how about a iron and board in one

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Laura Star Iron

The iron is imported to the US by an Australian company, marketed to the home sewing market. Tested one at a Martha Pullen sewing workshop about 4 years ago. It's a decent ironing system with a suction table to help dry the fabric and hold it in place and a steam generator iron that holds several litres of water. I don't think they're worth the price, though.
 
So far my Rowenta steam generator is doing just fine! I looked into one of those, but the place here that had one didn't seem to get it working right. And if you're gonna plunk down say $7500 or so for a new Viking SE, then the cost seems reasonable. Will also stick with my #1+ for now!
 
That is Laura Star from Switzerland and they are the same price over here in Germany and rest of Europe!
I know, they are pricy but this quality is, like MIELE, the Mercedes under the irons of this world!
I had one for years, got it used from somebody for much less, and can say: awesome!
It is a completely different feeling to do the ironing with it! And so fast!!!!!

Ralf
 
Have a commercial version of a vacuum ironing table that is portable (unit folds down and is on wheels), similar to the one shown in the link.

Purpose behind having a vaccum and or up-blowing is that it not only makes iroing/pressing easier, but gives professional laundry results, especially when using a steam boiler iron and doing lots of garments.

The vaccum function acts as an extra pair of hands in that it holds an item in place do it does not move about when being ironed. This helps cut down on those wrinkles formed when there is too much slack in the material being ironing without all that tugging and holding things taut. The vacuum also pulls the steam though the item being ironed for better penetration and smoother results. Finally use of the vacuum/blowing up, dries the item so to better set the results from ironing. This leads to less puckering, and re-wrinkling of ironed/pressed items.

Steam boiler/generator irons, produce vast amounts of steam, much more so than household irons, and what will happen is that moisture will "wet" the padding and ironing cover causing poor ironing results as whatever is ironed will also absorb this moisture. The heating part of many of these boards keeps the pad and cover dry to eliminate this problem.

Case in point, did several items last night using my steam boiler iron, but rather than drag out the vaccum table, used my vintage Proctor ironing table instead. After the first shirt one could feel water dripping down though the board, and when the board was finally put away after ironing wad finished, there was quite allot of water gushing down towards the floor. That moisture if not allowed to evaporate/dry will eventually cause metal ironing boards to rust and if painted, the paint will crack/peel so the metal beneath will rust. Also the padding is subject to mould/mildew from the trapped moisture.

For most of my ironing,especially things that should be crisp like linens and percales, drying ironing with a hot and heavy iron gives results up to my standard. However for sateens, broadcloths and other heavy smooth items, ironing with a steam generator iron is great, and coupled with the vacuum board gives, as one has said, commercial laundry quailty at home.

L.
 
I have the Laurastar Magic i-S5...

...and I love it. It was GBP699 a couple of years ago but performance-wise it is in a wholly different league from any other iron I've ever used. I wholly agree that it is a huge amount of money, but as they say, "quality is remembered long after price is forgotten":-)

I bought it after seeing a demonstration in a department store and taking in some of my hardest-to-iron shirts. After seeing it perform, it was a no-brainer for me.

The link takes you to a review I wrote of it for the Ciao UK consumer review website.

 
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