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Member since 11/25/13
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Posted on: 8/21/14 12:05 PM ET
I have been thinking about buying a Reliable Empressa steam press. This press is available at many different U.S. places online for $399. To have it shipped to Canada plus duty and taxes would bump up that price substantially. There is a Canadian dealer I can buy it from but their price is $599 and it is a two hour drive away (although they will ship it to me for free).

My mother has an old cast iron dry press that she got at a flea market many years ago and I was playing with it last night. I have to say I was disappointed with it. Now I understand there is likely a bit of a learning curve with it but I was just trying to press cotton napkins and used a spray bottle for steam. I did have it set to the cotton heat setting. The napkins were not coming out as smooth as I would like, in fact seemed a little lumpy unless I smoothed them out by hand afterwards. Even then they weren't fabulous. This may have been due to the style of this particular unit, or this could be as good as it gets.

I don't want to spend that kind of money only to be disappointed with it. I guess I could make the two hour drive to try out the one here in Canada before buying, or I could wait until the Novi Sewing Expo in Michigan to see if there are any being demonstrated there.

So my question is, does anyone have a steam press and if so, are you happy with the results? Will (should) I get a perfectly smooth finish on cotton napkins?
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Jacqui

Baby (Baby Lock Enlighten)
Bob (Brother Fashionista NQ3500D)
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Posted on: 8/21/14 1:07 PM ET
Well, it all depends on exactly what you are buying it for. I got mine for fusing interfacing and that is what I use mine for mostly. I will say that I don't think I'd get one with steam if I had to do it over again because the amount of steam on mine just isn't that much and I use mine like this: Place a scrap piece of fabric on your press to protect it from bits of interfacing becoming stuck to it. Put your fabric down wrong side up and smooth it out and put your pattern piece over it to make sure you have it smoothed accurately. Place your interfacing on top of your fabric resin side down and smooth it out. Spritz with water - not a huge amount, but enough to help melt the resin on the interfacing and get it to stick to your fabric. Place a press cloth over the sandwich and lower the upper press and count to 12 to 15 seconds. Mine beeps to let me know to raise it. Let it sit for several seconds - really let it cool before you handle it so the fusing remains in place. Proceed with your other pieces that need to be fused.

I don't do a whole lot of ironing and I've never really felt comfortable doing what little I do on the press. It does a good job, but I don't think it saves me any time. Probably, I just need to practice with it.
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Sewing in Wild, Wonderful West Virginia
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Posted on: 8/21/14 1:29 PM ET
In reply to jacqui583
I have an Elna Press that is absolutely one of the best investments I have made. I love that thing! It does NOT have steam though. I did not want 'holes' in the pressing surface, and I figured the longevity would be better without the water/steam component.
I bought mine primarily for interfacing initially - makes that job so much easier! Depending on the project, I use either a damp press cloth or a dry one. I also use it also for napkins and tablecloths and they come out fabulous. But I actually have them slightly damp before pressing (like us old folks used to do with our ironing - sprinkle and rollup overnight so it is damp). I also use my press for pressing yardage - so much easier than an iron. And I use it to press shirts and slacks as well.

My press does have some sort of attachment that will spray water on the item on the board. But that is incredibly fiddly for me - much easier to use a spray bottle if needed.
  
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Posted on: 8/21/14 2:38 PM ET
Thanks both for weighing in. I don't do enough sewing with interfacing to make it worth my time to buy it for that alone. I was thinking more along the lines of as an iron for my clothes. I don't even iron all that much, I think if I'm honest I just thought it would be a cool toy to have lol.

It probably makes sense to wait at least until the sewing expo to (hopefully) see a new one in action before handing over my money.
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Jacqui

Baby (Baby Lock Enlighten)
Bob (Brother Fashionista NQ3500D)
Phoebe (Pfaff Quilt Ambition 2.0)
Jenny (Janome Coverpro 1000cpx)
Sergio (Brother 1034D)
Betty (White 1505)
  
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Posted on: 8/21/14 2:50 PM ET
In reply to jacqui583
I have an old Europress and it is steam but I've never used it. What I like using it for is final pressing. I used to send clothes out for that but I don't anymore.
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So many projects, not enough time
At my house in VA:
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Singer 201-2, 221, BL Enlighten, BL Acclaim, BL Sashiko, BL Euphoria, Consew 75T, Tipton Boss


At my Lake House in PA:
"new" Bernina B570, Bernina 1010, Singer 503A, BL Evolution

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Posted on: 8/22/14 9:27 AM ET
I have an elna press that I use for interfacing, and to do a nice final press. I love the fact that it has (according to the manual) 100 lb pressure and that is even, so there us lass chance of moving the interfacing.
I just finishes a riding jacket, made of 32oz cavalry twill. I would never have been able to "flatten" it with just an iron.
By the way, I just use a press clothe or spritz bottle, never the spray attachment.
I have used the press to finish hand made paper, also.Who knew!
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Posted on: 8/22/14 9:46 AM ET
In reply to Pamela R
Pamela the Elna is the first one I was looking at. It seems to have a really good reputation. The one my "local" (nothing is local in Canada lol) dealer carries doesn't have steam, but today he is getting in the Reliable one that I linked to above. The Reliable has steam and a longer bed (6 or 7 inches longer). Since I spoke with him I have been reading about the steam holes leaving marks on the fabric, which makes me wonder if a dry press with a spray bottle would be a better solution.

I think that on the old cast iron one my mom has that I tried the other night, the table is covered with a sheepskin-type cover and then layers of muslin or something over that. Perhaps there are too many layers to allow for a good press. Also the machine doesn't clamp, you just hold it down, so there is no way I am getting any kind of pressure let alone 100lbs. I really need to see one of these puppies in action, and unfortunately youtube only seems to carry commercials that really don't show detail of the finished pressed item.

And hand made paper, wow! Just what I need - another hobby! lol

Edited later to add: I just found this youtube video. Now I REALLY want one! lol
-- Edited on Today at 10:03 AM --
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Jacqui

Baby (Baby Lock Enlighten)
Bob (Brother Fashionista NQ3500D)
Phoebe (Pfaff Quilt Ambition 2.0)
Jenny (Janome Coverpro 1000cpx)
Sergio (Brother 1034D)
Betty (White 1505)
  
Member since 1/2/10
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Posted on: 8/22/14 10:12 AM ET
I love mine for interfacing and bonus! I don't have to send my linen napkins out to the dry cleaners any more! Also, it's great for preshrinking fabric, lace and trims..
Definitely check craigslist and other resale places for a deal!
Next I really want a rotary press :0)
  
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Posted on: 8/22/14 10:17 AM ET
In reply to Bethwhitch
I remember my DGM using a mangle (rotary ironing press) when I was a kid. Wonder what ever happened to that? Not like I need to put anything else in my house right now!
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So many projects, not enough time
At my house in VA:
Bernina Activa 220, Kaffe 475, B790
Singer 201-2, 221, BL Enlighten, BL Acclaim, BL Sashiko, BL Euphoria, Consew 75T, Tipton Boss


At my Lake House in PA:
"new" Bernina B570, Bernina 1010, Singer 503A, BL Evolution

http://sewingtechie.blogspot.com/
  
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Posted on: 8/22/14 12:36 PM ET
In reply to annenet
When I was young, a mangle was what was used to press the water out of the wet clothes from the tub, before they got hung out to dry (Scotland, long time ago!). I don't really know what a rotary press is. I was at a sewing break recently where tutor used a press for interfacing. I thought it was great but didn't feel I could justify for that purpose alone! Hers didn't have steam.
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My blog: http://sewanneuk.blogspot.co.uk
  
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