironing board. Thinking about just getting the smallest iron Walmart has and try it. I have the wooden tv tray covered with batting and duck fabric, to use by my sewing cabinet. Now it is really handy, so maybe I can find a smaller iron.

I use mine for small pieces of applique

I've had one for several years. Thought it would be good to
press open seams on small pieces, as I go along. I don't use
it, just seems it doesn't get hot enough...or something?

Oh yeah, I don't have the one she pictures, mine s a Clover too.

I ahve the original Clovre, too. I've used it for applique, paper piecing and I make fabric boxes that I use it on.

Yes i have this and love it. It is clover and I got it at Joanns a couple months ago with coupon. I has a guard, the red thing so you don't get burnt. I am using mine currently for OBW seams.

I have the clover mini iron, it was used once....and I got a third degree burn on my index finger! no fun. I don't know that it will be used again! lol

I use mine for starch method applique but it doesn't have all the different tips...works well and gets hot...also have a small mini iron that is great for pressing seams open and I like it when I am tired as I have bad wrists and it is light to handle...

I had one and sold it. Hated it. Burnt my fingers, not hot enough for fabric, but was for skin.

I have the one that comes in colors and use it all the time. It gets really hot and works great on my applique projects. I got it at JoAnns for half price ($5.00)

I've had the older clover for years and just puchased the new one with the interchangable tips last week at Joanns with a 40% coupon. One thing I learned with my other one was not to use the little stand they give you. I reached over one time and grabbed the wrong end, and ended up with a nasty burn. It's like grabbing a curling iron on the hot end. (never done that) When using the little iron I got a crock and started putting it in that with the handle sticking out. No more burned hands because the hot end is in the crock. Put the crock on a padded surface as it can get pretty hot.

I know this is getting off the subject but your furbaby is gorgeous!! :-)

I just ordered the Sharptek iron. I think as clumsy as I can be this would be better for me than the one I was originally looking at and especially after reading how some have burned themselves with it.

I burned myself on the wand-type a few times too, but you get used to handling it differently real quick! That little iron teaches you respect! ;)

What I like about these smaller irons is that when you're trying to pull a seam allowance flat on a tiny little applique piece, you can get the irons right up next to your fingers and not burn yourself - you feel the heat, but not like with a full-sized iron.

With the Sharptek, the cord kept pulling out of the side (disconnecting itself) so I unplugged it from the wall, pushed the plug very firmly into the side of the iron and coated the join with E6000 silicone glue. Let it sit for a couple of days and problem solved. :)

I just got the new Textile Tool by Walnut Hollow in the mail today - one of the ironing plates is only about 1/4" long, so I'm looking forward to trying it.

One of the tips is a stencil burner/cutter - but I don't think that's going to help much with the no-melt mylar template material. I tried cutting that stuff with a soldering iron and it did not cut a clean line at all - big bubbly blobs along the edges. Maybe I can use it to cut quilting stencils, though.

I bought a similar one at JoAnn and it didn't get hot enough for applique. Returned it and bought a small full size iron that I like (Sharp). I do a lot of starch and press applique and a sharp edge and point really seems to help.

Apparently a lot of the mini-irons don't get hot on the first try. You have to plug/unplug them a few times to get them to reach a good temperature for starching appliques.

I can't imagine why it works, but I actually had to turn the heat down to medium after I'd used it a few times.

I love my Orleck. It has a long nose, easy fill for water AND it's cordless.

:thumbup: :thumbup: Thank you so much. I have been looking for that iron. I saw it on a tut. and couldn't find it. Just not looking in the right place. The shipping was almost as much as the iron. If It works as well as I think it will I will be a very happy camper/quilter. Thanks again Brenda

Bingo! I have no idea where mine ran off to and I really don't care to replace it. If it manages to find it's way home it will be banished to the special drawer that holds miscellaneous items and unused hot-glue guns. :lol:

Received my Sharptek yesterday and of course had to try it out. It works very nicely so glad I decided on this one.

Glad you got it and that it's working for you. I like mine, too. Is the plug staying in on the side of the iron? Mine kept pulling out with the slightest tug, so I glued it in with E6000. I might have said that already - the memory isn't what it used to be. ;)

I haven't had time to play with the Textile Tool yet, but I'm looking forward to having such a teeny little sole plate. :)

I use a 50 cent travel iron from a yard sale, it works great for me and even can have steam in i need it.

Sharptek is basically an amazing iron to handle. Nothing gets in this iron's way- not even the cord.only the docking cradle is plugged in, no more cords! Simply switch the dial to cord to use as a conventional iron. This cord/cordless iron gives you powerful steam and features temperature control and variable steam control, so you can adjust them for fabrics. The iron is totally not clumsy, maybe the base, but the benefit of cordless overrides.

I have had one with just the one "blade" for over 20 years, and it's been used, maybe once or twice, for me, it was a waste of money, but you might find it useful.