bee-vac
Well-known member
Hello all,
Was just curious to know if there are any of us in here that collect irons?
Was just curious to know if there are any of us in here that collect irons?
Irons...
- Thread starter bee-vac
- Start date
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super-sweeper
Well-known member
Me too!
I usually pick up nicer, shiny older ones here-and-there! A Sunbeam, Hamilton Beach, 2 G-E's and 2 General Mils (The same models, too!). But like Kenkart, I tend not to have just "One" of everything!
I usually pick up nicer, shiny older ones here-and-there! A Sunbeam, Hamilton Beach, 2 G-E's and 2 General Mils (The same models, too!). But like Kenkart, I tend not to have just "One" of everything!
thermokid
Well-known member
Collect Irons?
Yes I do I have about 10 irons. The funny thing is I don't even hardly ever Iron anything. I also collect Garden Sprinklers, Tea pots,and Candy dishes.
Yes I do I have about 10 irons. The funny thing is I don't even hardly ever Iron anything. I also collect Garden Sprinklers, Tea pots,and Candy dishes.
paulg
Well-known member
Sorta
I iron much of my clothing, but modern irons seem to have a quick mortality (China).
After buying new irons, treating them well and then having them fail for the wrong reasons, I gave up.
At estate sales I kept finding new-in-box irons from the 1970s and before. I've picked up a few new-in-box irons so I never have to buy a new iron again.
They were all cheap, all way under ten dollars each. They work great, are better suited to my hand than modern irons and last a long time. They're heavier and seem to give a better press.
So far I have:
GE Self-Clean 1975 (Daily-driver # 1)
Sunbeam Shot-Of-Steam 1975 (Daily-driver #2)
Hoover Steam/Spray in butterscotch color / 1960s
Sunbeam steam, 1970s.
Presto with pushbuttons. 1960s. (Don't use. Fun to look at but ungainly).
Grandma's 1950's GE dry iron
Grandma's 1940's American Beauty Dry Iron.
Mom's GE lightweight 1980's
GE Multi-Voltage travel iron / 1960's / I use it when I travel.
And one unacceptable iron:
I test every iron extensively for operations, electrical body leakage and general safety.
I bought one new-in-box Kenm@re Iron from 1957. It worked fine except for one thing. If you even barely touch the iron or ironing board, the iron will fall over. I have an uber-stable ironing board. This unit has great 1950's styling but I won't ever use it again.
And there you go...
I iron much of my clothing, but modern irons seem to have a quick mortality (China).
After buying new irons, treating them well and then having them fail for the wrong reasons, I gave up.
At estate sales I kept finding new-in-box irons from the 1970s and before. I've picked up a few new-in-box irons so I never have to buy a new iron again.
They were all cheap, all way under ten dollars each. They work great, are better suited to my hand than modern irons and last a long time. They're heavier and seem to give a better press.
So far I have:
GE Self-Clean 1975 (Daily-driver # 1)
Sunbeam Shot-Of-Steam 1975 (Daily-driver #2)
Hoover Steam/Spray in butterscotch color / 1960s
Sunbeam steam, 1970s.
Presto with pushbuttons. 1960s. (Don't use. Fun to look at but ungainly).
Grandma's 1950's GE dry iron
Grandma's 1940's American Beauty Dry Iron.
Mom's GE lightweight 1980's
GE Multi-Voltage travel iron / 1960's / I use it when I travel.
And one unacceptable iron:
I test every iron extensively for operations, electrical body leakage and general safety.
I bought one new-in-box Kenm@re Iron from 1957. It worked fine except for one thing. If you even barely touch the iron or ironing board, the iron will fall over. I have an uber-stable ironing board. This unit has great 1950's styling but I won't ever use it again.
And there you go...
Oddly, I have several, too
The "newest" one is a Black and Decker "Classic". 2 of them. I also have an abundance of HOOVER irons, and one Rowenta. Yikes!!
The "newest" one is a Black and Decker "Classic". 2 of them. I also have an abundance of HOOVER irons, and one Rowenta. Yikes!!
bee-vac
Well-known member
Irons!
I have a handful myself. I'm partial to the early boiler type, the really steam like no other.
I have a handful myself. I'm partial to the early boiler type, the really steam like no other.
bee-vac
Well-known member
Non stop steam
They take a little getting used to, but once you get the hang of it, look out!
They take a little getting used to, but once you get the hang of it, look out!
Here's the daily
driver.
driver.
My aunt bought a Rowenta
and HATED it. Mine was a gift. I've never used it.... yet.
and HATED it. Mine was a gift. I've never used it.... yet.
