Speak to me of your iron.

[politicat]

I've had four irons die in the last couple years, and I'm frustrated. None were cheap, two lived until just past their warranty. None died of the exact same cause of death, but all four died of what I'd call poor production. Two were made in China, two in Germany. (I haven't found one made in the US.)

I admit I'm a heavy user -- I sew and I have an HE washing machine, so pre-washing yardage usually creases the fabric badly. I line-dry whenever possible (basically, if it's not snowing or below 15 degrees) but that only gets me 90% flat.

My mother's iron is older than I am, and heavy, but it works.

Please recommend yours, if you can.

[sinkingfeeling]

1. I think I have a Black & Decker that's probably 12 years or more in age. It doesn't always

'shoot' steam if the water level is low, but works great.

[KarenS]

2. My iron:

http://www.amazon.com/Panasonic-NI-WL600-Multi-Directional-Stainless-Soleplate/dp/B00440EEIG/ref=sr_1_1?s=home-garden&ie=UTF8&qid=1361890332&sr=1-1&keywords=Panasonic+NI-WL600+Cordless+Multi-Directional+Iron%2C+Stainless+Steel+Soleplate%2C+Silver%2FBlack

I am a quilt-maker. I love this iron.
It took just a little while to get used to setting it back in the cradle instead of standing it upright, but I like not dealing with a cord while ironing.

[SouthernLiberal]

3. I haven't ironed in several years

But when I last ironed, I was still using the Black & Decker iron I bought in...oh 1980-something. I don't much use the steam feature (my mom raised me as a 'spritzer' - I moisten the fabric to create steam). It is very heavy, and never gave me a moment's trouble.

Black & Decker bought GE's small appliance division back then. I bought the iron because it was the exact same model as my mom's GE iron, that she had used for years. And talk about heavy use - Mom had four kids, and she ironed the bed sheets!

I just checked Wikipedia, and I suspect that you cannot get an iron like this anymore. Black & Decker doesn't make the small appliances their name is on anymore. They are made by a company that used to be Salton, and are currently all made in China.