Something New Has Been Added!

[launderess]

"How well do rotary irons work?"

Well hopefully much better than this! *LOL* (joking)



Seriously folks, many persons on both sides of the pond love rotary ironers. They are still somewhat big in Germany where you can often find coin operated versions in laundromats.

Persons who do much entertaining and or like having mounds of freshly ironed linens without the expenase of hiring a private laundress or laundry service use ironers. Just ask Martha Stewart: http://www.themarthablog.com/2013/12/

Ms. Stewart purchased Skylands not only with all that vintage laundry equipment but complete with room or rooms full of vintage linens from the previous owners. The place once was Edsel Ford's but cannot recall if that family sold it to MS or someone else stepped in befroe her and they off loaded the estate.

You find Miele and other ironers in small dry cleaners/laundries, B&B's, guest homes, and even smaller rest,senior, disabled and other sort of care homes. Again any place that generates large amounts of linen.

Places often spring for the Miele because it is the only ironer still sold in the USA for domestic use. Unless one is handy and can source parts Ironrite units can be a blessing or a curse. At least in theory Miele ironers are easily serviced.

 

[jkbff]

I didn't see the winking prong

I wished I could get a 50hz miele washer over here to work

 

[launderess]

I didn't see the winking prong

Here ya go:

As for owning a 50hz Miele washer or even dryer don't see really the point. Well yes, for some of the vintage European washers or dryers it would be fun to have them here but quite frankly there isn't *that* much of a difference between modern offerings. European units do have perhaps more bells and whistles and perhaps larger range of models on offer, but other than that the 3000 series washers aren't that bad.

One thing one would grab in a New York minute would be a top loading H-Axis washer from any European brand. Miele does sell them outside of Europe for marine applications (yachts and so forth), but those dealers won't sell to just anyone.

 

[jkbff]

So with the US 120v w3038, you'd be happy with the heater performance for boil-washes etc?

What about the little giants? If you had a choice to get either, how would you choose one over the other?

If I got the little giants as our display requirement, my profile pair would go to mom and I'd use the little giants. I only have one 240 outlet in my laundry space (the little giants can be linked together, right?). If I got the w3038, I'd keep my profile pair. I am not sure I want to use the condensing dryer, but the reps do say its the best on the market and offers near vented performance....

I will say after having the capacity that my profile pair has, I don't wash near enough to fill the tub, and if I fill the tub, it doesn't seem to clean as well.

Anyways, sorry to hijack your thread, but who could ask for a better US Miele person!!! LOL

 

[foraloysius]

Congratulations on the new purchase. You made me curious about Pfaff ironers, but it looks like Pfaff doesn't make them anymore. I guess they too go the way of the heavy duty steam iron systems like Laura Star and the Miele steam ironing system. The video you shared (not the one with Jon ironing... least said, soonest mended...) on the Pfaff site, but not the product itself anymore. The links to the models you showed are refurbished models. Great for someone who likes these Pfaff machines. If I would machine iron more I think I would like a 560 with steam.

The video shows the advantage of having the iron plate on the bottom, it's the first time I'm impressed by that design. A machine with the plate on top could never touch up a woolen sweater.

I have two ironers with the iron plate on top, an old Bosch and an old AEG. The AEG doesn't heat up enough, looks like the thermostats have gone bad because they didn't turn them back to zero after using the ironer. My advice is to turn them back after use on every rotary ironer that has the wind up thermostats.

I don't use the AEG anymore at all due to this defect. It's a pity because that is definitely a better design than the Bosch because the AEG has a totally free roller because of the one central arm for the iron plate. The Bosch doesn't get much use either, I don't like to iron shirts on it, a steam iron definitely does a better job and with good quality percal bed linens there is hardly any need to iron them. I just put them in the dryer for a short while to get the creases out and then hang them up. No trouble of ironing king sized duvet covers on a 65 cm wide ironer.

BTW, the first digits of your Pfaff ironer is the width in centimeters, so it's 65 centimeters wide, a standard size for all smaller rotary ironers (apart from the table top models). For the wider models 85cm was the standard size.

BTW Miele washers: I guess it will not take long before the W3038 will be replaced by a newer model based on the W1 series that we get on the EU market now.

