Irons

Ironing is a task I hate.  But learning to sew requires I do a LOT of it -- way more than I've ever done in my entire life.

Here are two irons -- one good, one not so much.  I don't like giving a negative review of anything but if I can warn others about a product that literally doesn't work, I'm willing.

The above iron is the DX1900 by Rowenta.  It features steam and self-clean, steam burst, spray, anti-drip, anti-calcium build up, and a retractable cord.  It also features auto-shutoff.  I found it at a thrift store for $6.99 and it is in nearly brand new condition.  There is almost zero evidence of it having ever been used.

This is a terrible iron, so much so that I will not be donating it to charity because that would be cruel; rather, I will be taking it to a landfill and making sure no one has to suffer trying to use it.

Pro:

• Mirror-finish steel sole plate for very smooth ironing
• Large reservoir
• Retractable cord works very well

Con:

• Auto shutoff every 10 seconds, so iron never fully heats and does so intermittently so as to make the iron impossible to use
• Steam button does not work
• Temperature control dial is below the handle where it is impossible to see and therefore adjust while ironing
• Temperature control dial is too close to the user's fingers and is very easy to turn, making inadvertent adjustment difficult to avoid
• Spray button doesn't always engage  (I use a spray bottle most of the time anyway, so not much of an issue)

 

 

 
The above iron is the Classic by (or badged) Black & Decker.  It is a retro design probably to appeal to those who appreciate vintage quality and reliability.  (Why not simply make modern irons better?)  It is a steam iron with an aluminum sole plate, is weighted so it's heavier than most modern irons (that I've tried) and has a sliding temperature control on the top of the machine above the 'Up For Steam' orange button.  I found it at a thrift store for $2.99 and it too shows almost no sign of use except for:

The sole plate is permanently stained, as it appears the prior owner was performing chemical experiments with oven cleaner and aluminum.  I lightly sanded the surface until it was very smooth and finished with very fine steel wool.

This is a very good iron.  I will be keeping it as long as it works.

Pro:

• Mirror finish exterior for easy cleaning
• Easy-to-read and adjust temperature control
• Steam button works
• Large hole for easy filling
• Heavy, making pressing easier
• No auto-shutoff (in my opinion, this is a positive)

Con:

• Non-retractable cord is easily tangled and must be hand-wound after use
• Aluminum sole plate more difficult to clean than steel
• Stays hot long after the iron is turned off and unplugged
• No water level indicator and no spray (I use a spray bottle, so not a big issue)

Good modern irons aren't easy to find.  Hopefully the B&D will last and I'd like a good handheld steam iron.  I may invest in a boiler iron at some point but that's in the distant future.  If I find another, better iron, I'll update this post.

Have you found a great iron?  Modern or vintage?