After all the himming and hawing deciding what iron to buy-and after all the comments on this board about different irons, I set out to buy the Oliso. I settled (mostly because of the difference in price-wanting to justify buying a new machine too), on the Shark Professional at Walmart. Got it home, collected rain water (luckily, it rained at that time) and proceeded to use it. Although being fairly heavy, I was really happy-until it leaked from the bottom-OK, I thought, it's new and will stop once it is used for the first time. Well, it stopped for a few sessions, and then started again. I was always wiping up water from the ironing board which leaked from the bottom (not the sole plate holes). I got fed up so just packed it up and took it back! I think I will just continue using my 6 year old cheap Walmart GE lightweight for a while until I can afford the Oliso I wanted in the first place. (got my new machine-which I LOVE, by the way!) Anyone else have this problem?

I recently had to buy a new iron because my old standby quit working. I guess after 15+ years it was tired...LOL

Anyway, I went to KMart (hate WalMart) and bought a Shark. I don't remember what model it was but after 3 days I took it back. I hated it! I know they all shut off automatically after 8 minutes or so but what I really didn't like was you had to shake it to have it wake up and come back on and when it did it was at the lowest temp. setting. After resetting it to cotton you had to wait for it to warm up...AAARRRGGGHHH!!

I tried another iron and didn't like it either, so I reluctantly went to WalMart and bought a "cheapie" for $7.00 and love it! Go figure :)

I bought an expensive (but on sale) Rowenta and leaked from the beginning, since I got such a good deal on it, I kept it. Now I iron with a mister and don't fill the iron with water. Works great.

It is such a pain to pay good money and not work the way we need them too.

The best iron on the market right now is Reliable Digital Velocity V100 Steam Iron. It has a separate water chamber inside the iron, only steam can get out. The auto shut off can be turned off or on.

I have a rather inexpensive Panasonic iron that has been the best iron I have ever owned. And I had a Shark vac once and it was a piece of %$#@@@.

I have a Black & Decker Classic, and I love it! :)

I have a relatively cheap Costco Rowenta that I think I've had for 3 or so years. Totally happy with it, doesn't leak and stays hot. I'm easily pleased perhaps, but can't think of anything to gripe about it.

I haven't had much success with Shark products either. I had a Black & Decker iron that I liked. When it bit the dust I got a Rowenta, the lower end model. I don't like it as well. Last week I was ironing some material that I'd washed, still damp, and was having trouble getting it dry. I ended up using my little travel GE iron (c. 1960) that I bought on ebay a few years back. It gets really hot, doesn't shut off, and I finished the job in half the time even though the iron plate is smaller than the Rowenta.

If the Rowenta say made in China it's the less quality made one. There are still some Rowenta left that say Made in Germany. That is the quality Rowenta. Lowe's here has the Made in Germany Rowenta. I guess when the stock in the warehouse runs out they will all be Made in China.

My DH got me an iron for our anniversary last year (romantic, huh?) and it's a Rowenta. It says Made in Germany and he bought it at Target, where it's on sale right now for $85. I love it and would pay that much to get another one!

What is it with the irons these days!? It's unbelievable to me that we have to spends hundreds of dollars for a freaking iron that works. It certainly wasn't a problem 30 years ago. You bought an iron, it was reasonable. It made steam when it was supposed to and didn't make steam when you didn't want it to. Occasionally I ran some vinegar water through it to clean it. It didn't turn off unexpectedly. It was heavy enough to get the job done. I don't want an expensive, supersonic, ultasafe, stand on it's legs iron. Just give me a decent iron! Jeez, how hard can that be? Ok, rant over :)

I have a cordless Oreck and a cheapie one or three. I never put water in them. I just keep a water bottle close by.

This sounds good-though never heard of it-I'll check it out!

I am so with you, lol. Irons aren't exactly super high-tech appliances. I am beginning to think that an old fashioned, heat it in the fire type iron would do a better job than most of the stuff on the market these days.

Wait...what? You put rainwater in your iron? Rain has all kinds of particles in it that could stain your fabric. Aren't you nervous?

I have one of those that used to be my grandmother's. My Mom said they came in a set. You'd iron with one while the other was heating. There was just one handle for both. I have just one iron and no handle. They weigh a ton and you'd probably get a good workout just doing your ironing. No need to go to the gym to lift weights. LOL

Oliso says they have a new and improved iron. I'll see if the 7th holds up to the claim.

