steam irons
 

My iron just died on me. What steam iron do you use ? I had a rowenta but once in awhile it would spit water tho i felt it was an ok iron.

I use a black and decker digital advantage. Try using the search function. We have had many recent discussions on irons.

I just bought a Rowenta Pro Master and it has an amazing, massive amount of steam! My LQS told me that the secret to no spitting or leaking is to keep the setting on dry/no steam until the iron has completely heated. Seems to be working so far. I am very happy with this iron.

pretty much any iron you put water in will at times spit & sputter- many people just keep a spray bottle near their ironing board so they can spritz their fabric when ironing/pressing- that way they get the benefits of steam without the hassles of a water in an iron. then you can choose an iron by other features (stays on vs. auto off, size, weight, settings, face plate) they do seem to wear out- die sooner when using water in them.

I have always had good experiences with any Rowenta iron, Costco had Rowenta Master, I bought it but I haven't tried it yet, I will report when I do.

My first quilt class we were told to wait until the iron was at the hottest temp before tuning on the steam to prevent splutters. This is why the auto shut off is a pain. You are suppose to turn off the steam while it's reheating. I use Black and Decker classic old stye when I want a lot of steam and a cheap $6 iron for when I want low steam. I have a no steam solid sole plate iron for fusible and applique. I got rid of all my auto shut off irons in the sewing room. The laundry room has those.

I love my Rowenta but I have only had it about 6 months. It is one of the 9000 series models. Makes a TON of steam!

After a few tries with pricey Rowenta's , I now have a Shark ... bought at Walmart... good steam and if it breaks I won't be cussing myself for having paid big bucks for a iron that should have lasted much longer. My Shark is going strong after 3 years, which is longer than my last Rowenta.

I also have the Shark and love it. I had the Rowenta and no matter what I did it would spit. I got tired of the mess when it leaked on my floor too! Shark was inexpensive and does a great job

I use a dry iron that I paid $15.00 for 20 years ago and it is still going great. Don't like steam irons!

I'm a Rowenta fan as well. I think the trick with most steam irons is to make sure you are also putting in the correct water. Some are designed for use with tap water; some for use with distilled. I have both. It seems to make a difference in how long they last. I've had my Rowenta (tap water) for about 10 years and my EuroPro (distilled) for almost as long. Both still perform admirably.

I love my Reliable Velocity because you can keep it at steam ready feature. So many irons now have the safety feature where they automatically shut off unless you shake them every so often. When I am in the groove I want it ready all day.

Speaking of irons--I am not always careful when using fusibles and the bottom of my iron was a mess. Someone had posted a tip I will share again if you have not heard it, but the Mr. Clean magic eraser will clean the bottom plate like nothing else.

I bought a new Rowenta at Costco. No spiting and really great steam. I think it is a Pro Master too.

Jus the Black and Decker Digital Advantage iron. It makes lots of steam and gets very hot. I have been very satisfied. I bought it from Amazon.com for about $50.

Whatever is about $19 is my favorite. My Black & Decker lasted almost forever and I just had to replace it. Got a Tfal on sale. both are good. I do have one iron that doesn't ever get any water in it so it is never incontinent.

Lowe's in my town has the Black and Decker Classic with no auto shut off. Tuesday Mornings will sometimes have the Rowenta's made in Germany. Rowenta is now made in China. The company was sold a few years ago so the quality has gone down drastically.

I have the Black and Decker classic and it works great. No shut off and it's the best for all day sewing. I have another Black and Decker that does have a shut off and some times I use it for ironing big quilts or pieces of material. I have a Rowenta that I also like for regular ironing but it takes too long to reheat so isn't good for sewing. I also have another Rowenta that leaks so maybe I'll try the spray bottle technique and use it more often.

I rarely use steam and never do for quilting. I have a Black and Decker iron that was around $25. It has a shiny metal sole plate that is easily cleaned with a Mr Clean eraser. Use it wet on a cold iron. I accidentally got plastic from a bag all over the sole plate of my hot iron. I found a tip to put the iron in the freezer to harden the plastic and chip it off. I didn't have room in my freezer so instead set my iron on a bed of ice cubes. It took some effort but the plastic did chip off and I was able to use my iron again.

