I read complaints about Rowenta on the board, and bought a Sunbeam, which was cheap and works fine so far. Has a retractable cord. But it's heavy. So I bought a small, travel Rowenta with a handle that folds down, for pressing seams and blocks. I've used it for clothes and yardage with steam and it's fine, but it really is just perfect for pressing seams and blocks. Like everything quilting related these days, the " regular" price is unreasonable, and the sale price of $28 or so is still steep. I had my mom get one also. Gets nice and hot, smooth bottom without the toxic nonstick bottom, and light enough to carry to class and to nit fatigue the hands and arms.

oh gosh. i'm still on my rowenta Powerglide 2 with no auto shut off. it's so hard to find one that doens't have auto shut off, i'll stick with this one as long as it sticks with me.
We need to talk to the President about buying everything from China. i look and look for things that aren't made in China!!

A lot of the Rowentas do leak. The gasket seal goop has failed due to high heat. You can fix it.

I took mine apart, carefully. Cleaned it. Re gooped it with high temp auto silicone seal and carefully put it back together. Works fine now.

I was going to do a tutorial on it and got distracted. The whole fix cost about $8 max (for the silicone sealant). It's easy enough to do.

I'll try to get to that tutorial in the next day or so...

The iron itself is fine... and works great. Its just that the new ones are a much higher temp than the old ones, and the tank sealant wasn't upgraded to match apparently. (A big mistake for Rowenta.... and one they should have fixed by now you'd think!).

My Rowenta is about 2 years old has never been dropped ND HAs never stopped leaking. I would purchase anything but a Rowenta, I am awaiting its death. I will then go to WL-mART AND PURCHASE SOMETHING THERE FOR LESS THEN I PAID FOR THAT Rownta.

About 3 months ago, I got a re-manufactured Rowenta at Big Lots. I paid around $25 for it and the iron itself is stamped "made in Germany". I will not put water in an iron either. If I want steam I use a spray mister bottle with water and spritz my fabric before ironing. I have no complaints so far.

I'm on my third Rowenta only because I got the present one at Big Lots at such a good price($20). So far it is performing better and longer than the two that cost over $100 each. However, I will not buy another Rowenta, I'll go the cheaper big-box route.

I love my Rowenta, and it is about 6 or 7 years old--has never leaked!

I spent alot for mine, but in just a few months it no longer gets quite hot enough!

Thanks everyone for your opinions. I guess the more expensive is not always the best. Less iron, more fabric
is ok with me.

Thanks again.

Rowenta's are made in Germany and I happen to be friends with a lady that can strip an iron and put it back together with her eyes closed because she worked at the factory that makes them for 20+ years. I have one and I love it. They are good irons but like everything else every now and then you could get a stinker. The warranty is gone from mine but Mrs. Ingrid said she would repair it for free if I had any problems. I love her.