I was lucky to find an old Rowenta at Goodwill for $5 and it works fine. It's a heavy iron, which I like and it has a narrow, point, great for pressing seams. I just wish it got just a tad more hot on the highest setting.

I'm currently taking a class on Craftsy with Elizabeth Hartman and she has a very nice iron that I've been coveting. It also has a long, narrow point. I don't know what brand it is, but I'd like to find out.

~ C

I've had 3 rowenta irons and they all leaked. I use a shark now and it is starting to leak.

I have a Sunbeam that I got for my wedding. I have never had an issue with it, even after I accidentally dropped it once.

I have to buy a new iron to replace my Rowenta and will not buy another Rowenta- have had 2 leakers. What have been your experiences with a) Olliso and b) Reliable. The reliable is made here in Canada so I am leaning that way.

Not certain,
Keitha

Rowenta ? NEVER AGAIN. I'm on my 2nd "Leaking Sieve", that was a free replacement for the 1st "Leaking Sieve".

I find that my 30+yr old Black & Decker STILL works just fine. Plus I have a $5 thrift store, older travel iron, that heats like no tomorrow. I also have my DD's cheap Target iron from her college years. She graduated in 2005. I'd never recommend a Rowenta to anyone. Leaking has been a major problem for everyone I know who'd had one.

My friend Cindi and I both have the Reliable Digital Velocity, and we both LOVE them! I would buy another in a heartbeat.

Cindi has had an Oliso in the past and can probably offer an opinion.

I've had both, and the Reliable wins, hands down. Massive amounts of steam, never, EVER spits, and gets dang hot. The Oliso sits on my shelf as a backup (I used it for about 2 weeks before getting the Reliable), but I've had the Reliable for 7 years and it's still going strong. If I ever have to replace it, you can bet it will be with another Reliable!

My Rowenta irons have been great. They have all been the ones *without* a removeable water tank. I think the removeable water tanks had a lot more problems. Also, I stopped using steam with them. If you want steam, I don't think they are the best iron. I love mine, though, for ironing without steam. It heats up very fast, gets very hot, and is heavy enough so I don't need to push down much when ironing. My first Rowenta lasted for about a decade, survived multiple drops on a concrete floor, and operated for about 4 years duct-taped together from its last concrete fall. All of the ones I got afterwards came from thrift shops, where I used to find them for $5. A lot of quilters bought them and did not like the auto-turn off (which I love), which is why I think there were a lot in the thrift shops for awhile. Only one of those did not work when I finally got around to trying it out. I'm on my last thrift store Rowenta, which has been going strong for about 5 years. I no longer am at risk of dropping it on a cement floor, so I'm hoping it will last.

I stopped using steam for quilting, as I found I rarely need it. Mostly what I need steam for now is solely for badly wrinkled fabric. When I need steam, I prefer to use a spray bottle of water.

I know...this is an old post, but I wanted to update you all about repairing your Rowenta Iron, if you're having cord problems. Mine recently started to heat up around the cord and plug area....kinda scary. I really love the iron otherwise, so, I looked up how to repair it. It turns out that the strands of wire inside the cord get frayed over time and start shorting out. It's probably due to the extra stress put upon that area when using the iron. According to the instructions, all you have to do is unplug it, cut the cord at the plug end, trim off a few inches and reattach the plug. Here's the instructions: http://www.doityourself.com/forum/el...tting-hot.html

I haven't tried it yet. I just found the info this morning. I'll update you after I try the fix and let you all know if it worked.

~C