I bought a T-fal, too, at Sears, and I love it. Great steam, but it does have that dog gone shutoff feature, too. It does seem to heat up really fast after it shuts off, tho.

The Euro is the only one I'll ever use.

I love my Rowena. If you let you iron heat completely, it should not spit. If it still spits, try cleaning it. I run a vinegar and water mixture through my iron periodically. It always seems to work better after I do it.

I agree I hate steam irons, I have 4 of them all different brands and prices. The last one I bought at a quilt show and paid $150 for it and I wouldn't give you 2 cents for another.

I have used Rowenta in the past but they will start leaking. My hubby who can fis irons says that it is a rubber seal that has dried and now leaks. Can not fins one to replace it and Rowenta will not just sell him the seal. I stopped using Rowenta. Bought a new Oscilo just recently but have not tried it yet. Use the old Black and Decker I have for ironing clothes works well. Also purchased a dry ironfrom Vermont stores to do all my applique with no holes. Works well in quilting to but just use a spray bottle of water.

I am a Rowenta fan for the last 30 years. Its the only brand I buy and use and I haven't experienced the problems most have mentioned they have had with their Rowentas and I do use steam.

I recently won a Hamilton Beach Durathon iron from a quilt blog that I have yet to use. This is my first non Rowenta iron in over 30 years.

But with the steam, perhaps a spray bottle and dry iron may work when you need steam. It's true using tap water in some irons causes problems with the irons. I used distilled water for years in my irons.

I now use a dry iron. The holes in a steam iron kept catching on the edges of me piecing. I bought the dry iron on AMAZON-about $20.00.

Love my Oliso, have had it for about 6-7 yrs. Works great!

I actually use my Rowenta without water and just spritz with a bottle.

I use a solid sole plate dry iron I bought at a Hospice resale shop for $5 years ago when I want heat. I use a B &D steam iron when I need steam. Both are still going strong.

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I use a black and decker digital advantage from a thread on this board. I LOVE THIS IRON. Less than $50.00.....It gets hot. IRONS out wrinkles better that any other iron I've ever had. I am contemplating buying another just for when this one quilts working. the best iron I've ever own and I've had a number or Rowena's.....

I bought my last iron from Walgreens for about $11. Works OK for me. I only use steam when ironing cloths.

I have a heavy Sunbeam not sure which style that is my workhorse for large projects is 10yrs old,also have the cordless Panasonic that stays on my cutting table when needed for small ironing I just push the button when I'm getting close to using it & it's really to in a bout a minute or so that one is 2yrs old and I have the Clover mini Iron II that is 5yrs old & still in the packaging lol looking at the Hobby Lobby price on it $40.99 I sure hope I used a coupon on it :p

Yes, I also heard the Rowentas from China aren't the same as those from Germany. For several years now I've read so many complaints on the Board about sputtering Rowentas so I wouldn't consider the brand. I have an 12 year old black Sunbeam with a non-stick plate which, though it's big, but not heavy, is a gem. I mainly use it dry, but it steams v. well also. I have an older, smaller, very inexpensive Sunbeam which is going strong, too. Look for one of those really old, heavy irons from years back at yard sales...I hear they're priceless for dry ironing , though heavy, and use a spray bottle for steam pressing fabrics.

Yes there is definitely a difference in quality. I prefer the German made ones.

My current iron is a $30 Shark and I like it quite a bit. I use it without the steam most of the time, however I keep water in it and hit the steam button when I want a shot.

I loved my Shark until it started spitting and leaking. I found out it is because I used distilled water in it. I looked up all the reasons why they suggest using tap water. I'm using that now to see if it can fix itself, but will probably buy another one.

It made me wonder if so many complaining about their high end irons leaking and spitting is because they used distilled water?

It reacts differently to temperature. I had always noticed my Shark would not steam if the tank was less than 1/2 full also.

I would like to get one of those nice Olisio irons that rests on it's sole-plate but rises off the surface.

Irons. A topic everyone can contribute to. :)

I bought an old (1960's?) travel iron on ebay for the quilt studio. That iron is smoking hot! You can very quickly slide it over the fabric and it is ironed. I bought a 2nd one as backup but may have to bring it into the house for ironing clothes. I am amazed at how quickly it irons. It does have a little screw-on plastic water bottle for steam but I use starch and don't want to mess with water in the iron. I've had too many mess up.