Ironing boards
 

I know we all have ironing boards but does anyone have one that they love. I need a new one. I was ironing lots of dress shirts so there was lots of steam. When I was done, I folded it up to put it away and didn't realize the amount of water on it. It was so rusted it left a huge line of rust spots on the rug where I walked to the closet to put it away.
I was able to get all the rust off the carpet but there is no hope for the ironing board. It's in the garage....
I was looking at different web sites trying to find a new one but there are so many and the price ranges are crazy. I need a wider one, so the ones that are $9.99 at Walmart are a NO. I iron all my husbands dress clothes and also do lots of quilting, no steam, so I need a multi purpose board. Any suggestions are greatly appreciated.

Jan

Check out the Reliable brand ironing boards. They are quality. Walmart has the 100IB online. I have this one: It is without a doubt the best one for home ironing and it was sitting in my FIL's basement never used.
[h=2]Reliable The Board 500VB Home Vacuum and Up-Air Pressing Table[/h]

Look at this one: It is made for ironing shirts. [h=2]Parker Extra Wide Ironing Pro Board with Shoulder Wing Folding[/h]

I'll be following this thread as well since my board has developed a very annoying squeak. However, I don't think the reviews are good enough on the ones already mentioned to spend the money. Thanks Onebyone for finding the alternatives though.

Am I the only one who doesn't like the ones with a tray on the end and a shelf underneath? Wish I still had my grandma's ironing board which I got rid of for some unknown reason. Probably because it was big and I couldn't find a cover. That was before my quilting days.

After several new ironing boards that either rocked, squeaked, or just would not stay up, I gave up on a new one, and bought one from a second hand store. I got an older expensive one for less than a cheap one, made my own cover and two layers of cotton batting, because it has an unusual shaped squared off end. We will be working together for many years. I have benn using it for over nine years and no issues.

The vintage boards are small. I have my great grandmother's wooden ironing board. My grandmother said it belonged to her grandmother as much as she remembered. Steam irons weren't used on wooden boards, in fact all she had on it was a double layer of denim fabric, no batting. My mother had a great heavy metal board she got with Green Stamps. I wish I had it now. She always got a new cover with Green Stamps every few years.

Green Stamps! Got my very first pair of roller skates with green stamps! Ironing boards-- couldn't find one that I liked that didn't cost a fortune, so made one from a wooden board, some cotton batting and that silver ironing board fabric. I lay it on the end of my cutting table when I want to iron yardage, iron a quilt top and backing before basting or baste a quilt using fusible batting.

Rob

I saw one that is just a regular shape ironing board, but wider and I think longer. Can't remember where though.
I made one also from a 2ft x 4ft piece of plywood. Now I have to figure out how to mount in the old ironing board that I do not like.

I had one of those little wooden ironing boards. I got it when I was young a lived in a tiny apartment. It was the perfect size for the apt. After I got married, I got rid of that one because my husband had a nice older metal one (for some unknown reason since he never ironed anything :confused: but I still use that board. It really is nice and sturdy.

Did you already discard your old board? I got one for $5 and then had a big board made to place on top of it. At that time I found a youtube on making one..... mine is heavy because we used what we had on hand. That said.... I rarely use steam.

Just thought I would throw this one in the mix. It is not for ironing shirts or quilt tops or any large items but I love to take it to my quilt guild for use on pressing seams open when piecing. My DH made it for me and everyone loved it so we made several. He did the wood work and I did the material work.

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Has a handle to carry it and a metal rack to put your miniature iron on. I would put my iron on the rack then wrap the iron cord around the rack and the iron. That fastened it to the rack so I didn't have to worry about carrying the iron separate from the board.

I love the one we got from Target many years ago. I sure hope it's the same quality. What I love is that it adjusts to any height (I've even sat on the sofa to iron a bunch of stuff), it doesn't wobble, it has a cradle for the iron, and a shelf beneath (which I use sometimes, not often).

