Need ironing board advice

I need an ironing board. I don't sew or do anything with fabric but keep my clothes pressed. Can anyone offer advice on a solid, sturdy, ironing board? I looked at the Rowenta ($100) but it wobbled when I got it home. Does anyone have an opinion on Reliable c55 ($129)? It seems there are few choices between the Wal-Mart $15 "special" and the really expensive European ironing boards. Whatever happened to American made?

Reply to
higgledy
Loading thread data ...

I can't really give advice because I have always had an old used ironing board. The one I have now was my great grandmothers (I inherited all sewing stuff) and it must have been made in the late 60's or early 70's, as the color is that gross yellow (I think its called harvest gold?) and it is so sturdy I could sit on it! Maybe try finding a really old one, and if it looks bad with your decor you could spray paint it and make a new cover.

HTH

Michelle Giordano

Reply to
Doug&Michelle

I agree with Michelle completely. we've always used the old wooden ones with three support legs you can find at garage sales or antique shops. People buy them,cutesy them up and put flower pots on them for some reason. That's right up there with horsecollars with mirrors inside imho, but they are still serviceable for their original purpose. I attach a permanent pad of two or more layers of old woolen army blanket and make a removeable cover of white drill cloth. JPBill

Reply to
W.Boyce

Michelle, Your ironing board sounds exactly like mine, which I've had since the mid-60s. The yellow paint is a bit peeled off, but the board itself is good, no wobbling; which reminds me I need to wash the cover on it. Also, the one bought at Wal-Mart in 2001, when I needed one in SC those months, is strong and hasn't wobble yet; it lives in the sewing room. Emily

Reply to
CypSew

My ironing board is in a cabinet in the kitchen. Open the door, pull down the ironing board. If I want, I can pull down the sleeve board that is there, too. There is an electrical outlet next to this cabinet. The boards are as solid as this (brick) house. Also as old. (79 years)

Yes, but that doesn't help you, does it? Except that I got some kitchen cabinet books from Home Depot and I see that this exact type of cabinet is now being offered in modern kitchen cabinets! Hmmmm....perhaps they figured out that this is not a bad idea?

My board is not portable. I can't set it up in the living room in front of the tv, or out on the back porch. But it's easy to put away and I have no storage dilemma with it.

Reply to
Pogonip

Have two, both vintage as most ironing boards today I wouldn't give you

7p&6s for. Poor quality, wobbly and in general not very long lasting.

One is a "Seymour" ironing board in "Harvest Gold" (the colour of the

1970's), and the other is a vintage "Mary Proctor", ironing table/board that will have to be pried out of my cold dead hands. Nabbed the Mary Proctor from eBay and have been on the hunt for another ever since. It is a sturdy well built piece of ironing heaven that is a large rectangular shape, that folds down on one end to make a traditional narrow end. Great for everything from large flat items like linens, to shirts.

Considered the Reliable vacuum ironing board, but local shops stopped carrying them because he said parts were hard to come by. Instead purchased a commercial "Hi-Steam" vacuum ironing station that folds up for storage. Okay, guess I miss counted, have Three ironing boards then,*LOL*

Wait I tell a lie, also have an "ironing table" that is about 6'X5', which fits over a regular ironing board. Found directions on the Internet and since some people around here never get to any home projects, did the deed myself and the board is great for ironing large flatwork like linens and such. Just finished putting new padding on yesterday (old wool blanket double layered), the cover I ran up from vintage silver ironing board fabric I got from eBay.

Candide

Reply to
Candide

Reply to
Liz Hall

Mine hangs on the back side of a door. It's portable, no storage issues. Had it a long time (15 years??). The white paint started to rust off so I took it outside, (removed cover), spray-painted it with the remains of a can of ivory. Good as new.

HTH

--Karen D.

Reply to
Veloise

Liz Hall wrote: repair your

Mine is an old "Rij-jid" that my mom gave me about 20 years ago. It is broken when I got it and I have repaired and put-up with it since then and I am going to find a better ironing board either used or new.