My Rowenta iron will leak water if I try to use it before it's heated up thoroughly...hot hot hot! So I turn it on - find something to do for a few minutes and then iron away.

My current model does not have the auto shutoff. IMHO that's the worst kind for a quilter to have. We sew, we sew, we iron, we sew, we cut, we sew, we iron, etc. Previous iron had auto shutoff - couldn't stand it.

That's the iron I have now, and I can't say enough good things about it. I had Euro Pro Sharks previously, they were okay but I went through two in about three years' time.

I am on my third iron in 18 months. The problem is me! My ironing board is set up in the dining room, on the way to the bathroom. I have bumped it twice and knocked the iron off of it twice. My husband glues the pieces back together, they work, but they leak like crazy. I have an aversion to working with a malfunctioning electric appliance and water, so I replace the broken iron with the cheapest one I can find.

My latest iron does have the safety feature where it turns off after 8 minutes of non-use. I like that because I have been known to forget to turn the iron off. It's a little bit of a pain to wait for it to warm up, but it's worth it to me to feel a little bit safer.

Couldn't have said it better myself :) Do men design these irons, or what??? LOL

I am seriously considering this iron, but I can't find any reviews of it... Would you tell us how you like it?
Sorcha

Thank you for ranting for me! I too just want a decent iron - thinking about hitting all the thrift shops & see if I can find an old one.

Better yet - look what I found! Woohoo - can't place an order fast enough!

http://www.amazon.com/Black-Decker-F...481151&sr=8-10

me, too, rant

Got one of those that belonged to my grandmother only I do have the handle. It's made of wood so it would stay cool.

Here's the iron at WMart someone mentioned. I have this iron...old, but works fine

http://www.walmart.com/ip/Black-Deck...c-Iron/6528826

I like to buy small appliances at my local Ace Hardware. They are the real deal...might be 5 bucks more but it would take that much in gas to get to the Wally. Walmart insists that manufacturers sell to them so cheap that some things like switches, are substandard. Had that trouble with coffee makers a few years ago. Like the Sunbeam iron I have, except the cotton setting doesn't get hot enough. All the brands seem to have lowered the temp for cotton, frustrating.

My new Shark iron leaks as well.

Have never had a Shark iron, but bought a slow cooker that was retuned next day.Looking thru the papers, found it was made by Shark, tho a diff name.A neighbor had a Shark steam mop that was returned in a wk. Shark brand anything isn't for me.

My Sunbeam is very old & works great.You're lucky to have a hardware store with prices that compare with Wallyworld.

I bought the shark iron..and I can get it to wake up after it is idle. Mine doesn't leak water...it is going back to Walmart.

Ditto. I also had purchased a Shark hand vac . . . only worked once then died.

Black & Decker About 20 years old and about $12.00 at that time. Two Rowenta's went back to Strawbridge and Clothier. The second one free to replace the leaking one - it leaked and I took it back.

Get a Rowenta Effective. I bought mine at my local True Value Hardware store for $79. I LOVE it.

I have had the experiences of many of the other people. After spending a fortune on various top quality irons I went on Ebay and looked at vintage irons....bought several and have decided the old ones work better and will outlast me. They just don't make things like they used to and I for one don't care to pay those top dollars for an iron that gives me nothing but frustration. If you get out to thrift shops you may also be able to find one of those old tried and true irons for around $3.00. I have several of these also.....so hopefully I have a stable of irons that will outlast me and no more frustrations.

I have an old cheap Proctor Silex and it is still going strong despite the fact that it has been dropped, cracked and then duct taped (love it) back together. It stays hot, prives reliable steam, and keeps on a chuggin'.

My solution to the iron problem was to buy the heaviest one I could find at the cheapest price. Have found that the expensive irons are just that....expensive! And the cheaper ones do the same job. As long as it heats, steams, and has an automatic shut-off I'm happy!!

I purchased a shark iron too, and it is a piece of crap. It didn't start leaking until the darn warranty ran out, so I am stuck with it. It is now on hold for emergencies only, until I can find another Iron that has no auto shut off. Am using my rowenta which leaks too, but at least it stays hot.

What she said!