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From: toadusew
Date: 09-18-2006, 09:07 AM (1 of 18)
I just had to share this with you ladies because I was so thrilled that I got a good deal! My Rowenta started having problems--again...I love Rowentas, but they don't last long enough for the price you pay for them, in my opinion. At any rate, I had seen some Conair digital irons reviewed and decided to try one of them. I don't know too much about the different models, and I was mostly interested in the Crafter's Setting so I can override the Auto Off function. At any rate, hubby and I stopped at Sears on Saturday and found a Conair DPP3000 digital steam iron. We also found an extra wide ironing board, which I had been wanting as well. When we went to check out, we were shocked when my iron rang up at $29.88!!  (This iron regularly sold for $59.99.) We asked the young man if he had made a mistake, but nope, the iron was on sale. The ironing board cost $49.99 (it was marked down from $99.00!) Needless to say, we were both thrilled with "my" bargains! Even if this iron goes kaplooey on me in a few months, I won't complain because this was a great bargain! Now, my question to you ladies is this: do any of you have a Conair digital iron and if so, how do you like it? I'm interested in hearing the pros and cons of these irons. (I'm going to try mine out today! )
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User: toadusew
Member since: 01-08-2005 Total posts: 369 |
From: Sewhappie
Date: 09-18-2006, 10:04 AM (2 of 18)
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I have it and I love it. Mine has the headlight on it, and it does come in handy when working on dark colors. There was aposting on her a few months back reveiwng Irons. http://sew-whats-new.com/vb/showthread.php?t=17992 |
User: Sewhappie
Member since: 10-27-2001 Total posts: 1427 |
From: sweetpea1
Date: 09-18-2006, 11:27 AM (3 of 18)
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Toadusew, I don't have the Conair iron, but I did buy my first Rowenta last year right after Christmas. I got a wonderful deal on a $129.99 iron. Boy was I disappointed. I use my irons ALOT and was very excited to get my first Rowenta that everyone had raved about so much. Well, after 3 months of use, it started spitting water on my projects and not long after that the steam switch actually fell inside the iron slightly and now won't move at all. The iron heats up too hot, and if I'm not careful, scorches the projects. I had been using a cheap Black and Decker before that, and was much happier. I still have the Black and Decker and have switched back to it. Keep us posted on the Conair. I may just have to switch to that brand. SweetPea |
User: sweetpea1
Member since: 10-10-2005 Total posts: 56 |
From: lendube
Date: 09-18-2006, 12:38 PM (4 of 18)
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Thanks for the info. I too bought my first Rowenta about two years ago. I expected great things! (Not exactly sure what though.......) I find it no better than any old iron. I regret not getting a non-stick plate because I have a heck of a time keeping it clean. Not worth the $85.00 I paid for it but not ready to suck it up and buy a different iron. I'll keep the Conair in mind. Lennie |
User: lendube
Member since: 08-06-2006 Total posts: 1548 |
From: toadusew
Date: 09-18-2006, 01:21 PM (5 of 18)
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Thanks for posting that thread, Sewhappie! I knew I had read good things about the Conair somewhere, but couldn't remember where. And I couldn't remember the model number either. I still haven't gotten to use mine yet, but hope to do a little sewing later today and I'll be trying out that iron, too! I have been so disappointed with Rowenta irons--they are great irons when they work, but...they do tend to kick the bucket a little too soon in my opinion. And Rowenta has lousy customer service. My hubby e-mailed them and asked a question, but Rowenta chose to ignore him. I've had two Rowentas and loved them until they quit. Hubby said he didn't want me to buy another one, which is why we got the Conair. And for such a good price, too!
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User: toadusew
Member since: 01-08-2005 Total posts: 369 |
From: kmccrea
Date: 09-18-2006, 01:49 PM (6 of 18)
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I've had good luck with other Conair products. I don't have the iron, though. I do use Rowenta (bought an $80model) and it's not given me any trouble in the 3 years I've had it. That is until the cat snuck into my sewing room and knocked the iron off the board. Good thing it was not on! Eddy, the cat, survived but he lived in fear of his life for about an hour. I do have to mix the tap water with distilled water because our water is so hard. Instructions said not to use only distilled water. I went out and bought another Rowenta for about $80. I find I get better quality out of the mid-range priced products. Let me know how you like your Conair! Kate Katherine McCrea
Designer At Large |
User: kmccrea
Member since: 05-07-2006 Total posts: 173 
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From: MartySews
Date: 09-20-2006, 05:51 PM (7 of 18)
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I have had a Rowenta "press & sew" iron for over 5 years without a bit of trouble. I got it on sale for $49 at Hancock Fabrics. It's been knocked off the ironing board onto hardwood floors and goes with me to class. It has a titanium sole plate and gives a good amount of steam. I just use regular tap water and it does not spit or spew water on my projects. Guess that I have been lucky. I also have a Norelco iron for family ironing needs that I have had over 10 years. Again, no problems. Happy Stitching! Marty 
It takes one moment to change a life.
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User: MartySews
Member since: 02-23-2003 Total posts: 504 
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From: toadusew
Date: 09-21-2006, 06:17 PM (8 of 18)
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Well, ladies, I think I like my new iron! When I first tried to use it, I thought it was defective because it wasn't producing the burst of steam, but once I sort of pumped the button for the steam, it works fine. I'm still not 100% sure that it provides quite the same burst of steam that a good Rowenta does/can, but when pressing my projects, it tends to steam nicely. I also like the fact that it "talks" to me.  It tends to beep a lot, but that helps me focus on my pressing.
