This is my first high end iron that I've paid more than $25 for. I've purchased dozens of steam irons in the past, and this is the first that didn't perform as it should right out of the box. The steam burst button only worked if the iron is in the upright position, which rendered my iron useless. The only way the steam burst functioned in the ironing position was if you pushed the button several times in the upright position, then it would work one time in the ironing position. On top of that, I have to prime the button 4-5 times for it to start producing steam. Once it's primed it's okay. It nearly doubled my ironing time over my $12 Black and Decker which has performed like it should the past 3 years. Against my better judgement I'm returning it for an exact replacement. If that one performs as I would expect from an $85 iron then I'll update this review. As always the return process is a breeze, but if I had to do it over again I'd strongly consider the Maytag or Chi iron, both come with better warranties and have great reviews, as this one did.
UPDATE
Received my new iron two days after initiating a return. As always Amazon really pulled through with customer service. The new iron functions as it should and I am pretty happy with the performance so far. The learning curve for me is how much faster I can go with this iron. A lot of people complain about the water reservoir emptying quickly due to the amount of steam this iron puts out, but I've got my technique down to where I can iron a badly wrinkled long sleeve in under a few minutes. Steam recovery and warm up time on the iron is excellent. I really like the analog controls over electronic buttons and digital controls, it's just less that can go wrong with this iron.
An iron is an iron right? Wrong! As a professional quilt maker and longarm quilter having an iron that is made well, works well for pressing large pieces of fabric as well as small seam allowances is important. I've used several kinds of irons from those $10 irons to $70 irons, so to jump up in price for "an iron" was a bit uncomfortable. With that being said it was worth it. I was surprised at how smoothly it ironed, I mean a stainless steal sole plate is a the same regardless, wrong! so even though it's heavier than a cheaper iron it takes less effort. An issue that I had with my previous iron is that when ironing a large piece of fabric it would shut off because of the "knock over" safety feature, this iron is sensitive enough to realize that it's still being moved around and didn't shut off while ironing a piece of fabric ( I tested a length of fabric that was about 2 1/2 yards), my other iron would've shut off. Next the steam. Yes my previous iron could put out the steam, but this one is different. it puts just the right amount of steam into the fabric. In the horizonal position I don't think there would be any issues steaming a hanging garment because this iron has plenty of steam. As long as this iron stands the test of time. It will be the only iron that I'll ever buy again.
Pros: Has lighted indicator that stops blinking when the temperature has been reached
"intelligent" steam control that only releases the right amount of steam for the temperature selected.
Incredibley smooth ironing with less effort
Forced steam is beyond impressive. You can sometimes feel it push up against the iron in the horizonal postion.
Heats up quickly
Irons large pieces of fabric without shutting off
Cons: It is hard to see the water level, but not impossible
Too sum it up: The iron is a great iron, worth the extra cost.
The first one I purchased was awful. It smelt like it was burning and then I had to scrub the plate with a soft cloth, not to mention the Clicking Noise I heard when the Iron was in Standby - Auto/Off mode, so I sent it back and got another one. I don't usually double order, usually if I'm not happy I change to another model number, but I do like the iron, and I'm happy I reordered the same model. The steam is amazing and though I can only iron one shirt at a time in Steam Mode, it's still an awesome Iron that heats up quickly and gets between button holes without any hassle. I think Rowena makes the best irons and this is probably one of the best I've tried. It glides across fabric, makes great seams in pants and makes shirt collars look professionally starched. I'm super happy with my purchase, which did entail a lot of help from Amazon Community Members, and I appreciate all help I received with my purchase. Thanks :-)
PS: My Ironing Boards seamstress cover was purchased on Amazon and it's great for measuring fabric, however, please use a towel over the cover when using any steam iron. Household Essentials Deluxe Ironing Board Pad and Cover, Sewing Guide Pattern
This iron works super great. Make sure you opt for a Rowenta made in Germany, not China, which has cheaper parts. I replaced a German-made Rowenta that I had had for almost nine years and had been dropped on the floor may times by kids bumping my ironing board while running past. The welding seam between the plate and body finally separated and water was bubbling out, so there was no way it could be fixed. I had no hesitation buying another Rowenta. This one has more steam power that my old one, with the new many-holed plate, and it works great. You do need to refill more often because it is pumping out more steam, but I'm okay with that because it does such a great job. I iron 10-20 shirts and 6 dress pants a week. There is a similar model which has a bigger tank which I almost got, but I have ganglion cysts in my wrists so opted for this one instead, as it is a little bit lighter. My only picky comment would be Rowenta could make the plastic water window a little more transparent. I like to fill up my water just before it empties, and I can't tell now until it makes that empty bubbly sound.
