I had a black and decker then went up tp a rowenta and now wieh I had the black and decker back. Just liked everything about it.

I ALWAYS use wax paper .... teflon or not. That was my Mom's hint too. Works for me!

BTW ... I like the subject line ... is "glidier" a word ?? :lol: :lol:

By the sound of all these irons, I guess I'll keep the GE that I've had for 20+ years. Not a steamer. Have a Proctor Silex for that, but it is too light. I prefer a heavier iron.

I use an iron slipper so it doesn't matter what the bottom of my iron is like.

I love my iron. I looked up tailoring supplies online and found a professional iron. I think the brand is Eagle. It has a 1 gallon water container that uses filter resin and hangs by the iron. It also has a teflon sole plate and it gets really hot or you can set to to a lower temp. press a button when you want steam. if it starts to get a bit sticky just clean with iron off cleaner and glides beautifuly again. It did cost around $100 but have saved so much in the long run because I haven't had to replace it. Does anyone else use one of these?

I have a Proctor Silex with teflon bottom I got at Wal-Mart about 3 years ago (under $10)- and LOVE it except I wish it got hotter - but at least I never have to worry about burning something. I bought a Rowenta for $75.00 last year and after a few uses, it is still sitting on the shelf (leaks badly). Of the two, I would prefer and do use my P/S,it glides very well and I like it. My historical favorite was a GE, and then GE got bought out by Black & Decker, and that one turned out well also.

My biggest current problem is finding one that will not shut off every time you sneeze - or breathe!

Marysewfun

I ve got a Rival teflon it glides pretty good but its to light it won't de-wrinkle tissue paper so I went back to my Gramma's iron that I've been using for 50yrs+ its a Procter/Silex with a cloth cord its got some serious weight and the settings are still true No more new irons for me You can still fnd the oldies in 2nd hand stores for a couple dollars and live another 50 yrs

From my other quilting friends--Rival is the cheapest and the best.

We've been married 23 years and I've only had 2 full size irons. Both Black and Decker. I have abused them in many ways. My husband used to only wear dress clothes 7 days aweek and traveled extensively so the irons were rarely put away ( Now I have an upright steamer for that)

I have the Rowenta Steam Master. I do love it. I've had it for several years now, works great.Good Luck!

When my iron sticks, teflon or not, I run it on a piece of wax paper and it really 'slicks' it up. "try it, You'll like it"!

When my iron sticks, teflon or not, I run it on a piece of wax paper and it really 'slicks' it up. "try it, You'll like it"!

Teflon or not, while hot, run it on some wax paper and it really slicks it up quickly

Read this month's issue of Consumer Reports. It rates several models of irons, and states that iron with teflon soles plates do not glide as well as stainless ones. So leave the telfon to your fry pans and dental floss.

Happy Scissoring!
Scissorman

What's the matter with EVERYTHING these days? Made in China, or Bangladesh or......................
I bought an oster can opener several months ago which could not open cans. I returned it with a letter and last week I received an email, they're sending me another at no charge. I'm afraid it will be just another piece of junk.

I own a Euro Steam evolution. It is the best iron that I have ever owned. I payed $200.00 for it and it has been worth every penny. I have owned it for 1 1/2 years and it is the best iron I have ever owned. I hate to iron and told the rep that was demoing it at a craft show. I told him that if it did everything that he said it would that I would buy it, but that I had to try it out for myself as they are taught all the tricks to market it and make it look good. He had me do everything while he did the demo for everyone who was watching. I can iron anything and everything with it, including silk, wool, and rayon. I can use it dry or steam. I can steam while something is on a hanger no problem. Some of you may be shocked at expensive it is, but for me it has been worth it.

My new Rowenta says not to use distilled water, nor tap water that's hard or rusty, nor softened water. I was thinking what water are they referring to then. I was told by rep to use a bottled spring water. We'll see...probably a wasted $100 (on sale from $160), but still shouldn't be so persnickety should it? I bought it for the steam capability, so hope I don't have the classic water leakage problem too soon.
Still can't figure out why the iron should be so touchy about using distilled water. I do understand if there is a core of copper why you wouldn't want to use softened water due to salt; when combined with heat will speed the effects of corrosion.

I have a few old flat irons with no holes as well, and they get very hot, so watch what you're ironing with them and that there's no poly...found out the hard way on a blended fabric. When it turns, it's too late...just a stiff mangled pile. Still, I love the reliability of the old irons, and found one of mine at a thrift store too.

BTW, I would be careful about leaving any cloth cord plugged in when turned off. They are not grounded as a rule (no 3rd prong), and it there's a short, you will have a quick fire. At least if it happens when you're ironing you will be aware of the problem & not sleeping or away. Pets used to like to chew on them also.

The corrosion from softened water wouldn't really be from the salt, there is very minute amounts of salt left after it cycles. The problem is water itself is very corrosive and wants to collect the minerals it comes in contact with, which is how water gets hard in the 1st place. And distilled water would have the same problem...
as for using bottled spring water, that just puzzles me. It's just water - no different than the water coming from your tap other than it's from somewhere else - with the exception of added chlorine, which you can off gas by just letting it sit in an open container for a day or two.

Thanks "Shnnn" for the reminder regarding off-gassing the chlorine from the water, as I hadn't thought about this for a long time.
Since I have very hard water, with white scale if left untreated, our tap water is unacceptable. I had originally thought that Distilled Water would be better, but Rowenta warned against that. After having read a little further regarding galvanic corrosion when constructing something using multiple metals, I see why distilled water could be a problem. Not that any of you really want to read this but, I suspect this is why no Distilled Water in their irons: under "Condition 3. The metal junction must be bridged by an electrolyte" http://www.corrosionist.com/Galvanic_Corrosion.htm

I assume spring water is just someone else's tap water (extra cost to me), not as bad as mine. Yet it would still be a conductor, so not as bad at attacking the seams on the inside of an iron. I suspect this may an issue for leaking irons.
I guess you're right about there being low salt after the softener, but perhaps for the same reason as distilled, the softener has taken too many minerals out & left the water less conductive.

BTW, I have one Teflon-coated iron and really don't prefer it over a smooth stainless steel surface. I am curious if anyone has tried the "quick pass over the wax paper" idea with a hot Teflon iron? Might make is slipperier.

Sigh... I bought a Shark again. It's a bit different from the one that just smoked. It was the only one I could find that had a stainless sole and wasn't too big.

Hope I have better luck with this one. At least there will be happy gliding. :-D

Don't get the $6.00 one. It doesn't ge twarm let alone HOT!!! Ask me how I know this??? lol ! Mine went back the next day. I like a really HOT DRY iron.... use spray bottle!