New Iron

[bunny9]

I am in the market for a good new iron & would love some input from you experts. I have noticed that Ricky & Alex use an Oliso, what are they like? Do the lifts leave marks? There are so many brands on the market that I would like to do my research before I purchase one. Thanks for your help.

[bunny9]

go for Laura Star - is the best!!! (pricey but the best)

[kquilts1]

I use the Oliso and so far like it. I don't use the steam much as it only seems to be good when the tank is full. Like Ricky says they all get incontinent anyway. I just use a spray bottle of water. I do like the up down feature. Have had mine for over a year and so far no problems with that function. I would recommend it.

[bar7700]

Laura Star is the best for sure. I have had mine for years. I got a show special at IQF in Houston. My #2 choice is a Shark from Wal-Mart. It heats up fast..... Really fast! It has auto shut off, which I don't like so I just use it for odds and ends and when I need the iron to heat up quickly. It's also light weight. A really nice iron.

The Laura Star is for all day sewing. It's heavy. Doesn't auto shut off and you can have steam or not. The water tank holds a lot of water and you don't run out. The steam part is awesome. I hold a blouse up and hit it with the steam and it removes the wrinkles! This iron is pricey to say the least but a good investment in the long run. Oh and the Laura Star iron has the water tank separate from the iron. The iron sits flat on top of the water tank. No knocking the iron over!

Barbara

[BethMI]

This is iron recommended by applique queen Elly Sienkiewicz during a class I took a few years ago. Like me, she likes an iron that is NOT especially light weight so you don't have to press down so hard when fusing freezer paper or fusibles.

Plus, this iron had no auto shut-off and gets really hot.

Plus it was cheap - less than $35.

I've purchased several of them over the 5 or so years since I took the class, and even my husband prefers them for ironing his shirts. (Yes, he does his own shirts because he doesn't think I know how to iron anything except flat yardage, and I don't disabuse him of that thought!)

BethMI

[Stinki]

I love my new Oliso and I was so lucky to get mine. Bought it nearly half off at Joann's... they only had 3 and they didn't even make it onto the shelves! Carla

[eileenkny]

I got an Oliso at MQX and so far I love it! it does a great job pressing out wrinkles in DD Keri's clothes.
eileenkny

[EditorAnne]

I've never seen an Oliso in real life, and I've never talked to anyone who has used one. They look interesting.

I LOVE my Rowenta Professional Titan Plus. I've had it for 13 or 14 years, and it's never leaked. I've even dropped in on the floor a few times (concrete covered by carpet), and it hasn't seemed to hurt it.

My most important criteria for an iron would be NO auto shutoff and a long cord.

Anne in Vancouver, Canada

[bunny9]

I too have a Rowenta; (I have tried t-fal & Black & Decker too)
Anne, & find it really heavy especially when I need to press for long periods of time. The Rowenta is very old & only has holes around the rim. I hear you on the automatic shut off!

Thanks everyone for the input so far, especially the Oliso. Keep it coming.

I am going to watch for the sales once I have heard from those who want to give their 2 cents worth.

[susandvorak]

I have had 2 rowentas--I liked the way they worked but they both sprung bad leaks in less than 2 years. I too like the Black and Decker classic. Some people complain that you can't see the water tank, but after you use it a while, you can tell when you need a refill by the "feel" (weight) of the iron, and by the amount of steam. The price is right too.

Sue

[GloriaH]

I used the classic for a while but the steam holes kept catching seams. I broke down and got a Rowenta. Sure hope it doesn't develope incontinence as it ages.

[MontanaGramma]

I had a Rowenta that I used forever (more than 10 years). It finally died, so I bought another Rowenta and this one has had constant problems and has leaked almost from the beginning. I have even sent it in for repairs once. Very disappointing when I loved my first one so much.

[MontanaGramma]

I have both a Rowenta and an Oliso Smart Iron Pro.

I have found that I prefer the Rowenta when ironing yardage, as the Oliso does not have the heft to help get any wrinkles out. When I am piecing I prefer the Oliso, as it does have a longer period (30 minutes) before it does an automatic shut-off. It also has a longer cord so I can have it plugged into a different circuit than the sewing machine.

[MontanaGramma]

I quite honestly have been using the same Black and Decker iron that I recived as a wedding present 13 years ago. The steam feature has become just a bit incontinent over the last couple of years, but I just use Ricky's spray bottle technique most the time anyway. It heats fast, it does have auto shut off but it is set to an hour, so that is not so bad. I figure I will just keep going with that one until it gives up the ghost, whenever that is. I think when it comes to Blaqck and Decker irons they are like the old Chevets (compact cars) - most of them are junk, but if you get that one that is a good one, it runs forever.

[BethMI]

We have had several Rowentas, but our experience was always like MontanaGramma's - constant problems with leaking and they were just junk. I finally decided that I was NOT going to spend that kind of money on junk. I don't mind replacing an iron that didn't cost much to begin with, but I really hate replacing one that I paid a fortune for!

BethMI