Have two (don't tell me anyone is surprised) garment presses. What did you want to know?
Have both an Elnapress and Spartan Press-O-Matic. Both are good and better than the current model steam press by Singer or EuroPro, and streets ahead of the various off the wall brands of steam presses.
Pressing is different than ironing in that one is not moving a hot sole plate over an item. The lack of friction is better for some items because it lessens the chances of fabric distortion and shine. Both pressing and ironing will smooth wrinkled items, but the difference is like making biscut dough. One can roll dough out nice and smooth, or one can press it down. Pressing will only flatten to a certian point, but will not acheive the smooth surface rolling will.
MOst modern steam presses including those made by Singer are almost one step up from highland cattle. Made in China, they might due for light duty work, but are not nearly has heavy or get as hot say as vintage presses or the Elna models. Note, Elnapresses were formally all Swiss made, this is no longer true with modern production shifted to Asia. Many prefer the older Swiss made Elna models to the newer Asian ones.
When it comes to pressing it is actually better to "press dry" rather than use a steam press for several reasons. One, unless the press has a vacuum system like commercial presses, the padding will soon get very wet. This means if doing lots of laundry, after awhile the padding will be so moist the ironing will not dry, causing a wrinkled crumpled look.
Steam presses like steam irons will sooner or later clog up with mineral gunk that can spew onto one's clean laundry.
Dry presses like those made by Elna,Spartan or vintage Hurley rely on moisture created by lightly spraying an item before lowering the press/clam shell. When the hot plate makes contact with the moist fabric, steam is created. Because this steam is dryer, hotter and not as moist as steam generated from low powered steam presses, the item is "pressed dry" and smooth. It will also stay smooth when dry.
My Elnapress is designed with a built in sleeve board, which makes doing shirts and other things easier. Still there is the one problem inherit to all presses, "lays".
Lays refers to moving and positioning items on the press "buck" or bottom padded surface. If one is pressing small items (items that are smaller in width and length of the press buck), things are pretty straight forward. One smooths the item out on the buck, applies moisture (if needed)and presses away. Larger items or things like shirts, pants, etc will have to be moved several times to press all parts. This can be a long and boring process.
Consider a long wide item like a bed sheet or large table cloth. If pressing on a small Singer press, one would have to fold the item several times so it will fit the width of the buck. Fold the item again into folds, and place at the back of the press. One irons by bringing sections forward bit by bit and pressing. Move up, smooth, apply moisture (if non steam), smooth again if required, lower press head, wait, raise press head, move item, repeat until all sections are pressed.
Well you can see doing more than one or two items and it gets old very fast. That is why I have rotary ironers for large items.
Pressing does have it's place for things which one does not wish a shine or to distort as I said. Wool slacks/pants, jackets, jeans, certain silk items, ties, woolens, sweaters, embroideries, pressing while sewing, or after knitting an item, blocking and so on.
Launderess
