What is the best iron to use
 

Hi Everyone...
I am going to get myself a new iron. I was just wondering if anyone has suggestions on what would be a good one. I currently have a Black and Decker - professional that I am not too thrilled about. It automatically shuts off and it's kind of irritating to have to "wake" it up every time I need to iron when I'm working on something. So any suggestions would be great!!!

I would not waste my $$ on a Rowenta. I have had two (slow learner) and they just aren't worth the cost. Spurt, don't steam well and leak.

I am surprised most of us use only one iron for all purposes. I have discovered that exactly the same way we change scissors depending on the job being done, we change needles depending on the thread and we change rotary cutters depending on the fabrics and the project, I am changing irons depending on what I am doing. I have a regular iron for large pieces that sits on my sewing table. I have one for clothes. My sewing iron can take water for steam, but I use my Tobi if I need steam, because I am yet to find an iron that stays dry. If I am doing applique, I use a flat iron I found at Vermont Country Store. It doesn't take water, therefore has no little holes in the button that trap the corners of my pieces. This one I use for small pieces. The auto shut off, I hate it too, but see it as a safety device. Many times I forget to turn off the iron and is good piece of mind to know that it shuts itself off.

If your ever in a Savers you will see lots of Rowentas, they leak.
I have a cheap Black and Decker for large pieces of fabric and a travel iron for pieceing.
The small iron is perfect for piece work.

There is no such thing!! LOL I have had cheap and expensive irons and they all have issues. I think the above poster has a point about using different irons for different purposes. I only have 2 irons...a NEW Rowenta and a small travel iron I purchased at Walgreens. My NEW Rowenta has to have special treatment to avoid it spitting and leaking. I just use my travel iron dry. It's great for pressing small items.

I just recently got a sunbeam from Big Lots for $20. Most irons today have the auto-shutoff but some of them you can adjust the timing or not use at all but these are harder to find. There was one like it at Big Lots, a Black and Decker for the same price and I almost got that one except that I liked the different steam settings on mine better. I had one without the auto-shutoff and would forget to shut it off. It was old; I threw it away and got this one so that is one less worry that I have to deal with. I can't see spending alot of an iron especially when I see some of the reviews of the more popular ones like the one here already mentioned that leaks; I've heard that alot. I like the Oliso that Fons and Porter uses that after a few seconds raises itself up of the board but there are mixed reviews and a large cost involved. I'd rather spend my money on other things.

I agree - a cheap B & D is great! No auto shutoff. I don't have a problem with turning it off - when I leave the sewing room, it is automatic for me: TV, iron, sewing machine in that order.

Now if someone would invent a gadget that would remind me to turn off the the oven when I am finished with it I would be forever grateful. I use it so seldom (ahem). Was on all night again last night.

My favorite iron is my Velocity by Reliable. It has an override button so it won't shut off automatically. I also have an Oliso that I use and really like. I bought a cheap iron for applique only. But the Velocity roars when I use the steam. I absolutely have fallen in love with the steam on my Velocity. It's incredible. I also have two Rowentas, but have never had problems with them spitting. And then I have a few small ones for little projects. But I've had many irons over the years and nothing compares to the Velocity when it comes to steam. It doesn't leak or spit or anything. My all time fav!

There are a lot of pros and cons for every iron. I've had a Rowenta that is probably between 15 and 20 years old
that is running great. In the fall of last I purcased their top of the line for my sewing room and it is wonderful.
This one was made in Germany and from what I understand, some are not.
I would not trade this for anything. I agree the "shut off" sometimes gets annoying but I can live with it.
I think everyone can give a different opinion of irons,"like cars".
this is just mine.

I use an Oliso because I don't have to lift it.

I herd and adviced about steeming one ( like in shops ) with a long tube like the vacuming cleaner and that for large peaces of cloth and ordenary ironing but i have no idea about names and still using an old one name NIKAI

There have been many discussions on irons, so I suggest using the search feature and maybe you will get even more useful information. I have a Black and Decker Digital Advantage and I like it. My Rowenta sits in the closet. It spits!!

