Need a new iron....
 

I like to have an ironing space next to my sewing machine. I have a wooden tray table with my wool mat on it so I can just turn and press as I'm piecing. I had a travel iron to press with but it died the other day and I had it less then 2 years. I'm sure it wasn't meant to iron as much as I did with it so it didn't last long.

I have other irons I could use but they're full-size and my tray table and mat are small. I've been trying to find a smaller iron but it's almost impossible. I've thought about the Oliso M2Pro Mini Iron but the reviews are mixed. I'd really like a dry iron only but they're hard to find. I don't use steam at all.

If anyone has the Oliso Mini I'd appreciate your opinion. Any other suggestions?? Why are irons so difficult to find that really suit our needs??

I currently have a Rowenta (that leaks...my husband uses it to iron his shirts), a Black & Decker Classic (it drags on fabric and all the steam holes get caught on my fabric), an el cheapo Black & Decker that I really like but it got something on the soleplate (black, sticky stuff) that I can't get off no matter what I use, and an Oliso that I've never cared for.

I bought the big Oliso and so far I like it but to be honest it was really pricey for an iron. I never use steam. Will see how it goes......

I mainly press with my big Rowenta at the ironing board. I went back to a Rowenta after trying several different irons. I now do not put water in it but spray with a mist. Anyway, when I do press by the sewing machine, I use one of those crafting irons which are smaller than travel irons. I have one by Dritz and one by Clover. The Dritz one is a bit bigger and has 4 temperature settings. I works just fine so I can press seams so they will nest nice when constructing a block. When I am further on in the construction, I take my work to my ironing board and do the final pressing there.

Have you tried the Mr. Clean magic eraser to get the gunk off your iron? It works wonders.

I use the Steamfast mini. I got it at Walmart, on sale for about ten bucks. You don't need to use steam, and works like a charm. I use it often, and have had it for a few years. Think they are $12-$14 now.

This is what I have, too. I really like it! It has tiny steam holes, so they don't get caught. I just use it dry.

I have the Steamfast Mini too from Walmart. Works great!

I have the Steamfast Mini-iron too. So far so good. But I want to find a small Black and Decker - lightweight but gets really hot. It like a 3/4 size - they have them at the time-share we have in Vegas - really want to accidentally pack it in my suitcase to bring it home. (But I would never be able to use it without feeling guilty.). When I iron I keep a USED dryer sheet on my ironing board. I spritz it with water, then run the hot iron over it. It keeps my irons from sticking and I use spray starch a lot. And since I started using the used dryer sheet, there is no build up on any of my irons. I used to use dryer sheets all the time - but now I use wool dryer balls, so I ask my daughters for them. Yes, they think I am nuts but I gave them my dryer sheets that I stopped using.

I got fed up wasting money on expensive irons that don't last longer than a couple of years. Found an $18 Hamilton Beach model at the hardware store and thought why not, it can't be any worse than these expensive name-brand irons. Boy was I pleasantly surprised! It's lasted the longest of all my quilting irons and does not have an auto shutoff feature, which drove me nuts on my other irons.

I have the Rowenta small travel iron and really like it. It is small, fits my hand, and has a really pointy front end. Very helpful when seams have to be pressed open. I do not use water in any iron and have found that they last a lot longer. It does not have auto off so I have to pay attention! I also like it because it has a handle and is easier to grip a with my arthritic fingers. A couple of the small travel irons have to gripped with a whole hand type grip, so I would check that out if you have arthritis in your hands.