Review of irons: mooch, mooch, mooch – on ceramic iron

Ceramic soles are used quite widely. It is the second most popular coating. By the number of proposals models with ceramic soleplate second only to stainless steel irons.

Ceramics on a steel base. See the pros and cons

Pros:

Excellent gliding even at high temperatures

Does not leave any streaks or scorch marks at the wrong temperature

Delicate to synthetics

Resistant to scratches

Easy to clean

Cons:

Difficult to slip on low temperature

Chipping may occur

If compared to the total volume, ceramic accounts for about &frac14 market. And this material is ignored by a number of major manufacturers, including Rowenta, Braun, Moulinex, Panasonic.

The most expensive iron with ceramic soleplate is Alengo A-1725, it costs more than 5,5 ths. rub. The least expensive would be Vigor HX 4067 – 700 Dollars. If you compare the prices of irons in general, the models of the group we describe do not stand out.

Steel based ceramic

The soleplate of any modern iron is made of metal. Ceramic is no exception. Aluminum or stainless steel is the base. Ceramics are applied to a metal plate and sintered at high temperature over 1200ºC , the result is a strong, smooth surface, without pores, able to work in conditions of heat and steam.

Close attention to the ceramic is due to its remarkable properties: the material has good sliding characteristics, and it does not leave on the fabric lasso – areas with a shiny surface, that is, the use of wet gauze is not necessary. Superior performance in the very popular synthetic fabrics. Due to smooth heat transfer, ceramic tips are not prone to burning fabrics. Easy to clean with regular wipes or a flap. Finally, they are scratch resistant.

Ceramics were unbiasedly evaluated in the French CTTN laboratory, where all existing soleplate materials were tested directly in operation, i.e. in ironing. Ceramic has become the “champion”, though not absolute, but in the most respected category – ironing at maximum temperature. Ceramic gliding characteristics are acknowledged to be the best. Tests also revealed that the ceramic material is worse for ironing when the heat is low. Hence the conclusion: the material is optimal for those who most often choose the second and third level of heating, heating with steam.

Companies that focus on ceramic offer their coating options and technology. So, the ceramic soleplate SteamGlide in Philips irons is considered to be the best development of engineers of firm thanks not only effective and steady covering, but also thought over system of steam giving.

Gemini soleplate by Delonghi consists of stainless steel platform with ceramic layer.

Bosch Palladium-Glissee soleplate has steam grooves to direct steam to the spout and perimeter of the soleplate.

Vitek’s UniCera soleplate has a double ceramic layer.

The Tefal Autoclean Catalys soleplate is coated with durilium, thanks to which the dirt does not stick to it. And the same company’s UltraglissDiffusion soleplate has a tapered shape at the back, which allows it to behave more mobility when ironing back and forth.

Who’s stronger??

The power of modern irons has increased as the demands on heating speed have risen. Now the appliance should reach the required soleplate temperature as quickly as possible. Advanced models have outputs in the 2.2-2.4 and even 2.6 kW range. More than half of all ceramic soleplate irons.

For example, the Smile SI 1009 iron has 2.6 kW, the Bomann DB 774 CB has 2.5 kW, the Redmond RI-C208 has 2.4 kW, the Bosch TDA 3637 has 2.3 kW, the Bimatek IR-400 has 2.3 kW and the Vitesse VS-650 has 2.2 kW.

But lower settings don’t necessarily make ironing less efficient, it just takes a little longer.

You can’t do without steam!

Only few irons without steam function are produced nowadays – buyers are almost not interested in them. Steam is also necessary on ceramic soleplate models. When ironing, it not only spreads the creases, but also creates a steam cushion effect, which enhances the sliding of the soleplate. Well-designed steam function facilitates ironing, makes it faster, helps to save energy and time.

The function has two quantities – constant steam and steam blow short, but the most powerful release of steam .

The most advanced irons are able to iron at a constant steam rate of 60-70 g/min. Models with ceramic soleplate are far from these records: the maximum value of constant steam they have is 50 g/min, and this is only Philips models for example, GC 4850 . Slightly weaker steam – 45 g min – in Binatone SI 4060 and Zelmer 28Z030.

Popular indicators are in the range of 20-30 gpm.

Considering this topic, you involuntarily pay attention to the fact that the irons with ceramic soleplate do not always realize the best achievements of their brands. Let’s compare two irons: Scarlett SC-334 STed and SC-1133 SDavid, both priced about 1000 rub. Model with stainless steel soleplate SC-334 STed has constant steam 60 g/min, and maximum for ceramic Scarlett is 30 g/min, that is half as much. Similar trend with Bosch. Their irons have the idea of a steam generator with steam up to 65 g/min, but the ceramic models do not use it, and the speed is 40 g/min.

But this is not the general trend, which is confirmed by models with ceramic soleplate from Philips and Tefal, they just concentrate all the most interesting developments of the companies.