 

[launderess]

Quite Honestly Haven't Used "Boil Wash" Temps

In either washer that often, just don't see the need. About 140F is high as one normally goes with the occasional higher temperature when required. Only then for laundering things that have been in contact with a very ill person or some such.

IIRC Miele's "Little Giants" run on some funky voltage requirements.
http://ths.gardenweb.com/discussions/2440420/miele-professional-little-giant

For all that neither the washer nor dryer have a larger capacity than the Miele 3000 series washers and matching dryers. All you get with the "Little Giants" IIRC is more robust construction and so forth to withstand commercial/heavy usage. This translates into a greater range of duty cycles. In fact one *thinks* Little Giants are the washers fitted with a coin box in Europe for Laundromat or such service.

 

[jkbff]

So, for someone wanting to learn the product hands on and wanting to fall in love with selling the product, would you recommend the w3038?

I mean would there be any downside to buying the washer, if anything, just to have it? Would you buy the condensing dryer to try it out and learn the nuances?

As the commitment moved up, Miele's rotary iron would be the next acquisition.

Until house prices come down in the Bakken area, I guess I'll just have to live in an apartment equipped with Miele appliances! ;-)

(Besides, how's a boy to step people up from that $1600 lg pair purchase to that $3800 Miele purchase that is considerably smaller than the LGs without having first hand experience?)

 

[foraloysius]

I never do boil washes because the elastics of my tighty whities can't handle that. But I do whites almost all the time on 70 degrees Celcius, which IMHO gives a whiter result than on 60 degrees. The 70 degrees Celcius is the same temperature as used for the Sanitize cycle of the W3038. BTW, what's the max. temperature on the LG?

 

[jkbff]

I've been bugging my rep for nearly a year about when a W1 based machine was going to come about, but they said they weren't re-working their designs to appease the requirements for the American market...

Then again, he did say he wasn't sure we'd see a gen 6 based dishwasher either...

I didn't see the replies about how well rotary irons work, for some reason my tablet was having issues last night. That and I was a bit tired. But, I think if I *had* to purchase the Miele rotary, I could find uses. Plus it'd give me a reason to order Linen or Pima cotton sheets. I'd actually be able to iron them. :-D

Mom came into the store the other day to look at the vintage wringers we have on the floor. She made an off-handed comment when I was showing her the Miele Product guide... "Hmm, I don't think I'd like that thing [the iron], just like I'm scared of the wringers now: At my age, I'd probably get my knockers bound up in them!"

The dangers of doing laundry.... Given how his shirt kept taking off on him, I could see it!

 

[jkbff]

LG's, I think, are 158 f max.

 

[foraloysius]

158 degrees Fahrenheit = 70 degrees Celcius. You can get whiter than whites with the LG I'm sure.

 

[launderess]

Quality of Miele or other rotary ironer work

Will depend upon the design but also skill of the operator.

Miele ironers produce good to excellent results. There are a few videos from "Wash Ins' of members using one.

Unless you are paying for total hand laundry all flatwork goes through ironers. Someone who knows what to look for can tell the difference, but a large majority of the population cannot. The fact things are smooth and crisp is fine enough for them even if there are a few "cat whiskers" ironed in. LOL

 

[chestermikeuk]

Ironers

Congratulations on another classic Pfaff ironer, one will be able to launder and press for the best of Manhattens finest tables!! The Pfaff looks to be a sturdy machine, have used a few here such as Morphy Richards and Tricity Bendix which are table top models with foot control, but by far the best for all types of "Household" fabrics is the Miele models with Top Heater, I find these work best with a large selection of modern fabrics because lighter delicate fabrics are not placed on the heater iron like Pfaff or Ironrite...

 

[chestermikeuk]

Miele B990

Heres the Miele being taken for a "Maytag Pressing"... and the link to a few more detailed shots...

http://https//www.flickr.com/photos/chestermikeuk/albums/72157658357251406

 

[launderess]

Have done shirts on my Ironrite 890 Portable

So must say providing one knows what one is doing (again, not Jon's example above, *LOL*) doing up shirts on an Ironrite is rather simple and gives good results.

The thing truly is or was designed to iron many things including shirts very well. In fact for my small 890 the shoe is just about the width of back man's shirt. So doing up to the yoke is rather simple. If things are done correctly any pleats are correctly aligned and done as well.

