Best Ironing Board?

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mrb627

mrb627

Well-known member
Joined
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Location
Buford, GA
Okay. I am ready to start my research on what is new and exciting in the world of ironing boards. If you have an ironing board that you think is awesome, let's hear about it. Hate it? Post that information too!

Would like to order a Laura-Star, but the service network in the USA is almost extinct. No dealers to be had either.

Seems there is also a 'Monster' version of the LS, but seems to be much the same quandaries.

Lastly, there is a Reliable Vacuum Board C81 or C88 that interests me as well.

What are your thoughts on ironing?

Malcolm
 
My sister, who irons much more than I do, has one of these and swears by it. It's wider than a regular, inexpensive board. And yes, she sets the hot, steaming iron face down on the holder--which I think is freaky--but that's what it's made for, I guess.

I was taught, back in the 1970s, to iron shirts on the wide end of the board, which I do to this day. My board is a super-cheapie purchased at Ace Hardware. I don't know the brand and certainly wouldn't recommend it to someone wanting to step up to a better board.

http://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B0...=B004X16KLK&linkCode=as2&tag=theboardguide-20
frigilux++4-29-2014-13-12-40.jpg
 
Dont buy

A new one...they are all flimsy! Mine is a 50s Proctor and I wouldnt trade it for anything..its as sturdy as a rock...my Aunt is using the Sears Maid of Honor she got when she and my Uncle married.....in August of 1947!!!
 
mine is

A 50's Mary Proctor with matching MP cord minder in aqua
also have my grandmas from the 40's but its a little to short for me
and a HEAVY old GE iron
 
 

Malcolm Lara Stars ROCKS. !

The company are there,every home show every year I attended.

Cheaper priceing when there promoting.

But one or two passes each way your done !

Shirts ,paints, huge resevior,nice looking.

Cant be Beat.

As for a hand ironing system.

That is one ironing system...

on the top of my list for me.

Good luck I hope to see what you get.

 

Darren k

[this post was last edited: 4/29/2014-20:39]
 
I've got a beefier version of the one Frigilux posted.  It's got square tubing for legs with strategic crimps to increase strength and stability.  It also has a spring mounted cord holder that lifts the cord up about 20" and I adjust the cord so the iron just reaches the tip of the board. It also has a plate to rest the iron on - the plate holds it at an angle so the steam isn't triggered.  It's wide and has a nice rack underneath to hold freshly iron items.   Had it about 10 years, it was from a Martha Stewart collection, she called it a tailor's ironing board.  Also it is adjustable in height, a real plus since I'm 6'4" and used to get a back ache ironing on a too low board.
 
Ironing Board

Malcolm, for $2K it should do the ironing for you, hang up the clothes, and put them in the closet.

I use a Rowena steam generator, the one made in Germany - not the China model. I love it! I also purchased two for the Estate I manage in Palm Beach and the housekeepers love them.

For an ironing board I use a Reliable ironing table with the extension for sheets and tablecloths. It is excellent.

Richard
 
First Question Is How Much Ironing Do You Plan On Doing

Along with what sort of items?

Mainly shirts and trousers? Linens?

If you mainly do a few things per week then I'd look for a vintage ironing board from any thrift, garage sale, Craigslist, etc... and call things a day. Lady Seymour, Mary Proctor, Magla, Rid-Jid are all good brands.

Have a vintage Mary Proctor "flip top" board that one thought for years was the bee's knees until I nabbed a Rid Jid off fleaPay. Just loveeeee dat Rid Jid.

It is heavy, stable, adjusts with finger tip control to various heights. Even is designed with room for one's knees and legs should you wish to iron sitting down.

The Mary Proctor "flip" ironing board shines because it is basically a long rectangle. Great for doing linens and you can flip one end down to create a point when doing shirts, blouses and other items. Though find such things go faster with a "square" end as it is.

Vacuum ironing boards are good if you are using steam generator or boiler ironing systems. Otherwise don't really often see the point. Since I dry iron damp linens my Hi-Steam vacuum ironing board sees very little use.
 
Ummmm.

I, too, iron using the square end for shirts. It does make things go faster and neater.

For years I worked with an enamel board purchased from Rickel's (any Jersey fans will remember them!). It finally rusted to the point where the oxydation worked its way through the pad and cover. I wash my cover every month or so.

While I was working at THD we had a sale on flow-thru grid boards one week. I bought one and it's here with me in SoFlo. It's name-unknown but I'm very happy with it.

P.S. I iron most everything. I gave up on towels and sheets a couple of years ago, but still do pillowcases. My mom's motto: If you can see it, you iron it!
 
Steam ironing

When I do iron, there is so much steam that I can only do about 6 items before I have to dry the board/pad. So a vacuum board would be preferred. The Reliable brand is probably my best choice!

Malcolm
 
I love

my Leifheit Airboard Fusion XL. It is very sturdy without being overly heavy and does not wobble or rock. It has an extra wide board, which I love for linens, skirts and sewing. The height adjusts smoothly and easily. I am fairly tall, and I like how it seems to be higher than most other boards at it's tallest setting.
 
 I guess I'm lucky that I won't ever need to buy an ironing board.  My parents house, paternal grandparents house, and mine all have ironing boards that fold up into the wall.  The only problem with ours is that at one time it was also used as a dining table.  It has a another section underneath with hinged sides that fold out to create the table.  This makes it very low to the point that I have to sit down to use it comfortably.  That bottom section does come in handy however when baking and needing extra cooling space for cookies, turkeys etc. 
 
Arvin 87T37

Here is a pix of our Arvin 87T37. 1950's vintage.
The sturdiest ironing board I've ever encountered.
Visit your local ARVIN dealer and pick one up! Easy terms available.
Also shown is the Sunbeam Shot-Of-Steam daily driver.

paulg++4-30-2014-13-31-20.jpg
 
Is Brabantia products available in your area?