Can't get the link to work, but check out the Heavy Duty-Threshold brand, $39.99 the Target website.

here's a project for your old board if you can spray paint the rust away https://www.pinterest.com/pin/430727151840621503/

I bought an old wooden ironing board for $12.00 at a second hand shop. It is sturdy and larger than the selection of cheap metal ones we have today. I use it for pressing cloths mostly but sometimes I will do fat quarters and other small yardage on it.

I've bought several for my quilt guild from Bed, Bath & Beyond--can't remember the brand (Reliable??) but they have 3 models and I bought the middle priced ones. They are very nice and work well, plus we are able to put our 2 wide board toppers on them without problems.

Twinkle, that sure is a cute board. Great teamwork between you and DH.

I have a vintage Mary Proctor ironing board. We found it in the first house we bought when we married in 1995. It's not pretty, but boy is it sturdy. A friend and I found another, in beautiful condition at a thrift store for $5. I've also seen them on eBay, going for $125-150.

[QUOTE=rryder;7831725]Green Stamps! Got my very first pair of roller skates with green stamps! Ironing boards-- couldn't find one that I liked that didn't cost a fortune, so made one from a wooden board, some cotton batting and that silver ironing board fabric. I lay it on the end of my cutting table when I want to iron yardage, iron a quilt top and backing before basting or baste a quilt using fusible batting.

I've heard a lot of quilters who've done that. I'd like to, but no energy, so I suffer with the one I have. It makes so much sense. They however attach it to the top of their boards to make them longer or wider. There are a few u tube videos on this conversion. My motivation is renewed. Lol.

That is super cute.

[ATTACH=CONFIG]573702[/ATTACH][ATTACH=CONFIG]573701[/ATTACH]I got this idea off this board at least 6 years ago. This is a changing table that has been repurposed to an ironing board with storage. I think it made more sense when you don't have an Oliso iron and you can put it up on that taller part. But being the age that I am, lifting heavy stuff is a thing of the past. I took the top off, (made a shelf out of that) and replaced it with an out door plywood covered with batting and then the silver grey quilting insulating fabric. The drawers are just more STASH.

I made a table topper without binding. I sewed it RST and turned it right side out. Now I needed to get those seams pressed right. What a pain! I made myself an ironing board that I could put inside it through the opening in the seam. It was a 3" X 6" piece of Masonite that I just happened to have in my laundry room "maybe I'll need this some day" pile. I covered that with a layer of batt and then a cover of muslin. This was sewn on two sides, the board tucked inside and than sewn on the third side as close as I could. The end is left open.

I tucked that ironing board inside and pressed those seams with my miniature iron. Worked beautifully.

I have a big board that my husband made for me, 22"x55", that fits on top of an old dresser. I then use a tabletop ironing board on top of that for clothing.

I have been married 54 years and still using the same ironing board I got in my bridal shower. lol. Yes, it did get very rusty, but, I took it out on the patio and got some spray paint and repainted it. No, I do not remember the brand of paint, sorry. Works for me anyway. I did buy me a new one at Walmart, and yes, it is too narrow so don't even use it.
Me and friend made us a wide board out of plywood and covered it and I just lay it on top of my ironing board when I need a much wider one. Even made my own ironing board covers.

I found 2 Proctor ironing boards - at separate times- at garage sales. Since I am a snow bird I keep one in my home in AZ and brought the other to my summer home in Utah. Paid about $5.00 for each of them. So sturdy. One even has a spring-loaded holder for the iron cord as well as an electrical outlet for the iron to plug in. Have covered one in canvas -- great cover and heavy duty. Have yet to make a cover for the second one. Look at thrift shops; you may find one of these larger and sturdier ironing boards.

That is so cute! I am going to have to watch for one like that at the thrift stores.

I am still using my mother's ironing board. She had it when I was a small child and I inherited it when she got a new one. She confessed to me years later that she wished she had kept it and given me the new one. I offered to change with her but she said she solved the problem by just not ironing anymore! Got to love her solution!! The board is probably over 60 years old now.

I'm looking for a better ironing board too. Have a wal-mart one that is wiggley. I do a lot of ironing, so i need a sturdy one. Will be watching this thread.

Covered an older ironing board for DD, she moved before taking it. I had put new batting and cover on it. I took to a resale shop, they said they could not sell ironing boards as most people do not use them---can not imagine being without one !

