Friday, October 19, 2012

New Iron

My iron died a few days ago; it just stopped heating up. Of course, you can't quilt without an iron. So off I went to look for the perfect new iron. My idea of the perfect iron is probably really different than most quilters.

I'm on the hunt for cheap! Don't get me wrong, I'm certainly impressed with a $200 Rowenta - but I know myself! I know I won't empty the "tap" (eek!) water when I turn it off. I know I won't buy distilled water for it. I won't wipe it down or shine it up, either!



A year or two ago when I bought my last iron, you could still find some that didn't have the auto shut-off. Nothing pulls that $11 or $12 out of my wallet faster than an iron that stays on even when I haven't used it for 7 minutes. Of course, I'm aware of the dangers of leaving an iron on. I've countered that with a goofy routine I do every time I leave the sewing room. I pause at the door, turn and look back at my sewing machine (and mentally say "off"), then I look at the iron ("off") and finally the light switch goes "off".

Anyway, that's not the point. I couldn't find an iron that doesn't have an auto shut-off, but I did find one that stays on for 30 minutes - and it was only $14! However.....

the plastic cover on the water tank is smokey black. Come on! I have 50-ish-year-old eyes. I can barely see the iron!

Here's the new iron with the water filled up to about an inch below the Fill Line:


Is this the most ridiculous iron ever?!! 

So I'm curious, what's your favorite brand/style of iron? Do you take good care of it or abuse it?  :)

8 comments:

  1. If it is on sale, that is what I buy, because the family will get a hold of it and use it for their clothes. I do have a couple of small travel irons I use when quilting. I don't have time to take care of an iron, I have two cats to feed.

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    1. Like your good scissors, you have to hide some things from the family. And, of course, you gotta keep those cats happy! :)

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  2. I have used expensive irons in the past with in a year or two they started leaking. Now I use the cheap ones, if they leak after a year or two oh well!

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    1. I feel exactly the same way. It'd be really hard to throw out a $200 iron!

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  3. I love my TFal iron - an expensive one, close to $100 when I bought it years ago. Hate the Black and Decker I bought to replace my old GE iron. That's why i bought the TFal.

    You're supposed to empty the water out when you're finished? Ha!

    I think most irons don't want distilled water any more. At least mine say to use tap water. Unless, maybe, you have well water.

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    1. I had no idea - I figured every quilter (but me) had a big jug of distilled water next to the iron! That's probably another one of those things that dates me!

      Thanks for the good recommendation, Barbara. :)

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  4. Your supposed to put water in them? I never use steam when I'm quilting. I was always told it would 'stretch' or distort my blocks. I just us a dry iron. My Rowenta said to use filtered drinking water and not distilled.

    Now, since you can't see how much water is in there I would say the rule of thumb applies, If you cant see steam coming out, well then you are out of water. Hope you like your new iron.

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    1. You're absolutely right - I've always heard that you should press with a dry iron, too. But, interesting enough, I've never taken a class where the instructor wasn't using steam. And some of those instructors have been pretty big names! So I don't know. :)

      Good idea about filling when there's no steam - thanks!

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