I have bought a lot of Rowenta irons, I make drapes for living, and instead of buying professional irons, i buy Rowenta. they usually hit the floor a few times, but keeps working, although I'm sure it is guaranteed to survive that! But that is why I buy them, I can buy a few of these and they last longer. they work really well. this one has had some reviews saying it is hard to see water level, and for my 58 yr old eyes.... that is an issue with a lot of irons, but even I can see it. only thing I have noticed, is my previous one seemed to heat up really fast and this one ( we are talking 1-15 seconds from cold) seems to take longer, so I default to thinking it is broken! doest sputter ( until you drop it on the ground a few times!) works really well
Feature Product
- STAINLESS-STEEL SOLEPLATE WITH PRECEISION TIP - Provides smooth-gliding across different garment surfaces and ability to smooth hard-to-reach areas with 1700 Watts of Power.
- 400+ STEAM HOLES AND 150G/MIN BURST OF STEAM - Patented Microsteam system with over 400 steam holes provides excellent steam distribution and penetration with the powerful 150g/min burst of steam
- DESIGNED TO MAKE IRONING EASY - Comfortable grip handle, 7-foot cord with 360-degree moveability, burst-of-steam on demand, vertical steaming for hanging garments, and more!
- USE ANY WATER TO IRON - This iron can use any water straight from the sink since it has an anti-calcium system. It also has an easy fill hole, anti-drip lid, and clearly displays the water level to let you know when its time to refill the extra-large 12.7 ounce water tank
- SAFETY COMES FIRST WITH ROWENTA - To prevent any sort of accident, this iron comes with a 3-way automatic shut-off system after being left untouched for 8 minutes vertically, 30 seconds face down or on its side.
- MADE IN GERMANY - Expect only the best with German made irons and Rowenta. This iron is built to last with features such as a stainless-steel soleplate, anti-calcium system to use any water, and auto-cleaning system.
Description
For professional-quality results at home, turn to the Pro Master steam iron by Rowenta. The 1700-watt iron features a full metal shield and a scratch-resistant, stainless-steel soleplate with 400 micro holes for an even distribution of wrinkle-removing steam. Gliding effortlessly across all fabrics, the highly polished soleplate includes a rounded back end, for a smooth back and forth motion, and a precision-point tip that makes easy work of maneuvering over collars, along seams, and in between buttons. Adjust the continuous steam output (40g/min) and soleplate temperature as needed to accommodate a wide range of fabrics like silk or wool. The iron’s powerful burst of steam function (150g/min) works great for thicker fabrics and makes unruly wrinkles quickly melt away. Holding the iron upright, and with the touch of a button, the iron delivers an extra-long burst of vertical steam—perfect for removing wrinkles from hanging garments, delicate items, or drapes. Additional highlights include an anti-drip system to prevent spitting or leaking at low heat settings, a self-cleaning anti-calc system that flushes out loose mineral deposits for long-lasting optimal performance, and three-way automatic shut-off for safety—the iron turns itself off if left unused after 8 minutes in the upright position or after 30 seconds in the horizontal position or if tipped over. Successfully complete any ironing task with the professional-grade Rowenta DW8080 Pro Master steam iron.
We got the first one and I posted on the question board about the low amount of steam. We bought it specifically because the reviews were raving about the steam. We followed the instructions and did everything right and had less steam than our $20 8 year old iron. Everyone responded that something was right. We ended up doing a return request and received a replacement in a few days (Amazon rules!). Let me tell you, if you do not have a unit that is producing huge quantities of steam clouds, it's defective and get another. This thing is bananas! Just like others said, steam for days. My wife's hair frizzes up while ironing... This thing is great and I don't generally go crazy over an iron but wow... It's so much easier to iron my clothes now. One pass and done! You won't be disappointed.
The combination of this Rowenta soleplate design with the beveled edges which allows steam to develop within the microspace between the soleplate and the garment along with the good weight of the iron and 1800 watt temperature maintaining capability make this high wattage=high powered steam iron the most effective and efficient iron that I've ever used.
The design is stunning and makes using the iron fun and interactive.
There is a time when there is so much steam that a garment can get damp. The best solution is to be active with the steam on/off lever and use it frequently to allow for a "dry set" when needed.
I have found that the motion sensor which should stop the steam in the horizontal position when the iron is still and not in motion is ineffective.
The iron is not super light weight on purpose because the proper weight of an iron can help ease the downward pressing action that a user would use to keep the fabric against the board and is actually an advantage making ironing easier with less effort by the user.
Getting right to the point: This is a high quality iron that you will not be disappointed with. Those words aren't really strong enough. If you are have come to appreciate that good quality equipment sometimes costs more money, this iron is for you.
