My "craft" iron was purchased used in 1966 and is still going strong. My "good" iron is about 10years old.

Lorchen wrote:

Lorchen ... the title of this thread had me think about all kind of things that could not be mentioned on a nice posting place... I don't have a gutter brain but for some reason this got my mind into the gutter.

As to irons I go through one a year... I get the heaviest I can find but since I live in a house with other people it ends up knock over regardless of where I set up my board. Who ever breaks my iron has to buy me a new one. ... never over $25 dollars. Right now my grandson owes me an iron since he painted mine with arylic paints... DON'T ASK.


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I think I will win because my iron (still have its original box) is dated 1961. It's a steam iron but I have never put water in it. I use it when I piece only because it gets insanely hot and also does a great job ironing damp fabric dry. She has a cloth cord that's in nearly new shape, but I always unplug from the wall just in case.....

I think you have most people beat on this one, Lorchen!
After a number of Rowenta's dying on me I bought the show special at HIQF, a Laura Star. I believe she is 9 hrs old. For the price she was worth it but she is heavy so I have a very light weight Shark iron that does just as good a job. It just doesn't hold as much water and shuts off too soon. Laura doesn't have auto shut off but she is a real trooper for all day sewing.

May it rest in peace!

One of my wedding gifts was a steam iron. That was in 1977. It survived a lot longer than my marriage. But today I dropped it. It 'exhaled' one single steamy breath and died - after 33 years of faithful and constant service.

So, how long have you had your steam iron? And do you have any suggestions about what I should buy next time I go shopping?

In the meantime my little travel iron has to work extra long hours.