I have bought cheap irons on recommendations from this board and have bought expensive irons on recommendations from this board and they all broke after a couple of years...I think we as quilters use our irons a lot more than normal folks so they don't last as long. I too hate the auto shut off and when I can find one without, I just plug it into the socket that is controlled by my light switch so when I leave the sewing room, the light goes off and so does the iron! Right now I have a Sunbeam that I got rather cheaply but it's driving me crazy--it wants to shut off while I'm ironing! I have to move the iron a certain way or it doesn't register that it's being used but I like it because it has great steam! I also have a Continental Platinum that does not have steam holes and I used that for paper piecing and applique. I also have a Rowenta Steam iron (the kind with the separate reservoir and the most expensive -- around $200). I've had it a while and it works great except that the gasket to the reservoir wears out and I can't find any place that sells them :mad:, so I've been using that one for special occasions... One thing I can say about it though is that it doesn't leak or spit--I think the separate reservoir is the key.

So my recommendation to you is to weigh everyone's recommendation and then buy what you want with the features you need and don't expect it to last forever no matter how much or little you pay for it :thumbup:

I have more irons than sewing machines - and that's saying alot
My favorite is an old no steam, no teflon that belonged to my best friend's Mom and I'm closing in on 76.
I have the same advantages on one I have from The Vermont Country Store.
I keep an old coke bottle with a sprinkler top filled with water should I need to dampen when I'm ironing.
The cordless iron doesn't get hot enough
The Rowentas are awful except for their travel iron.
The Sunbeams and Black and Deckers work fine.
I have a darling little red Bohin iron (French) that came encased in see-through plastic - never used, never even took it out - I just like to look at it.
After my Rowenta experiences I would never spend alot of money again on an iron.

I was planning on buying an Oliso for the same reason. I bought a B&D and there is no light telling me whether it is on or off. Then, my mom found 2 other irons (both with lights). So, I'm set.

The little bitty pointy irons are, of course, accessory irons, but what wonders they are. Leave a few dollars to buy one. They are great to use right at the sewing table and priceless for opening seams. DO NOT TRUST THE IRON HOLDERS THOUGH. Find a ceramic tile to lay the iron on.

Thanks everyone.....I am going to go look at a Rowenta....only because it's on sale for $99 and I get 30% off....but after reading all the comments I am not so sure that would be a good buy......hmmmmmm

There was a discussion about this on this thread not long ago. I remember because several other people noted that they didn't like auto-shut off either (I hate it). You might want to look that thread up, too.

I, too, have an B & D that I love & a Rowenta that I loathe!

Would you elaborate on the special treatment you give the Rowenta to avoid it spitting and leaking? Mine has just started to do that....and it's very annoying!

I have a Rowenta and a Shark.. and they both leave like a seive........ the cheap B & D one served me so much better.. and it didnt have that darn auto off!!! I hate that feature... next i buy will another dollar store cheapy....

My Rowenta is about 9 yrs old. Like all of you quilters it is on alot. I knocked it off the other day and now it leaks. It has been a great iron - and will replace it with another Rowenta - I think.

I totally agree - I must be a slow learner as well, because I've had two Rowentas which just weren't worth the money I spent on them. I currently have a T-Fall which I love. Lots of steam and an auto shut-off after 5 minutes, which can be a pain, but I am so bad about turning off the iron that my DH insisted..... My daughter has a Black & Decker which I have used when at her home, and it also is a great iron.

I guess paying more doesn't always mean you get better quality...

I use T-Fal irons, I also do not put water in them, but use a seperate bottle for spraying the fabric with water then pressing, saves on the inside of the iron.

I had the same thing happen to me and I wrote to the company in NYC and no response from them.

Just adding to the thumbs down on the Rowenta Iron, and thumbs down on Auto Shut-Off. Even as a newbie quilter, it drives me batty to keep waking up my iron. Rowenta was about $50 when I bought it ~15 years ago, and it, too, leaked.
I like my cheapo Sunbeam $20, but the ASO feature is annoying.

my boss' mother in law gave me s Shark and I love it. I have a old iron on my table next to my sewing machine that I paid $1.49 at a thrift store and it works and has for the past 7 years...