Anachronism
Well-known member
- Joined
- Feb 15, 2014
- Messages
- 110
I have a few IRON bottom GEs, and a GE Hotpoint which I use for installing veneer and bending light sections of wood in my cabinet shop. Aside from pressing seams & hems on upholstery work & draperies, they don't contact fabric----------
gsheen
Well-known member
If you looked in my linen closet their are about 7 that the cleaning lady has killed. But I do like the looks of older ones and would buy one if I found it
smow69
Well-known member
irons
these are my daily users but i have about 20 and also about 25 mixers 3 blenders 12 shampooers 50 or so vacuum cleaners, and an old wooden ironing board that was a wedding gift to my mom from my grandparents in 1947. i also have a metel one the wood is better hands down.
these are my daily users but i have about 20 and also about 25 mixers 3 blenders 12 shampooers 50 or so vacuum cleaners, and an old wooden ironing board that was a wedding gift to my mom from my grandparents in 1947. i also have a metel one the wood is better hands down.
smow69
Well-known member
pic 2 soul plate
soul plate on steam iron
soul plate on steam iron
smow69
Well-known member
pic dry iron
this is for quick uses
this is for quick uses
smow69
Well-known member
pic 4
does anyone know what to use to clean bottom of iron
does anyone know what to use to clean bottom of iron
danemodsandy
Well-known member
- Joined
- Mar 27, 2007
- Messages
- 1,701
Cleaning Soleplates:
There are three basic kinds of soleplates: Aluminum, stainless and non-stick.
Non-stick doesn't really require cleaning except for an occasional wipe with a damp cloth. Stainless and aluminum are the ones that require some effort.
Aluminum is the easier of the two - I've always cared for mine by giving the soleplate a good going-over with a Brillo or S.O.S. pad. After doing that, some of the pad's soap will have made its way into any steam holes in the soleplate, so good rinsing (and using the self-clean or shot-of-steam feature if the iron has it) is needed to get the soap out. A Brillo or S.O.S. pad can put a very smooth surface back onto a neglected soleplate.
After cleaning an aluminum soleplate, I always set the iron to a medium heat and use it to "iron" a piece of waxed paper. The wax coats the soleplate and makes the iron glide very smoothly.
Stainless soleplates should never get Brillo or S.O.S. pads. On those, I use a stainless cleaner called Cameo, which comes in a shaker can kind of like Comet Cleanser. It will be somewhere near the other cleansers in a good grocery store. Walmart's grocery section has it in the cleaning supplies aisle. Sprinkle some on a damp sponge and rub the soleplate with it.
Again, thorough rinsing is needed after using Cameo. Do not use the waxed paper trick on stainless soleplates; they're very highly polished and it should not be needed.
A well-maintained soleplate adds a lot to the pleasure of using a good iron. And it makes a cheap iron much easier to live with!
There are three basic kinds of soleplates: Aluminum, stainless and non-stick.
Non-stick doesn't really require cleaning except for an occasional wipe with a damp cloth. Stainless and aluminum are the ones that require some effort.
Aluminum is the easier of the two - I've always cared for mine by giving the soleplate a good going-over with a Brillo or S.O.S. pad. After doing that, some of the pad's soap will have made its way into any steam holes in the soleplate, so good rinsing (and using the self-clean or shot-of-steam feature if the iron has it) is needed to get the soap out. A Brillo or S.O.S. pad can put a very smooth surface back onto a neglected soleplate.
After cleaning an aluminum soleplate, I always set the iron to a medium heat and use it to "iron" a piece of waxed paper. The wax coats the soleplate and makes the iron glide very smoothly.
Stainless soleplates should never get Brillo or S.O.S. pads. On those, I use a stainless cleaner called Cameo, which comes in a shaker can kind of like Comet Cleanser. It will be somewhere near the other cleansers in a good grocery store. Walmart's grocery section has it in the cleaning supplies aisle. Sprinkle some on a damp sponge and rub the soleplate with it.
Again, thorough rinsing is needed after using Cameo. Do not use the waxed paper trick on stainless soleplates; they're very highly polished and it should not be needed.
A well-maintained soleplate adds a lot to the pleasure of using a good iron. And it makes a cheap iron much easier to live with!
paulg
Well-known member
Faultless Hot Iron Cleaner
I use Faultless Hot Iron Cleaner religiously to clean crud off of soleplates. It works great. Keep a window open as it does smoke up a bit. Get a bunch of old rags to wipe the soleplate clean.
I have run into soleplates that don't clean-up. In one case I went to a local small-appliance shop who advertised soleplate buffing. (It was a few years ago...) They had what seemed to be be a really big cottony buffing wheel on a motor. He buffed the soleplate out til it shone. There was some cleaning substance on the wheel but I never did find out what it was.
I use Faultless Hot Iron Cleaner religiously to clean crud off of soleplates. It works great. Keep a window open as it does smoke up a bit. Get a bunch of old rags to wipe the soleplate clean.
I have run into soleplates that don't clean-up. In one case I went to a local small-appliance shop who advertised soleplate buffing. (It was a few years ago...) They had what seemed to be be a really big cottony buffing wheel on a motor. He buffed the soleplate out til it shone. There was some cleaning substance on the wheel but I never did find out what it was.
