I've been living with the Durathon Iron for a few weeks since the nice people at Hamilton Beach sent me a free one and asked me to test it and post a review on my blog. I have to admit it: I'm pretty glad I said yes.
For me, the make or break issue with every iron is steam. I've gone through several irons over the past few years, all with varying levels of steam output, and the Durathon is definitely in the running for first place in the steam department. I love that this iron gives me a powerful, consistent level of steam when I'm working with the cotton and linen fabrics that I sew with the most. Thankfully, it also has a fairly large water chamber which keeps up with the steam well enough that I don't have to run to the sink every five minutes. The iron maintains its level of heat nicely as well, and it's not too heavy, even with the added base for the retractable cord -- a feature which I always enjoy. With three little girls around, I don't like to have any possibilities of a cord coming loose and dangling off the edge of a shelf within reach of curious hands.
I really only have one complaint with the iron. Though I love the look and convenience of the digital temperature settings, every time the iron is unplugged, you have to set the temperature back to where you want it. This was never a problem with the manual dial on my old iron which always stayed at "cotton/linen" and automatically went to that setting as soon as I plugged the iron in each time I used it. There are times when I plug in the Durathon, start cutting fabric, come back to start pressing, and realize that the heat is still off and waiting to be activated. It's a minor irritant, but a real one.
All in all, I can definitely recommend the Hamilton Beach Durathon. My last iron was a faithful workhorse, but it sadly died a slow death at the end, giving me several frustrating days of work and reminding me not to take the secondary tools for granted. A good iron is crucial to the sewing process. If you choose the Durathon, I think you'll be well pleased with the results.
So who wants a free iron? Hamilton Beach is offering another Durathon for me to give away to my readers. Just leave a comment on this post -- including your email address if you're a no-reply blogger! -- and I'll draw a random winner on Wednesday, March 12. International entries are welcome. If I don't hear back from the first winner within 48 hours, I'll draw another name for the prize. It's always fun to get a new toy for the sewing room, so be sure to get your name in the ring before Wednesday!