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I have a wal-mart iron. I bought it for $10.00 and it works like a charm. I have dropped that iron more times then I care to admitt and it still works great. It is a sunbeam.

my best iron is from Wal mart i think it cost me 12.00

I have a 4( steam/dry iron from Walgreens. Had a more expensive one, but too heavy - gave it away.

After having difficulty for years trying to find an iron I could really use for quilting, I was at WalMart in early August when they had back-to-school items on sale and I found a steam iron for $6.00. It's been one of the best purchases I've ever made. It heats up very quickly & because of the cheap price I don't worry about getting anything on it. no teflon but it cleans very easily. I do think they now sell for $12.00 but still a bargain.

My Shark just bit the dust so I am using my Rowenta. I really liked the Shark better. It does have the auto cut off, but I don't mind, For me it is safer and it heats up pretty fast.

This doesn't apply to buying an iron, but we had the scare of our lives, and luckily, we were home. At the time we had teenagers. One of them had left the iron plugged into the wall socket. There was nothing else plugged into this wall socket except the iron. The iron was OFF and cold, but the fire started in the wall within the wall socket! The utility room was in the daylight basement in this particular home. we smelled smoke and went down to check. Because we caught it in time, the Fire Dept. quickly put it out with minor damage. From this experience, I never leave an iron plugged in, unless I am nearby and using it. Even if the iron is off, as in our case, apparently it can still be a fire hazard.

Ilove my Rowwenta,It's the best iron Iv'e ever had.

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Originally Posted by josi49

Quote:

Originally Posted by Maride

I am on a different boat here. I hate steam, and I hate when the corners of my small pieces get stuck in the holes at the bottom of the iron. So, a couple of years ago, I got me a smaller iron from Home Depot (on-line only). It is dry and has no holes at the plate. I love it, but I only use it for quilting. It gets real hot and it doesn't have auto shut off. Love it.

I have a small B&D travel iron with a flat stainless steel bottom and a water container in the handle. I use it for all my piecing and applique as it gets very hot and doesn't shut off. ALSO, I have several spray water bottles with plain water, light, medium, heavy and BRICK starch (homemade) in them to keep near my sewing station. Depending on what I'm working on, I just grab the appropriate water bottle and spray! I got so tired of having to refill my Rowenta constantly to have adequate steam for pressing, so the above was my solution. Also, when I bring new fabric in after it's washed and semi-dryed, I do use a larger iron (Sunbeam) to slightly press out the wrinkles before folding and storing. I struggled thru 4 irons before I came up with this workable solution for me, so don't give up. You'll find a perfect one for you also.

Josi in FL

I also have the Black and Decker Travel Iron. I just love it for piecing. I have 2 other irons, and took this one out of the RV after watching a learning video and the teacher had one just like mine! So light weight, but gets really hot quickly. I don't use steam, but it will steam if I wanted it to.

I have a question too about an iron. I have a Rowent and I'm not thrilled. For what I paid for it (Joanne's of course won't allow a coupon). Any way, my question is. I keep getting fusible stuck to the bottom of it and it smells bad and I'm concerned it will come off on my fabric. HOW DO I CLEAN THE BOTTOM OF THE IRON. I did purchase some stuff @ Joanne's I think that cleans the bottom of the iron but I will have to buy stock in the company at the rate I'm using it. I finally started using a teflon sheet when fusing. Any ideas or suggestions? I love this site and all the tips so I know someone will be able to help me.

Quote:

Originally Posted by auntiehenno

I have a 4( steam/dry iron from Walgreens. Had a more expensive one, but too heavy - gave it away.

I am just the opposite I like a heavy iron if it's to light I tend to push harder. I just killed my subeam and bought a roenta haven't used it yet