I have the largest one they make and its superb I get through a cover about 2x a year but any with a drawstring works it holds the iron at a easily grabable angle and is made for steam generator irons its a over 10 years old now but still in one piece..

Austin

I believe Minky make one of a similar size too
 
Malcolm:

"I can only do about 6 items before I have to dry the board/pad."

Part of that has to do with the mega-humid climate in Georgia. I'm a heavy steam user, too, and I well remember having to stop and change cover and pad periodically.

Since moving to the Midwest, I don't have nearly the problem I used to.

I know - moving 1100 miles North was kind of a drastic solution. But it worked for me. :)
 
MattL:

The humidity in Georgia - which I lived with most of my life - is Not. To. Be. Believed. 100% humidity is pretty normal for most of the warm months.

I always used a vented board, and still, I'd have to stop and change pad and cover. The routine was, iron a while until the cover and pad got wet. Change pad and cover. Throw the wet ones in the dryer. Iron some more, until the second cover and pad got wet. By that time, the first ones were dry, so you'd change again. Lather, rinse, repeat.

And curse.

I get very amused with my Midwestern friends who always say, "We have humidity too," when the subject comes up. Uh, the Midwest has humidity like the Deep South has snow - yeah, it's there, but it's not the ruling fact of life it can be in Georgia. I explain it to my Iowa friends thus: "You know how Winter snow and ice hangs around for four or five months and you get to thinking it will never go away?" They nod. "Well, humidity in Georgia is about like that."

A couple of people I've had that discussion with have moved away from here, but never to Georgia. :)
 
Humidity

Isn't really an issue for me as I keep the house very well air conditioned.
I think it is the sheer amount of steam generated by my iron.
The steam will actually go all the way through the board.

Malcolm
 
Being as all this may, IMHO best to stick with separate vacuum ironing board and steam iron rather than combo units.

Say this because as with all combined units sooner or later one part will fail while the other remains in working order If the steam iron portion of a ironing system fails what do you do then? With separate units if one goes it can be replaced while the other remains in use.

Also when it comes to vacuum boards decide if you want one that only pulls air down or something that blows up as well.

Ironing items on a cushion of air (blowing up) has long been used in commercial laundries/dry cleaners for dealing with delicate and dark fabrics. It allows one to iron say a black shirt without leaving shine marks on seams and other areas.
 
Want to say at least since the 1990's or maybe slightly before. Pfaff and Euro-Pro sold various models on both sides of the pond with LauraStar being a relative new arrival by that score.

Demand and early market was geared towards not only those who did lots of ironing but home seamstresses/sewers that wanted to step up from home irons and ironing boards to what professionals used.

As mentioned upthread vacuum/blowing ironing boards had long been used in commercial laundries and by tailors/seamstresses, costume shops, etc... Many who did such things for a profession wanted the same equipment for home use. Also those who worked at home and or owned a small sewing/tailor business wanted the benefits of a steam boiler ironing system with a vacuum board but couldn't afford commercial or even quasi commercial equipment.

Enter Pfaff and EuroPro!



http://www.fashion-incubator.com/archive/review-boiler-iron-vacuum-ironing-board/
 
Favorite Ironing Board

Malcom! I have a steam generator Iron that my dry cleaner ordered for me and I love it. I wish I had the board with the vacuum like the ones we used in the alterations department of Iveys and Belks (when they had an alterations dept!) But instead, my dry cleaner here in atlanta suggested a contraption of an old vacuum cleaner, rigged up board box screwed to the bottom of the ironing board….LOL and NOT doing that! But I did a lot of research on the iron before I bought it and likewise on the board. Like so many on this post, was tired of wobbly and unstable boards (my mothers turquoise wedding present in particular) so I set my cap for a "modern" version. Unable to afford the one off the rack, I looked at my store (salvation army) and finally found one for 12.99. No vacuum board, but the cord minder, hide-a-way sleeve board and extra wide table. What a difference!! But my favorite ironing item is my model 95 Ironrite rotary ironer. I iron sheets, pillowcases and shirts like they came from a professional laundry. If you are an ironing fiend, I would definitely consider one.I think the board is by Rowenta.
 
@ PaulG

You iron in the baffroom?  I always do it in the kitchen with the oldies playing on the radio.  I had a Sunbeam Shot O'Steam Iron which was ruined by following the advice of the manufacturer (and some guests on here) and using tap water.  WRONG!  After my Sunbeam corroded-out, I got a cheapo Everstar from the THD that I worked at for ten bucks.  Steams like crazy!  My only complaint was having to re-fill often with DISTILLED water.  My daily driver now is my OL's Proctor-Silex "Steam Master" that she barely used before she passed in 2010.  Great little worker, no spitting thanks to proper use and filling.

 

I still pull out my General Mills "Tru-Heat" Dry Iron once in awhile when I'm expecting guestississ and want to have hand/bath towels put out with no "marks" on them.  It's worked fine since 1947.  Foo.

 
 
I've had a Brabantia for about ten years now. Best ironing board I've ever used. It's very sturdy has lots of vents on the surface. The pad is very absorbent and doesn't hold moisture. I'm a sewer, so that's important. It's great for pressing yardage because of its 18" width. They still make the model too.
I also have a Bernina steam generator and separate vacuum suction board. It's a great ironing board to use, the vacuum does help to dry the fabric. Its great for natural fibres. I just don't have the room to leave it up all the time or I would use it more. If you're having trouble with humidity I would recommend a vacuum board as well. I would be interested in selling mine. It's not been used much.

aamassther++5-1-2014-10-26-25.jpg
 

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