That is SO funny! I'll believe they are alive. Mine burns me with a burst of steam every so often, just to keep me in line! Other times the steam doesn't come out the way it should.

I try that with my chickens, and threaten them with a pot pie destiny when they slack off giving me eggs. But, an IRON? Chickens have brains. Well.............sort of.

The saga of me and my irons is way too long for this post but when all else fails I dig out my old faithly GE it was one of the first with the auto shutoff, she is always willing and able. Since I decided to up grade in 2000 with the Professional Rowenta I have had 5 irons!!!I would love to spout off about each but it is too sad.
I am so happy you have had success with yours.
Jayne

The cheaper the iron, the better it works for me. My Rowenta is sitting on a shelf collecting dust.

This was interesting reading about irons. I have never paid more than $10 for an iron. I made drapes for 35 years, and the only time I bought a new iron is when I knew I would be working on something white. I always used distilled water and the irons lasted a long time. I retired 10 years ago and I'm still using my old Black and Decker. Now I'm using it for quilting. The poor old thing cost me a mere 9 bucks. The only thing I wished it had is automatic shutoff.

I just don't take good care of my iron. Rowenta said specifically not to use distilled water, which seemed odd even at the time. My Shark said also it wasn't necessary to use distilled water, but to empty it out after each use over the sink. Maybe the simple care more experienced ironers take for granted eluded me! I've lost a couple of irons by leaving them on the board to cool and my cats jump up on the board so the iron hits the floor.

I never ironed enough to really care about iron performance until I started quilting.

It is so true. I have used my iron all week, but when did it decide to spit out rusty water????? Not till I'm doing the final press on a completed block with WOW background.

beverly

Another site pointed out to empty your iron while it was hot, so the fading heat would dry the inside.

Yet a different site pointed out that you can avoid buying distilled water if you collect rainwater. Probably a few seconds from a gutter would do nicely.

You know, I have my great (great?) grandmother's iron. I use it for a door stop. It's very small, but it's a 7 pounder. The women in my family have big arms.

Has anyone ever heard of the VAPORSIMAC?
I bought mine in the 90's and it is still going strong. It has a super burst of steam. The water is not in the iron, but is in a reservoir connected by a feeder tube. A little awkward until you get it set up. Not something I would want to have to store, but I leave it out all the time in my sewing room.
I wonder if they are still in business?

I Googled Vaporsimac but got a 1988 recall on those due to fires. I couldn't find any still for sale, only steam floor cleaners.

I did the same thing and gor the same message. I called the number they gave and he said that they are out of business, but I think just the iron part is gone,because they do make other things.
This is the best iron I have ever used. The sole plate is made with some very different metal(not teflon)that has never stuck to anything, even when it should have! (hot iron on synthetics)
I will keep using it, but with a LOT more caution.