Lucy Boston

Sunday, May 31, 2015

there were crackling noises and smoke!

The grandkiddos are back to their own beds 
since their parents are home.
It was a fun 10 days.  Tiring, but so much fun.
After they left, I started the laundry,
and then went 
directly to my sewing room!
The gentle hum of the sewing machine equals relaxation...Yay!

My sewing routine is to:
  • plug in the iron when going around the end of the sewing desk to sit down at the sewing machine.
  • plug in my sewing machine and turn it on
  • turn on the desk light 
  • turn the radio or TV. 
Iron, check.  Machine, check.  Light, check.  Radio or TV, check. 

Reverse order when leaving the room for the day.
  • radio or TV off, check.  
  • desk light, check.  
  • sewing machine unplugged, check.  
  • iron unplugged, check.
I always unplug the machine, as we have power surges frequently and I'd rather not power surge the electronics in my sewing machine.

I don't know why I always unplug the iron, but I do.

Do any of you regularly unplug when leaving your sewing area, or is it just me?

So anyway, after 10 days of NO SEWING OR QUILTING,
I've entered my sewing domain, plugged in,
gotten comfy, and breathed a sigh of  relief.  'ahhh'

And then there were crackling noises and smoke!
Yes, my iron is outside on the stone-paving courtyard.
Though it's no longer smoking or crackling in this picture.

I am so glad I was right there beside it 
when I first heard the crackling noise
and saw the smoke start rolling out of it!
I grabbed it, unplugged it
and ran like a CraZy persoN
from the sewing room,
down the hall,
through the great room,
through the kitchen,
through the sunroom,
and out the back door to the stone covered area.
That is NOT the first favorite little iron that's done this though...
I had the exact iron before and it did the same thing!
So the first time this happened, 
I smelled the smoke, then heard a faint crackle.
I looked around, not knowing where it was coming from.
And I did the same 
run through the house/crazy person routine then, too.
This first iron was only a couple of weeks old when it happened.
So I took it back to the store where I had purchased it and warned them of the hazard.  They gladly replaced it for me.  I thought it was just a fluke, not a flaw in the manufacturing.

This second, replacement iron I've not used much.  Maybe only a handful of times.
But it will be going back to the store also.  
And I guess I should probably try to find a new favorite iron.
Or as least another same iron but from a different manufacturing batch!

My question to you, is:
Do any of you have a favorite, small, pressing iron to recommend?
I'd like it small, point-y, and lightweight.  
I don't use steam, don't want auto-timer shut off, and want it to get HOT.
Oh, and I'd like it to have a long cord.
Don't ask for much, do I? :)

Now I'm going back to the sewing room to settle in again.
And try to relax.  With some fabric piecing and the gentle hum of sewing.
Without the crackling noises and smoke.
And think about getting a new iron.

9 comments:

  1. Oh no--poor you!!
    This one was also my favorite iron--
    but it has a sad ending too--
    the handle snapped on me--my bother did fix it for me and I got some more use out of it--but then that came undone--
    so decided I was going to get me a new one--
    but--now maybe I better look around for a different make and model--
    Smiles

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  2. I use vintage flat irons, no steam. I do have a steam iron that I pull out on occasion, but, they tend to spit at times, no matter how often you empty out the water.

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  3. I am glad you were there to save you sewing room.... scary......

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  4. Scary iron that you have been using! I do not unplug my iron or sewing machine. I do have them plugged into a surge protector. I flip a switch when I want power to those items and flip it off when done. Have never had a problem. I do not have an iron to recommend.

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  5. Well, we can laugh about it now (I mean the vision of you running like a crazy person through the house) but I'll bet it took you a minute to settle. I wish I had a "perfect iron" solution for you, but the truth is I think that is every quilter's quest in life, to find the perfect iron. It seems I have tried them all. I received a $200 iron as a gift once that was the worst iron I ever had, I hate the auto shut off. My favorite for heat was my old heavy duty GE with a stainless sole. They still make them but the edges of the steam holes are too sharp for piecing and even when I filed them down they kept catching on my blocks - argh. So now I use an $11.00 Black and Decker no fuss iron. When I realized I liked it, I bought another for a reserve. That was 2 years ago and I haven't had to use it yet. It doesn't get as hot as I would like, but it is as good as any I have tried. I don't use steam either so maybe that is why it has lasted so long. Good luck in your quest!

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  6. I had the same experience with the same iron, the only thing was that mine was actually just plugged in and I went to put it down to iron something and it just caught on fire and burned a hole right in my ironing pad. It was only plugged in for maybe 15 to 30 seconds, I could not believe that happened so fast I did return it to the company and they sent me a full-size iron and said that the small iron was not to be used for quilting just for traveling. I do have another small one and I won't be using that one for anything either. It is a very scary experience

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  7. I have not had this iron, but I had a large Sharp iron that suddenly heated up extremely hot and then burnt out. I noticed it because I was pressing some piecing and the iron scorched the pieces. I threw away the pieces and the iron. I had had the iron for several years. At that time, I asked about irons on my blog. I've had and returned Rowentas that leak water, etc. Some people said they never use steam and it seems to help the longevity. I have to use steam--I feel that new irons don't get as hot and so the steam is needed to really get a good press. Then I was in a antique shop and found my first working, vintage iron. Now I search for them and have 3--a full-size and two small travel irons. They get hot enough that I don't need steam, although I keep a spray bottle nearby.

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  8. I have the exact same iron as you and the same exact thing happened to me. I wonder if it has something to do with never putting water in the iron or it is just poor design. I had mine replaced, but I worry it will happen again. I have an old Sunbeam travel iron I got at least 15+ years ago. She is great, but does not have that nice pointy tip I like for pressing same areas.

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