hi- I need some help buying a new iron. My current iron is a Black & Decker, about 20 years old and I love it but its not working any more. I would like one woth a non-stick soleplate, a narrow point at the front so I can get into small areas and steam holes close to the tip. Also I’d like one that shuts off automatically and has an on button [the last one I tried shut off auto,but the power stayed so I had to unplug it each time- what a pain] I keep trying to buy an iron but nothing feels right. I sew proffessionally and really need help.
I appreciate any advice-Thanks
Adeana
Replies
Have you tried a Rowenta Pro? I'm on my 2nd Rowenta and wouldn't use anything else.
One thing I can tell you is to beware of the Shark iron. I thought about buying one and then I read the reviews. It's a good enough iron but the heating element consistently burns out after about a year. You might want to search the net for a comparison of irons and maybe you can find one with the features you want.
Good luck!
Terry
I bit the bullet this year and got the Rowenta steam generator. It really goes to town with the steam burst or continuouse steam!!! The cloth doesn't get wet so at first I thought it wasn't working! lol I almost took it back to the store
It was a big investment but worth it so far. I got tired of refilling the iron and forgetting to buy distilled water. This one uses tap water, hooray!
adeana,
It really depends on what you need. For certain fabrics, I don't want the steam holes so I buy vintage irons and often find them in mint condition for about $15. The condition is most important, no frayed or damaged cords and a smooth, clean sole plate. Thes seem to get hotter than the modern irons. I especially like to use these when piecing quilts. When I need steam, I keep a spray bottle on hand. If you decide to go with the Rowenta, check out Tuesday Morning if there's one near you. The one here carries the Rowenta Pro for $60, but they don't always have them.
I have a Rowenta that I bought at Home Depot. It's not one of the big steam generator ones - I don't sew that much buy you might find that feature useful.
I stay away from the non-stick soleplates. That finish eventually starts to peel, there is always something that sticks, and I was always concerned with pins or zippers or buttons or whatever scratching the finish - just like cookware on a nonstick pan.
Valerie
I replaced my trusty old B&D with a Rowenta (lower-mid priced, purchased at Target or Costco) and have been pleased with it. It has auto shut-off, spray and steam. However, due to problems with humidity and hard water in our area, I never put water (even distilled or purified) into the steamer or sprayer so that I don't end up with rust spots.
The Rowenta is lighter than my B& D, but the soleplate is great after 6 years of daily use, and the temperature control is very, very accurate. It came with a cleaning solution and cloths, and it's easy to keep ready.
How does the auto shut-off work on your Rowenta? Does it have an over-ride?I recently bought a Black and Decker iron with an auto shut-off (the first iron I've owned that thinks for me!) and it's driving me crazy. Every 15-20 minutes is shuts itself off. It doesn't matter if I'm using it or if it's just sitting. And when if it shuts off when I'm using it, it leaks water all over the fabric I'm pressing. Aaagghhh!!!! Plus, it's so frustrating to be sewing and go to press a seam and the bloody thing has turned itself off so you have to wait for it to heat up all over again because if you don't it will leak all over the fabric. I have been tempted to throw it into the trash on many occasions.
I had an iron with an automatic shut off and it drove me crazyand I hated it with a passion. I can identify with all your complaints. I don't know how anyone who sews could stand one. When I looked for a replacement, it amazed me that Rowentas had that feature.
I never put any water into my irons, as it causes all kinds of problems.Out here on the West Coast, where the average electric bills were over $500 per month this summer, I'm especially grateful for the shutoff feature on the iron. Anything with a heating element can make a significant peak in power usage, so I don't want to pay extra for continuous heat, especially on those many days of 100-plus temperatures when the a/c has to run continuously!I keep the iron plugged in and near my sewing machine, so that when I know that I'm going to need it pretty soon, I can just reach over and jiggle it to reheat it. If I do that just as I'm starting to stitch a seam, it's usually ready by the time I want to press it. You could say that my auto-shutoff feature has me very well trained.
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