To those loyal readers of mine- you all know I adore quilting and have been a professional sewer since the time I could hold a needle and thread. One of the major criteria of a dynamic sewing project coming out top notch is the proper iron. I had gone through the anguish of two Rowenta models failing royally and decided to try using epinions member opinions and try this Black and Decker Quick and Easy model 380. I think the fact that my standards are a little tougher than the average consumer so those folks who are using this iron for professional usage should take note. I am not as enthralled as the masses, but overall this is a decent model.

The Positives.


1. The model itself is very light to work with. Many professional irons are a little bit hefty for long ironing projects. This particular model is very easy on the hands and would be suitable for general usage.

2. I like the set up for the steam. Instead of slide devices to set the steam controls, this Black and Decker iron has a nice dial control at the top. It is easy to use and self-explanatory. The dials range from 0 to 3 for dry usage, and 4 to 7 for extra steam.

3. There is a nice button for extra boost of steam, which allows you to get a little extra steam heat on those stubborn wrinkles. I recently bought a pair of cotton duck curtains, which is a very heavy weight fabric. I found the extra steam button took care of the wrinkles in the fabric very easily. This is a nice feature.

4. A button is also on the iron, which allows you to spray a thin stream of directed water. This may allow you to eliminate any spray water bottles you find you need while ironing.

5. I like the coating of Silverstone of the base plate. This allows a very smooth ironing surface and seems to work nicely. I do not see any rust buildup on the iron, and this is wonderful.

6. There is a cord stop on the end that should prevent the cord from useless tangles.

7. Tap water is fine to use for this model. I like this feature.

8. There is no auto shut down- I personally did not want this on my iron as many times when sewing I may need to leave the iron unattended for an hour and come back and like it to be red hot.

9. The price is very cheap. For a general usage iron I do not think you can beat the price. I found mine at Target for about twenty dollars. I have seen them in every housewares department so finding the model is quite easy.

The Negatives

1. The amount of ironing you get out of a fill up in the water reservoir is negligible. I found I needed to have a 2-cup water pitcher by the iron for fast refills. I think the company should have made the water retention a little bigger. This could be an issue for the people that have a lot of ironing to do at any one time. Personally-I hate ironing and save it all for one shot, so this is a problem for me.





2. I found the iron not as attractive as the current models. As an individual who is always looking at the ascetic side of life- to me this is an issue. I like to surround myself with beautiful objects and the design itself could use an update. The iron is rather dated looking.



For the person who is going to use this iron for quick touch ups and fast ironing, I would say that this is a decent model. For the professional sewer, I am still on the look out for the nirvana model. I will keep you posted.


Recommended: Yes