Reply to
higgledy

I'm no help whatsoever, I fear. My Mary Proctor ironing board was a wedding present in 1964, and I've *never* seen anything like it for sale. It's firm and sturdy, despite having been used for a typing stand, sewing-machine stand, and other sorts of table when we were moving twice a year. I like it because the height is instantly adjustable -- and because it's square on both ends. This seemed mighty queer when I first saw it, but it was a revelation when I had five white shirts to iron every week, and it's been essential ever since I resumed sewing.

I keep a cotton-duck cover on it, over a thick padding made from an old wool-filled mattress pad, and use it for pinning more often than for pressing.

When we lived in a trailer, Mom threw a blanket over the eating table. I've been known to do the same when I had yardage to iron, but haven't since we moved into a place where I can leave the board set up all the time.

Joy Beeson

Reply to
Joy Beeson

Girl you are preaching to the choir on those Mary Proctor ironing tables/boards. Have one extra cover for mine and am always scrounging every thrift,eBay, yard sale and so forth for more. Have only seen one other board on eBay and that was one of the later stainless steel models, and it went for $$$, yes someone paid over one hundred dollars for an ironing board. Seems sad no one has spotted the niche in the ironing board market and made another like the Mary Proctor, simple yet so functional, from sheets to shirts.

Candide

Reply to
Candide

Does anyone have pic of the Mary Proctor ironing board?

Candide wrote:

Reply to
higgledy

Will see if I do, but do not think so. Search eBay using "Mary Proctor Ironing" as there are usually one or two vintage adverts for the ironing board being offered.

Candide

Reply to
Candide

formatting link

Reply to
Pogonip

Hmm that brings up another question...never gave my ironing board much thought before reading this post.....does padding make a differance? Candide would love to know more about your ironing table. great question...thanks for getting me thinking dee in sunny ca

Reply to
msplantladi

Karen I am known as the spray paint queen in my family and for some reason never even thought of doing my ironing board. Mine hangs on the back of a dr also. I did replace the cover to match my decor of the laundry rm...yes my family calls me anal but I like it that way...lol Ok off to find red, blue or yellow spray paint...:} dee in sunny ca.

Reply to
msplantladi

Yes, too much is as bad as too little. You want a smooth cushion surface for ironing, but not so fluffy. Dislike foam padding (it turns to dust way to fast IMHO), but wool makes excellent padding. I just use old army or any other wool blankets found at thrifts.

You're welcome, any time!

Here is the link to the directions I used from Google/rec arts quilting. There are other directions out there, but most are pretty much the same. You can search using "Big Board" as these home ironing tables are DIY versions of the Big Board.

formatting link
is a good project to put in the "Honey Do" job box, and takes onlyabout a few hours. I LOVE my big ironing table! Can get so much donefaster than using any of my ironers, or presses. Because the surface isso large, it is great for quilters/sewers as one can lay almosteverything out and press/iron without having to shift things about. If you have any questions, please ask.

Candid

Reply to
Candide

I use both an ironing board and an ironing "table", and I keep a piece of plain, sanded, exterior plywood around, too.

Ironing board for quickie jobs and ironing clothes (padded, cotton twill cover)

Ironing "table" that is just some wool melton in a particularly hideous green, covered with stapled on cotton twill, on a 4x4 sheet of exterior plywood -- useful for pressing yardage, interfacing large areas, etc. It just gets flopped on a table for use.

Plain sanded plywood for pressing seams flat-flat-flat (very useful for quilt blocks and collars)

Reply to
Kay Lancaster

I have a board similar to this. I used a leftover piece of greenboard from a bathroom floor repair, covered it with an old wool blanket, then with gingham. I used it for a blocking board to pin out knits (the gingham squares are handy for that) and steam them with my Jiffy steamer.

Reply to
Pogonip

InspirePoint website is not affiliated with any of the manufacturers or service providers discussed here. All logos and trade names are the property of their respective owners.