@Louis; No, Pfaff does not make ironers anymore, at least don't think so. Cannot figure out if the Singer/Pfaff 560 is or is not still in production. Again Pfaff has been sold and bought so many times over the years between German, Asian then back to German and then Asian who knows... https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Pfaff

Do know those who love Pfaff sewing machines could have sat down and cried when Pfaff Germany was sold to Asia. From what one understands large refuse bins were brought on site to factories/plants/offices in Europe where parts, manuals, etc... everything was simply thrown away to go to crusher. Some Pfaff workers did what they could to save things but so much was simply destroyed.

This is one of the mains reasons why parts for many older Pfaff sewing machines (such as the 1200, 1400, 1300 etc....) machines are very difficult to find. Other than what some repair servicemen or others had in their own supply that pretty much was that. Many who love their early model electronic Pfaff machines such as the 1400 series find they are out of luck should a main part such as the motherboard go; there just aren't NOS replacements to be found.

Ironers, now that is a different story. All over Europe you only have to plug into eBay, CL or similar places and find scores if not hundreds of ironers from all vintages. Not so much perhaps in the UK, but Germany, France, Sweden, etc... are happy hunting grounds. In fact am almost certain the company linked above (Mangelwaren) travels around Germany/Europe and purchases ironers to clean up, mark up and sell on.

Thing to remember about ironers sold in the USA today and probably elsewhere for domestic use is that like hand irons their soleplate temperatures are lower than in past.

According to the service manual for my vintage Frigidaire the maximum setting (Linen) should cause the ironer shoe to reach >500F. In contrast reading through the service/technical guide for Miele 890 they only reach around lower to middle 400F.

Now depending upon how much or what one irons this difference in maximum temperatures may not mean anything. However linen fabric in particular heavy weights requires and can take high heat. It can be difficult to do up linen properly otherwise.

Thing about Germany and some other parts of Europe is the ability to get 400v electrical service in one's home with no bother. That opens up a world of laundry equipment possibilities. From Miele professional washing machines to this ironer:

http://www.ebay.de/itm/ELECTROLUX-W...-gasbeheizt-/321833094829?hash=item4aeebf4ead

 

[jetcone]

Well!! I never !!

They (Jeffadephi & Gansky!), threw me onto that Ironrite like a virgin sacrifice! I knew nothing - a total innocent!!

 

That Paff 858 looks huge. Just measured the Ironrite at 25 inches. That Paff looks like it could handle queen sheets!!

 

 

[frigilux]

The video was great, Jon! "Shut up!" "Shut up!"

It was a valiant attempt and definitely drove the point home that ironers have a learning curve.

 

[launderess]

@jon

Sadly no, queen sheets are just a tad wider than the roll on my Pfaff 858 ironer. You either must do the center open, fold run through the not ironed sides or simply fold to fit.

To do queen and perhaps king sized sheets folded once you would need an ironer with a roll width of 46" or greater. Such ironers have not been sold for domestic use since Simplex and a few other brands stopped selling huge gas or electric heated ironers.

Something like this: http://www.ebay.com/itm/191xs-Simpl...ner-L-46-63-/161817192703?hash=item25ad0e68ff

In Europe you could get one of these uber sized Miele ironers:

 

[tolivac]

Remember when my Stepmom had a REAL Pfaff sewing machine she bought while she lived in Germany.Have the Sew&Vac guy looking for some of these-want one!!!Remember my Stepmoms worked so well!!And lifting it onto her sewing table--that thing was BUILT!!!My Stepmopm taught me some sewing on that machine-likewise my Mom taught me some sewing on her older Singer.Just know the very basiscs!I can sew two straight peices together-but not much beyond that.Since I collect vacuums-seems like a small collection of sewing machines would be appropriate.

 

[earthling177]

Launderess: Congratulations and enjoy it in good health, it looks like an awesome machine.

As for Jon Jetcone and the Ironrite, I'm more than happy to report that, more recently, when the cameras were on, Jon produced perfect results with Bill Geist's shirt.

Speaking of which, does anyone know when the segment with the wash-in will come up? I thought it was at the beginning of September but I may have missed something.

Cheers,
-- Paulo.