I'm finding that my iron isn't as hot as it used to be. It doesn't get wrinkles out of cotton very well. I guess I'm wearing it out. Is there a brand that works better with quilting, ie. getting hotter?

Thanks

I'm in the same boat.

I got a Rowenta for that reason. However it is pricey...Some get the WM inexpensive ones and when it dies get another.

Pressing blocks on Tuesday night, noticed my iron was not hot, apparently I have burned out the heating element! Fabric beats iron...is this similar to rock, paper, scissors?

that's funny ;-)

My 15 year old Rowenta Clip-up iron started leaking. The removable resevoir had a small piece of plastic break off :< So, I just bought a Rowenta Professional iron at Big Lots. They had a 20% off sale, so I got the iron, for like $26. I love it!

I bought a Rowenta a few years ago and love it. I had read about the Rowenta spitting and leaking but so far, knock on wood, I have not had that problem. Instead of straight tap water I mix a 50/50 tap/distilled water. This seems to work for me.

I just replaced my Rowenta because it was not turning on all the time. Kinda frustrating. I got my new one at Costco and so far am loving it. It is a Shark one for only 23 bucks. I normally don't like cheaper irons since I do have to iron my husbands shirts as well as use it for sewing. But this one is nice so far.

The only thing I don't like about my Rowenta is the auto shut off. When I need to press a block I have to wait for it to heat back up. Call me impatient, but when I want to iron I want to iron...

I'm with you. I keep an eye on mine, when I know I'm going to need it I turn it back on before I'm actually ready.

Here's my iron story:

Several years ago (over 10) I had hardly any money but needed an iron to iron my clothes. So I walked across town to the dollar store and bought a $5 iron.

I still had that iron, and it worked GREAT, until early this summer. That is when it happend... I dropped my poor iron off the ironing board onto the floor. I almost started crying!

Well, I ran outside and told my hubby what had happened. he told me to get a new one right then. So I went to Walmart. I had no idea there were so many types and prices of irons. The one I had before my $5 one was an antique electric Sunbeam that was given to me.

So I called my hubby and asked how much i should spend? The cheapest one they had was $10. he told me to spend more than that, go ahead, get the best one I could for $50.

Well,,,, that $50 iron only lasted a few weeks.

It was a Sunday afternoon, i had a deadline on a project for the next day. That $50 iron died.

I franticlly called the dollar store to see if they were still open (it was a Sunday). Yes, they were open. i asked her if she had a cheap iron. I told her what had happened. she set the phone down for a few minutes. When she came back she told me she had one for $7 and would put it behind the register for me.

Well, I still have that iron. It's been a few months, but its looking like a long relationship.

And no auto shut off! :)

I have had better luck with the cheapies than with the more expensive brands. I keep a new one on the shelf. The one I am using now is a $6.00 Black & Decker from WM. It has been in use for 3or 4 years.

I go for the 10.00 walmart irons. Mine does not have an auto shut off on it (I LOVE this fact), and no matter how many times the cat, the kids, or I knock it off into the floor it still turns on! I have used tap water, bottled water, distilled water, whatever water is handy to fill it and it still works like a champ.

The old one I had, I couldn't kill no matter how hard I tried! It was just so heavy I wanted a lighter one. I got cheap Sunbeam Steam Master about 10 years ago and it's still going strong. I liked the auto shut off because I have senior moments and forget to cut off. This is easy, when it shuts off I just lay it down and right back up and she heats up quickly.

On the other hand I bought my daughter a iron and board for her room (yeah right like she was going to use that!). I hate that thing! It's a Sunbeam too but when it shuts off you have to unplug and plug back in to heat it up again! So be sure to read the box about the auto shut off feature.

Does anyone know where to find an iron made in USA?

I am a fan of Rowenta ....They produce a great amount of steam...... But I have purchased two top of the line ( spent over $90 each time).They both died in the same manner , they would heat uncontrolably and burn the thread of the fabric, and scorch every thing it touched. I guess the thermosate went out and it just kept heating and heating and heating. Even though I loved the steam .. I am not sure I will purchase another Rowenta. I will admit the weight was becoming an issue as well , it was really agrivating my carpal tunnel.
My advise ... just do not get a Teflon sole plate- too hard to get off any adhesives from wonder under or heat and bond. Look for a good Stainless Steel sole plate, and lots of steam openings on the plate.

Good one :lol: :lol: :lol: :lol: :lol:

Am I the only one who doesn't use water/steam in their iron? My iron is dry, I use ironing spray directly on the fabric if I need it.

I don't steam either.

My Rowenta Focus has been leaking for the last two weeks. I fill it up and next thing you know, there is a puddle of water. I've been sitting it in a plate with a dish towel to catch all of the water and not ruin my ironing board cover. I, too have been on the prowl for a new iron and don't know which way to go. I love the steam of the Rowenta, but didn't know if I wanted to spend that much AGAIN. I usually go to amazon.com and read all of the feedback on all of the irons-still can't make up my mind! I had thought about a new post-what kind of iron do you have and do you really like it. I'm keeping a close look at this thread!