Hit me

Steam blow is ideal for working with over-dried items, especially from dense fabrics, or items with a lot of folds. Now the average steam emission rate is 100-120 g/min. Peak – 200 g/min Rowenta achievement . This is for irons in general. As for the ceramic, it generally corresponds to the generally accepted trends, but with some adjustments – the models with a powerful steam percentage is still less, and the maximum possible steam in irons with a ceramic soleplate is not found.

So, steam stroke 100 g min is quite common, and the iron with this function can be bought for 1000 Dollars. Examples of models: Lamark LK-1108, De’Longhi FXN 22, Bosch TDA 3630. More “powerful” irons are capable of steaming at 110 g/min, this De’Longhi FXG 23 T and Binatone SI 4060, 120 g/min – Tefal GV7460 and Maxima MI-C062, 150 g/min – Bimatek IR-401,

170 gpm – Tefal FV9550E2 and Philips GC 4850, and the Bosch TDA 7680 – 180 gpm!

Generate

Ceramic soleplate has also found a use in steam stations, the appliances that combine a modern iron and steam generator. Only two brands are available, but these are some of the brightest players on the market – Philips and Tefal. Philips offers the most powerful systems available at the moment, offering 6bar steam. Constant steam, as it should be, corresponds to the average value of steam impact for irons in general – 120 g min. But the impact of the new models has increased significantly – 260 g/min.

Tefal have ceramic soleplate – GV7460 and GV 7096. Constant steam at 120 g/min. Very powerful steam stroke – 200gr/min. Steam pressure – 5 bars. If you compare them to other stations, then these irons look pretty convincing, in terms of performance they are among the best.

Water won’t get through

The drip-stop system is relevant to those iron users who iron at a low temperature without pouring water out of the iron reservoir. It holds the liquid inside and does not let droplets drip out through the steam holes. All this should make ironing viscose, silk, acrylic, etc. more comfortable. At the beginning of our story, we already mentioned that ceramics at low temperatures are not ideal.

And droplets on the fabric make it even more difficult to glide. Hence the simple conclusion: when choosing a ceramic, you should not neglect the “drop-stop” function. All the more so because there is a choice – about two thirds of all ceramic models in the stores have it if you compare all irons, less than half have a “drop-stop” . The function is not linked to the price and applies to both the most affordable from 800 rbl. , as well as in the most expensive models.

For inner harmony

The biggest enemy of devices that work with boiling water is limescale: it clogs steam ducts and settles on the elements, thereby increasing energy consumption. The easiest way to fight it is to add water that is devoid of hardness salts. This is either boiled or filtered water, or store bought ready-made liquid.

The limescale protection system in the iron saves the user from this hassle. The system is of two kinds: permanent, when the cartridges are not changed, and replaceable: the cartridges have to be periodically removed and put in new ones. So in regions where water is hard, as we have in New York, the limescale protection function will not be superfluous. Every second iron is equipped with it, starting from the cheapest, priced from 700-800 Dollars. Supra IS-0800, Rolsen RN5260, Lamark LK-1100 etc. . .

An alternative or addition to this function is self-cleaning. Limescale protection to keep the inside of the iron or more precisely, the steam chamber in order. The function includes maximum steam, which throws dust and limescale particles out. Self cleaning is a very common thing and is not used only in a limited number of irons Vitesse VS-661, Rolsen RN6737 Mary, Polaris PIR 2058 .

Philips irons come with double protection against limescale. It has a slider for easy descaling and a capsule that chips away limescale from the surfaces.

Did you remember to switch the iron off??

It is very important to have safety functions. Overheat protection compulsory and automatic shutdown. The automation is triggered when the appliance is not in motion: on its “heel” – after 8 minutes, on its side in case of a fall or on the soleplate – after 30 seconds. It would seem that the system should be the fate of expensive devices, but this is not true, it is put on devices even in the lowest price category.

Still, it can not be called too common, the system is equipped with no more than a quarter of irons with ceramic soleplate, which again corresponds to the distribution of positions among irons with any type of soleplate.

Examples of models: low price up to 1000 rbl. – Supra IS-0800 2011 and Lamark LK-1105 medium up to 2500 Dollars. – Bosch TDA 2329 and Vitek VT-1202 high – Bimatek IR-401 and Philips GC 4420.

Rather curious novelties introduced to the public by the company Alengo. Models have the AutoLift mechanism, it activates as soon as the user’s hand releases the iron – the soleplate literally leaps over the board surface.

Lifting is due to the presence of sliding parts in the soleplate and under the “heel”, as a result, the iron stands on two legs. When you take it in your hands the legs “float” inside. Thanks to the mechanism, the iron does not need to be placed on the “heel” when not in use, but the iron, with the soleplate down, is not in contact with the fabric.