Iron

I wanted a steam generator iron, and given the limitation that I live in a small apartment, I was limited to one without a separate water supply (they take up a lot of space, and don't lend themselves to easy storage), so I chose this one:

It produces steam independently of the soleplate heat. It workswell, giving tons of steam even with the soleplate set at the coolestsetting. It's main drawback is that it needs to be filled every 20minutes or so.

When I was shopping for this I asked the advice of my friend, who is a designer for a seventh-avenue label and is a hands-on-make-his-own-samples guy, so he has experience with the commercial models that Atlanta sells (click around the "Irons" selections to see them all), he thought that I couldn't go wrong with most of the ones they sell. His .02 about the gravity feed ones is that they are a good compromise, but the fittings often leak if you keep disconnecting and re-connecting them (i.e. leave them set up, in one place). Not only were they expensive, but required a dedicated space, so I didn't pursue them and bought the one above.

That would be frustrating for me as well, I think the Rowenta holds about a cup and a half, and produces steam for much longer than 20 minutes. My mother had a gravity feed in the 50s, and the tank was quite large as I recall.

Mostly my iron has its own dedicated space in my sewing room, although I brought it upstairs for the kilt project. But before that it had not been relocated since I made the wedding gown (also upstairs) in 2004.

Thanks, Serge, I may go with a steam generator, but it'll have to meet my other requirements. Maybe this one:

Since you have a place to dedicate to it, I'd go for the one in the link! Not only does it use tap water, but it's compact and well-made - a steel tank, h/d wiring and high steam output. Looks good to me, and mine (also made by Reliable) is well-made.

The key work is "almost". I have found a Rowenta much like my original one which does NOT have that feature:

am tempted but the reviews are almost universally negative, that's why I am thinking about changing to a steam generator or gravity feed.> Since you have a place to dedicate to it, I'd go for the> one in the link! Not only does it use tap water, but it's> compact and well-made - a steel tank, h/d wiring and high> steam output. Looks good to me, and mine (also made by> Reliable) is well-made. That's good to know. I have seen several recommendations for steam generators. I have never owned or used one, so I'm a little tentative.

Beverly

Update: With nothing to lose, I decided to try to repair my trusty old iron. I filled the (removable) tank with water, and watched carefully to see exactly where it was leaking. After I was sure of the precise location, I emptied it, waited for it to dry, then ran a bead of super glue all along the seam. Waited for THAT to dry and ran some more SG. Waited for that to dry then ran the tip of the VERY HOT iron along the seam, and voila! No more leak. It's been full of water since late this afternoon, and it's still holding water. I installed it on the iron, and it steams fine, burst-of-steam fine, sprays fine, and NO LEAK. ;-)

I'm still going to upgrade to another beefier iron, but for now I have a working tool without having to lay out the big bucks.

Beverly

Good job! It's always better if you can shop without pressure.

I have a Jiffy steamer, which is not the same as an iron, but which certainly generates a lot of steam. I also have a couple of irons.

So very true! It was worth a shot, if I ruined it more, well... it was already a goner.

I also have a Jiffy steamer, and a Singer press, but for some jobs you just *need* an iron. ;-}

Beverly, who has lots of needs, and a few wants

Oh, yeah - I have two presses - a larger one, and a smaller one with steam. Forgot them. I think I have too much stuff.

ROTFLMAO!!! Ya' think?

Beverly, who has a couple of old Black and Decker irons in the backstock...somewhere....

Did we expect less? We all know you never give up without a fight. Enjoy your rehabed iron. Juno

I've got some old irons, including one of cast iron. But there is currently a demand, especially among quilters, for old pre-steam irons, which got hotter than modern irons. The quilters dampen the fabric and most now use spray starch, then the old-style iron which they say gives them better results. As for me, permanent press is good, and failing that, I figure anything I wear is going to get wrinkled in five minutes anyway.

The Jiffy is for blocking knits, of which I've made none in some years now. I really want to knit a few things.

It works like new. ;-) Tons of steam, I especially like the "Burst of Steam" feature when pressing creases. I just pressed slacks and a jacket to wear out tonight.

Beverly

I gave one of my old (60s or 70s, not antique) irons to DGS when he went off to college. I don't know if he has ever used it. ;-}

At least you *do* use your knitting machine. I have had my mother's since 1971, I used it once as I recall. It's now "Vintage Mid Century!!!" think I could get big bucks on eBay??? ;->

Beverly

Not yet. But most of the companies that made knitting machines don't any more. There is a company in China making a manual machine, which is supposed to be pretty good. But with hard times upon us, knitting, sewing, crocheting, etc., are enjoying a revival, and I can imagine a future demand for a good, solid knitting machine.

The black one with the pretty decals, or the one with a pattern embossed into the metal itself? Or a plain dark brown "godzilla" finish one? I have one of each.

Every need is the result of a want:

I want to live, therefore I need food. I want to be healthy, therefore I need exercise. I want to sew, therefore I need a White Family Rotary.

Joy Beeson

And a Singer 66 hand crank, and a Husqvarna Optima 190, and a Bernina

1005, and a Jones Family CS handcrank, and a...

And 12 pairs of dressmaker's sheers, 16 quick-unpicks, 14 tape measures,

1000 reels of thread, 43 acres 0of fabric...

;)

"... And a partridge in a pear tree!" (SCNR) ;-) Amazing, how little we all need to be happy. ;-))

U.

GMTA. You beat me to it.