Full Review:
Occasionally in life you use a product that you are expecting to be good, but you don't realize how good it can be until you use it. The Rowenta Pro Master DW 8800 is one of those products.
It's an iron. Seriously. How much different can an iron be? They all get hot and take wrinkles out of clothes. This is almost a commodity now. Even so, there is a difference.
I have historically ironed more than anyone in my house, and even today, though I pay one of my sons to iron for me, I still iron a considerable amount, especially when traveling for work. Because I often iron in hotels, I had almost seen the full gambit of irons, from basic irons with the most advanced feature being a spray nozzle that leaked to a "deluxe" hospitality iron that steamed, had an extra long cord, and even offered a headlamp to better see the wrinkles you were trying to remove.
For the last couple of years our iron at home has been a most basic iron, but it has done the job. Even so, I have been looking to upgrade to one with a steam feature for some time. It is the one feature I miss when it is not available, as it really helps get the wrinkles out. A couple of weeks ago, someone touched some red plastic with the heated plate of our iron, and this pushed me to action. After looking at numerous irons and reading numerous reviews, I decided to follow an instinct I only began to appreciate in my late thirties: buy quality equipment. Quality in this case was the Rowenta Pro Master DW 8800.
Rowenta seems to be an iron appreciate by professionals: laundry mats and the such. This is for good reason. My first reaction was nothing short of utter amazement! While it seemed to get hot faster that our other iron, that was not the feature that blew me away. It was the variable steam feature that steams your clothes automatically while ironing WITHOUT pressing a button. If you wish to steam vertically, perhaps curtains or even suit jackets, there is a button that produces serious bursts of steam.
All of this was amazing to my gadget loving self, but it was not until I ironed my most difficult shirt this morning that I truly appreciated how amazing this iron is. This iron glides across my clothing like no other iron I have ever used. The constant steam feature easily removed wrinkles I have wrestled with on this particular shirt for minutes in the past. The "High Precision Tip", while not a big deal to me, did indeed allow me to get into certain spots on the shirt easier. As if this wasn't enough, the constant steam feature also allowed me to iron my pants in half the time. The steam pushing through my pants allowed me to be done ironing after only ironing one side of the pants. That sort of thing makes me seriously happy.
All this said, the iron is comfortable to hold, and the weight of the iron speaks to its high quality. From what I have read, this isn't the same for all Rowenta irons, but those made in Germany posses a level of quality not seen in those made in China.
It remains to be seen how well this holds up, but my first impression is a solid WOW. I am anxious to see how well the "Anti Calc" feature keeps the calcium buildup down, and I am anxious to see if the heated plate remains smooth after months of ironing, but for now, I am amazed.
All these good points aside, I do wish the iron had a longer cord, but this is a small price to pay for the rest of the incredible features. I didn't measure the cord, but I suspect it is 7 feet long. I would have appreciated 10 feet, but again, this is a small complaint in comparison to the rest of the features.
If you are in the market for a new iron, and if you don't mind spending more money to get a high quality iron, don't hesitate and purchase the Rowenta Pro Master DW 8800. You will not be disappointed. A solid 5/5 stars.
I purchased this to replace my previous Rowenta. The last one was close to ten years old. At the time it would occasionally spit out brown bits. Nothing staining, just annoying in the morning before that first cup of coffee. One morning it started sporadically shutting off. I thought about trying to fix it, but the brown bits made me pull the trigger on a new one.
To be fair, I followed very few of the recommendations for upkeep made by Rowenta. I always left water in the reservoir, never used the self-cleaning function, and abused the power cable. It survived numerous falls from the ironing board, ironing marathons, being shoved between two metal wire shelves daily, four moves, and other such abuses. The steam holes never clogged and the ironing surface was always smooth. The only time it wasn’t hot enough to iron my shirts was the day it started shutting itself off.
The grip on the iron is pleasant. Occasionally I knock the temperature dial off its setting when gripping the handle. It has a nice weight to it, giving me the perception of quality. The tip of the plate makes ironing right corners easy. I don’t ever recall the iron sticking to any fabric.
The price-per-day was a little less than 2 cents. For an iron that does it’s one job well while putting up with all that abuse, buying this again was an easy decision.
I have always hated ironing, but need to do it every week. I have used store brand cheap irons forever, thinking all irons all the same. They got hot and remove wrinkles. Boy, was I wrong. After dealing with my current iron spitting up, leaking and falling apart, I decided to go with a Rowenta. I have wanted one for years, but could not justify the price. Now, that I have one and have used it, I would pay twice as much for it. I absolutely love this iron. It just glides across the clothing and with one pass, the wrinkles are gone. I love the steam burst, great for the tops of pants. My only regret, I wish I would have ordered it sooner!
0 comments:
Post a Comment