I guess that is why they make them steam or dry!

Deb... lol... sounds like a good argument for purchasing a new iron :D

I have to have auto shut off. If I didn't I would burn the house down. I am not kidding either.

Amen!

Only a Rowenta here.

I have a Black and Decker and a Rowenta...I luv the Black and Decker better...I paid $1.50 at a garage sale and that was a few years ago. It stays hot and doesn't shut off right away like some of the irons do...Sometimes cheaper is better...

I have to agree with you. I have a Black and Decker travel iron that I take to classes, it gets so hot, I just love it for quilting. :P

I love my WM cheapie. It works and it doesn't weigh a ton. The steam works great and I don't care that I use tap water. When it dies, I'll get another one and shed no tears.

I've had a Rowenta for a long time. Last week it would turn on, but didn't get hot. Got a new one at Bed, Bath & Beyond with 20% off coupon. Came home, tried the new iron in the kitchen & it worked great. Took it into the sewing room and now it's acting like the old Rowenta. The culprit was my extension cord, not the iron. So now I have 2 Rowentas!

I thought I needed a new iron the other day, too - but then I realized mine wasn't plugged in!

I like the ones that turn themselves off. That way my husband doesn't have to turn around when we're half-way to the airport. It only takes a couple minutes to heat up. I should probably go upstairs to see who made it, but DH is asleep in the room next door - I'll get back to y'all tomorrow.

I've heard so many bad things about Rowentas that I won't buy one. Irons don't seem to last forever like they did when I was a bride (look at me in my Avatar - hint - I'm NOT the young one). So I don't spend a lot of $$ on them. And I don't like steam, because it always spits when I'm SURE it's empty, and ONLY when I'm ironing light colors. I prefer to spray a pressing cloth instead of using steam.

I agree with Lori S ~ I don't like teflon coating either.

WalMart sells the Shark Iron for 39.95. I got 2 of them for the quilting program recently - really puts out the steam! The guys like them & I have found myself looking at them at WM! Am using a Sunbeam after swearing I wouldn't ever get another one, but I like their steam, just not their leaking. Have a Black & Decker (identical to the old-fashioned GE), but it's steam holes are so big that corners get eaten by it. I only use it for ironing yardage as it gets really, really hot!

I have two irons that I regularly use. One dry, one for steam. The steam one is a Bernina Pro Glide that I got at some long ago quilt show for a deal price. It's got to be over 12 years old, and I've never had a problem with it.

The dry iron is a Black and Decker, and I'm sure I paid very little for it, and that it's even older than the Bernina. It too is a faithful servant, though I sometimes think it's not quite as hot as it once was.

I just buy a cheap iron from WalMart. I had a Rowenta and "dumb diddy me" I turned it off , emptied the water, and set it on the stove burner to cool. Mind you I said "Cool". Well, it didn't cool as I went in to cook something, turned on the wrong burner and cooked alright....I had cooked Rowenta for supper.

Now do you really think I need a non shut off iron? Not with my brain. LOL

Now I have something to even top off that. I put some bacon in the oven on a broiler pan. When bacon was beautifully done, I took out the pan, Left it to cool a bit. Again turned on the wrong burner to cook something else, melted the broiler pan, burner and bacon creating a one piece wall hanging......LOL. I had to buy a new burner, pan and bacon.

Now where is the local "luny house"? Do I need to be there? Please don't answer that question.

I use an old GE travel iron, its plugged into a power strip that my machine and ott lite are plugged into. DH ran an electric line just for my sewing room, so nothing else is on that circuit. Its great having my very own electrician.

LOL@skydiver! Cooking an iron. Takes talent, that.

I plug my iron into a power strip with with my sewing lamp. Then when I leave the area I flip the switch on the power strip turning off the lamp and the iron. If I see my lamp on I know my iron is on. It reminds me to turn off the switch.

Keep in mind that water and electricity are a bad mix. There's probably no reason to worry, but why take the chance.

I dropped a pricey iron last year. My husband glued it together, but it leaked. He is frugal-man, and wanted to re-glue. I told him I could afford a new iron, and brought up the water/electricity issue. He, of course, gave me a dirty look - like that would stop me from getting a new iron! I did concede that a cheap one would do the job and got the cheapest one I could find, $9.99. For some reason that one won't fall off the ironing board!

I had a Rowenta steam generator I used for window treatments and other large projects. I started having the leaking and spitting problem and complained to the company, to no avail. My reply from them was, if you use the iron daily it won't leak. Sorry, I don't iron every day. No more Rowentas for me. I bought a Shark at BJ's and just love it.

I love my Rowenta. It will even turn off if I have to leave the room to answer the phone. Tip it down, and it heats again.
Check JoAnns, see if you can use your 40% coupon.
I actually bought mine at JCPennys when I had a 40% coupon.
I never have used steam, so I don't know how the iron works with steam. (?)

I have had 3 Rowentas over the years and they ALL leaked and spit. No more for me. I'm with you Gals. Buy the cheapies at WM and replace them as needed.