Lyncat,
I purchased a Hamilton Beach professional from Walmart a few months ago. It too, started leaking. I emailed HB. NO receipt-just the time frame I purchased it. They emailed immediately, told me to cut the plug on the old one, mail it with 7.00 for shipping, and they would replace my iron! Customer service doesn't get much better than that!
It is a wonderful iron, if you like weight. This means you don't have a lot of "pressing down" on the fabric. It has an "auto shutoff" and the light blinks when it has not been in use for five minutes or more.

Where do you find those? That seems like something worth investing in...

Quilting Haven, what was the brand of the lighter iron you purchased at Walmart? Think it would be great for pressing at my cutting table. I have had the B&D Digital Advantage for several years and would purchase again.

My cheapo Rival from Walmart died a few weeks ago and I almost cried. It was the best. Never leaked, lightweight and did not have a shut off. My nice new $59.00 iron has an annoying shut off gizmo that irks me to no end. Price does not seem to be an indication of value or quality any more. I have not been able to find another cheap Rival and it seems that most if not all new irons have the shut off.

I couldn't agree more. I always purchase old Black & Decker irons at any thrift shop that has one. The pleasant surprise is that I have three spare ones in my closet because it takes forever for them to go on the blink. I own a newish Black & Decker for all my regular ironing. I paid 29.95 for it and expect that it also will last forever, and boy does it get HOT! They are the greatest.

Get the new "old-fashioned" Black & Decker! No shut-off.

When I am paper piecing I keep a flat iron beside my sewing machine. I am able to press the seams without having the bulk of an extra ironing surface beside the machine.

I love my cheap Black & Decker. This is the third B&D I have had .... over 20 years!

I use a B & D Classic. Cost about $30, and it is a bit heavier than the plastic models. I love it.

I just bought a new iron, a SHARK at walmart. Love it. Figure I'll not worry if it breaks and buy a new one. I don't even use distilled water (shhhh...)