some NOT NOW trouble with my iron

My backup iron is so old it still has a cloth-covered cord. But by golly, it works! I must say that although it is no Rowenta, the new Hamilton-Beach I bought a year or two ago is still working beautifully--though I admit there was a six-month gap in my quilting after MSM passed away. It's only been a couple of weeks that I have had time and inclination to sew again.

Speaking of which, I finished the top on the butt-ugly quilt (commissioned by a co-worker) and hope to get it sandwiched and start the quilting this weekend. Wish me luck! My co-worker has seen the top and thinks it's beautiful, so it only goes to show that tastes differ wildly.

I've been considering all the things you and others have said about this iron, both now and every time irons are brought up here. I was outbid on my eBay Rowenta, and I have decided not to pursue it. It's a shame they have let down the standard, but the same thing seems to be happening all across the universe. I'm just going to have to be content with something else. Right now I have a Ham.Beach "Steam Storm". Works okay. I would like a heavier iron, and to use this as a back-up.

Karen, Queen of Squishies

You might be interested in a mad scientist experiment I performed when the final Flawed Rowenta Iron, that I had foolishly bought, gave up the ghost. I totally disassembled it down to the last screw and bolt to see how it was put together and this is what I found. I don't know if this applies to earlier models, which might provide a clue to their reported longevity. But here is what I found. The model in question was a recent production Professional model without the auto shut off feature. The method of attachment of the plastic water reservoir is accomplished by the use of self taping type of screws which are screwed into a plastic base plate, which sits atop the sole plate housing. This method of attachment is the weak link in the attachment system as any little or large shock, such as a fall or sharp bump to the iron makes the screw threads strip out of the mounting plate and renders a non water tight connection of the water carrying reservoir to the sole plate of the iron: hence the leaking phenomenon that is often encountered on these irons. This type of manufacturing is at best a cost cutting slip shod way of doing things in an area that should be engineered to maintain watertight integrity to say the least. I would have designed those screws to engage the metal base plate housing, and therefore be less likely to strip out. I don't know if this is the way that they have always been made, as I have not taken an old one apart, but I would bet that this is a recent cost cutting development on their part to squeeze more profit out of their brand identity, without having to spend more money as they might have done in the past. I guess something like this could happen to any iron, but my point of contention is this; If it happens to a 20-40 iron that is to bad. But if it happens to a 100 dollar iron that is a major hit to the pocket book. With the design flaw I discovered, people who own recently manufactured Rowenta irons should treat them with kid gloves and not subject them to any shock or sharp impact, as you will become part of the enrichment process of Rowenta corporation, when you go to replace that most perfect Iron of yours. Buyer Beware.

John

Good for you Carolyn. It's so hard to get back to doing things like you did before a bereavement. I hope the downs aren't as bad as they were six months ago. Mine have never gone away completely (from my parents), but they are more bearable.

BTW - my brand new iron has a cloth covered cord! . In message , Carolyn McCarty writes

I've heard good things about Black & Decker irons here before. It's something I would be interested in pursuing. Does anybody know anything about their wiring or life-expectancy?

Karen, Queen of Squishies

Maybe we could get Winston or John to check one out? Polly

On Jul 9, 9:51=A0pm, "Polly Esther" wrote:

U6dk.245401$yE1.13223@attbi_s21...

I have bought 2 different Euro-pro irons. One of then is a Steam Generator iron and it works fine as a steam generator iron is supposed to. I have had it for about 6 month and I use it for ironing large amounts of clothes and bolts of fabric that have been washed prior to usage. The second Euro-pro is a Shark professional. It has a polished Stainless steel sole plate and works very well for all normal ironing usages that you would use a Rowenta for. The one feature that it has, that I don't care for, is the auto off. But, you can work around that by hitting a button on the handle and it comes back up to temp rather quickly. It is half the cost of the Rowenta, and while I have not had it for more than 6 months, it performs as well or better, considering that it doesn't drip water and spit water onto the clothes or fabric, like the Rowenta's did. Just based on my short time of ownership, I would evaluate it superior to the Rowenta in every respect. Setting aside the Auto off feature, as there is a model of Rowenta Professional that has the auto off feature, and some people want and like that feature. It is half the cost of the Rowenta. I don't know how long lived it is but it appears to be well made and certainly worth the money I paid for it. I also have a Black and Decker Classic, which is all metal except for the handle. It is a newer version of the old standby Black And Decker iron of days gone by. It is not as useful as the Shark as it does not have the continuous burst of steam capacity, but the cost was half that of the Shark. Then I also have the really cheep Chinese made Platinum Continental, dry iron, which I wrote up in a heat test, some time ago and I use it for flattening the pieced seams just after piecing. It was really cheap and works for that use really well, as it has a long narrow point, which is helpful in flattening out those tight points on some pieces that I am quilting. I use it immediately adjacent to the sewing machine with a small pressing pad on the table right next to my sewing area so I just have to turn and press and never leave the chair. I am probably going to get a Naomoto or Reliable Gravity feed Iron which is a commercial iron like that which is used in sewing workshops and dry cleaners. I guess you could say I am on the eternal quest for the perfect iron, which probably doesn't exist. At least one that will do everything. There is probably justification for owning several different irons for various uses, but for me, Rowenta's would never be considered for any of those uses. There you have the sad tale of the iron junkie. A cautionary tale for those of you who just want to iron something, and were wondering what is the best iron to get.

John

i have a "Rowenta" but it's only a couple years old. i have dropped it, so many times off the ironing board...it still wages on! i do miss my B&D. that was a heavy iron and did a great job for years, but i decided with my carpel tunnel, i needed a lighter weight iron. i, too, have been looking for a back up iron over the last year.

amy in CNY

I've been wondering about the Euro Pro. I may try one. My second new Rowenta (they replaced the first) has started leaking like the last one. I tried the Black and Decker "classic" iron. I didn't like the brushed aluminim soleplate. It "drug", after being used to the smooth Rowenta. It didn't get hot enough either. I noticed the Euro Pro has the same smooth soleplate. Also noticed it has 1600 watts, so it should heat up pretty quickly.

Sherry

It works. It gets hot as you need it to. Like I said though, it does have the auto-shut-off feature which is not as desirable for some people. You just hit a button on the top of the handle and with any number of clicks, you return it to the setting you are looking for. Not a problem for me, but some people hate the auto-shut-off. I do with It didn't have it, though.I have had mine for a couple of months, and it has worked as an iron is supposed to. No leaking and if you let it get up to the desired heat setting before you try to use it on steam setting, no spitting. Nuff Said.

John