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User: toadusew
Member since: 01-08-2005 Total posts: 369 |
From: Corinna29
Date: 09-21-2006, 06:50 PM (9 of 18)
| Thanks for the report. I wish my iron had a crafter's setting. I got the auto off for safety reasons since my sewing room is in the basement, I didn't want to worry about whether or not I had turned off the iron. But I hate that it shuts off on my when I'm not done sewing & climbing behind the ironing board to unplug & replug to turn it on is a pain. |
User: Corinna29
Member since: 07-30-2006 Total posts: 44 
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From: HeyJudee
Date: 09-21-2006, 07:15 PM (10 of 18)
Corinna, it sounds like you need to get a powerbar with an on/off switch. You could mount the powerbar in a more convenient location so you could just turn off/on the button on the bar. 
TTFN from
Judy |
User: HeyJudee
Member since: 01-25-2005 Total posts: 1366 
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From: DorothyL
Date: 09-21-2006, 11:05 PM (11 of 18)
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Corinna, Yours doesn't come back on when you put it down flat and move it around? All mine have always come back on that way. Well, except one that I had to kinda shake the living $#!^ out of. Dorothy |
User: DorothyL
Member since: 12-09-2002 Total posts: 3883 |
From: Sewhappie
Date: 09-21-2006, 11:22 PM (12 of 18)
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Dorothy, Yes it does come back to life when moved. It goes in a sleep mode when not moving, and will keep beeping to remind you that it is still plugged in. Now if I over-ride it and put it in craft mode it will not beep. That's when I keep the headlight on, to remind me when I closr up shop to turn it off. AND the light has come in real handy on dark colored fabrics. I like the blast of steam that this one gives off just as well as the Rowenta's blast of steam. |
User: Sewhappie
Member since: 10-27-2001 Total posts: 1427 |
From: toadusew
Date: 09-23-2006, 08:53 AM (13 of 18)
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Sewhappie, I think you just answered a question for me here, but I do want some clarification, please. Both hubby and I have used my new iron--in my case, I had it on the Crafter's Setting while sewing and I did notice that if I had the iron down and not moving (like I did when applying some fusible interfacing to a project), the iron shut off, but the little screen had a message to move the iron in order to restart it. So this is normal, huh? Hubby was ironing a shirt and did not have the iron on Crafter's Setting, and he experienced the same thing. In both cases, just moving the iron a bit restarted everything. I guess this is the one feature on this particular iron that I'm not going to be too crazy about. It does put out steam, but in my case, I don't think the burst of steam is quite as strong as the Rowenta irons I have owned. I'm not going to do too much complaining since I got it for such a great price! 
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User: toadusew
Member since: 01-08-2005 Total posts: 369 |
From: Sewhappie
Date: 09-23-2006, 01:24 PM (14 of 18)
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It does go into a sleep mode when not moving, when in crafter setting it will stay in this mode until moved. I keep my headlight on when in this setting to remind me that it's on. With the regular setting it will sleep and beep and then turn off after so many minutes, I think it's 10 minutes but will have to check. As long as you use it while it is still beeping/talking to you it will wake up. I am still trying to figure out what the 1-2-3 dots are on some of the settings at the top of the LCD screen. The other thing I have noticed is that when you turn it on you have to wait before you can change it to a fabric setting as it will only let you go as high as what it is warmed up to. Linen is what I use to set interfacing and it works pretty good. I always use brown paper over the project to keep anything from sticking to the iron and keep it from scorching the fabric. Have you tried using the Burst of Steam to clean it yet, that might help you to get a better burst when ironing |
User: Sewhappie
Member since: 10-27-2001 Total posts: 1427 |
From: toadusew
Date: 09-25-2006, 08:57 AM (15 of 18)
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Thanks, Sewhappie! I sort of played with the self cleaning feature, but I think I'll try that today to see if I get a stronger burst of steam when using the iron. It did well with the fusible interfacing; I think I had iron set on wool or polyester and it did fine. I always use a press cloth to protect the iron when using the fusible type interfacing. |
User: toadusew
Member since: 01-08-2005 Total posts: 369 |
From: toadusew
Date: 09-27-2006, 08:25 AM (16 of 18)
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I tried using the self cleaning feature on my iron and I do believe it has made a difference in the burst of steam. I only used my iron for a few minutes yesterday, but it does seem that the burst of steam is stronger. Thanks for the suggestion, Sewhappie!
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User: toadusew
Member since: 01-08-2005 Total posts: 369 |
From: Sew-blessed
Date: 09-28-2006, 11:45 PM (17 of 18)
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In my experience with irons, I have had them spit out water and I learned that if I would wait until the light went off showing it had heated up then it wouldn't spit out the water as bad. I would love to have a Rowenta but can't afford the expense right now. I will just have to stick to the Wal mart specials!
*~~~~(**)~~~~*
Success in the making! Tina Wells http://www.clubcandles.com 256-997-0287 Soy Makes Scents! Enter my free candle drawing and WIN! http://www.tinawells.scent-team.com *~~~~(**)~~~~* |
User: Sew-blessed
Member since: 09-05-2006 Total posts: 16 |
From: Shai
Date: 09-30-2006, 11:27 PM (18 of 18)
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Oh my goodness. I'm using an ancient Black and Decker Iron which I inherited from my mom. I think she got it in the 70's and I don't think it had been used at all in the last 15 years. But, it seems to work great. It doesn't have any bells and whistles, but it does have steam and it doesn't spit. I had no idea until I read this thread that not spitting was a virtue needed for every good iron. Shai |
User: Shai
Member since: 09-05-2006 Total posts: 17 |
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