I am of no help. My board is 50 years old come this July. My husband has been able to make a few minor repairs and it just keeps going. It stands a little higher than most which I like because I am tall. I am dreading the day it no longer can be used.

My ironing board must be 40+ years old too. I know I bought it after we moved to So. Cal. 44 years ago. It has seen more use the past 5 years than the first 39. I have replaced the cover several times - and a few years ago my friend's DH made the large board to put on top of it. When mu DD moved out 10 years ago I insisted she have an iron and an ironing board. We got a fairly decent one at Target. My other DD said she has nothing she can iron but bought a steamer for her delicate fabrics.

I think I would go to the thrift stores first too - or maybe an estate sale or 2.

My ironing board is from 1955. That's 62 years. It had to be fixed about 30 years ago, so neighbor did that for me for $5.00. It is a variable height board and hangs on the wall when not in use. I can sit down and iron but haven't done that in years. I've changed covers over the years, but now made two muslin covers (one to wash and one to wear) and have a large piece of heavy freezer paper over the most used spot.

[QUOTE=mengler;7832193]
I don't have room in either of the rooms that I use for studio space, or I'd d something like that., but my board is fairly light weight so I can move it on and off the cutting table as needed. One thing I'd do different is look for a longer and wider board, mine's only 40 inches long and 14 inches wide. But it was a freebie, so I can't complain. I did dream the ther night that I had a 10 foot x 10 foot board-- it was really nice- I could iron an entire quilt top without having to shuffle it around, but it was hard to pick up and put on my cutting table LOL. Come to think of it, I woke up before finding out if I my arms would stretch enough to reach the center :shock:

Rob

I recently captured a wonderful BIG ironing board at Saver's. I love it. It cost me about 10% of what a similar board would cost new. Best of all, it has sturdy legs with grippy rubber caps that spread out enough to give me the kind of stability that I have never had before in an ironing board. I liked it so much that I made it 2 covers right away, so I can wash one without any inconvenience. I have one of those shelves underneath and I love it. I put a light basket on the shelf with my pressing cloths and spray starch. I even keep a pair of scissors in that basket for snipping tails. It also has a metal shelf on the end for the iron when not in use (that's where I keep a spray bottle of water). Look for features that will make your quilting easier--stability, size, handy features, and height adjustment and you'll find the right ironing board for you!

When I want to press something large, I just lay the wool blanket I bought for 50 cents at an estate sale over the end of one of the tables in my sewing room. It works just fine. I don't especially like that silver ironing board cover fabric anyway and don't have one of those covers on my regular board. The wool seems to work really well.

Does the wool blanket protect the table? I tried one of those ironing pads that you're supposed to be able to put on any surface and it works great on my dryer which is metal, but when I tried using it on my table, the heat on f the iron went through and caused the finish of the table to turn white (oops). That's why I went with a board covered in batting and ironing board fabric. What don't you like about the silver ironing board cover fabric?

Rob

I've turned my table white also. I don't remember what I had on the table, but I know I didn't have the iron on there very long. My granddaughter has the table now. It was a tall table with four tall chairs.

I have an old ironing board, don't even know the brand. I also have an ironing board my daughter and son-in-law made for me that is wider and can be used for ironing or cutting fabric - it folds up and attaches to the wall with a heavy duty magnet - I love it. It's from wood, covered with batting and fabric.

The "big board" - which I truly love - does not work out well for ironing shirts. I am wondering if placing a small portable ironing board on top of a big board would work out for ironing shirts? (I suppose I could go downstairs and actually try it out to see if it works - but I rarely iron shirts now.)

I have an old one from the 70's and love it. It's sturdy, doesn't wobble around, and when raised into position, it stays there. We (us ladies in the family) were just talking about ironing on the weekend when company was over, and I was surprised at how few still iron.

I have a "regular" ironing board in Florida - purchased at a thrift store - it's a big wider than "average" - but I did find a "ready made" cover for it. I will iron DH's pants and/or shirts when I need some brownie points with him.

Wow! I love the Parker board with shoulder wings. Looks like it would be handy in pressing fabric as well.