Review of technology for WTO.

Today we will analyze in detail how to decide on the goals and choice of ironing household appliances - irons. We’ll also look at the reasons why every craftswoman needs to have them on hand when sewing and how they make life easier.

All textiles are made from fibrous materials of natural or synthetic origin. Fiber is a polymer molecule. And it doesn’t matter whether they are made from plant, animal or chemical raw materials. Each of them has such an important characteristic as memory. That is, the ability to maintain shape. Like any other substance, fiber is capable of deformation under the influence of temperature and mechanical force. This ability differs for different types of fibers. So let's look at this introduction to fabrics.

The purpose of sewing is to obtain a product of one shape or another by connecting flat parts using thread and needle. Let's try to do this. What do we see? We did not receive the flat part. I put it on the table - it bulges. I want to press and flatten the seam. Hands themselves reach out to smooth the fabric. And if with thin cotton or linen fabrics this may be enough, that is, the heat and pressure of the fingers is enough to form a flat joint of the parts, then for most materials of a different composition and density this is not enough. And the volume of work may not be 10 cm. We need an assistant - an iron. It will heat and squeeze.

In addition to this, modern sewing cannot be imagined without the use of cushioning materials such as non-woven fabric and dublerin. And to use them you need ironing equipment.

How to choose this assistant?

In stores we can see entire departments with irons of various qualities; manufacturers compete, attracting attention to their products with various functions. Therefore, let's study all aspects of the house, and go to the store already prepared.

What are the main qualities your assistant should have? What should you pay attention to first when choosing?

     Power,
     Sole material,
     Weight
     Steam power,
     Cord length.

Power

As a rule, the power is already written on the body of the device itself, and it is measured in watts. The higher this indicator, the faster and to higher temperatures the sole can heat up.

For ironing silk and thin synthetic fabrics such as organza, a sole temperature of 60-80 degrees is sufficient, and for cotton and linen up to 180-200 degrees. When the temperature rises above these values, irreversible destruction of the fibers occurs, and at lower temperatures no changes are recorded. Other fabrics are ironed at intermediate temperatures. Most irons are capable of handling light fabrics, but we need the full range of temperatures, so we choose more powerful ones from 2200 W. The power of the iron directly affects the steam power that the iron is capable of producing.
Sole

Now let's talk about the variety of soles. All soles are made of basic metals: aluminum, stainless steel, and titanium soles have appeared. This can be easily explained by the high thermal conductivity of these substances. Those. Thanks to this, the sole heats up faster.

All other sole options are layers applied on top: Teflon, ceramics, metal-ceramics, or improved qualities of the alloys themselves.

The most common sole is made of aluminum. This is a lightweight metal that replaced the cast iron of our grandmothers, making ironing a more comfortable process and reducing the weight of the iron. Aluminum heats up quickly. Faster than all other metals used to make soles, that’s why it has become the leader and choice of many manufacturers.

But aluminum has a small drawback - it is a soft metal. And therefore, the appearance of scratches on it is inevitable, however, this does not always lead to a change in the quality of the ironing, or the appearance of puffs on delicate fabrics. But it makes it inevitable to use an iron to prevent lassing.

Stainless steel is more resistant to sole defects; it also does not corrode from moisture. And it is less willing to “share” its molecules with the tissue, i.e. leaves less marks.
Iron weight

Pressure is an integral part of molding a product. Therefore, either you strain your whole body pressing on the iron, or you experience the effort of carrying it from the platform to the part being ironed.

The weight variation is not so great for irons with a power of 2200 W or more, but we recommend giving preference to irons weighing about 1.5 kg.
Steaming

Today, virtually all irons on sale are equipped with a steam function. And this is a very important and useful function. The presence of steam allows the fabric to be heated deeper and more evenly at a lower sole temperature, without exposing the top layer to burns. Therefore, subject the product to deformation and molding. It is easier to press and stretch seams. You've probably noticed how lightly wet fabric deforms, stretches, and after drying, unstretched, retains its wet shape.
Manufacturers indicate steam power in the passport in two parameters: steam supply intensity and steam boost power. But this data is not

are certified, i.e. Each manufacturer measures them at their convenience. Even simple logic allows one to doubt the stated figures. For example, the stated steam supply intensity is 50 g per minute, and the capacity of the tank for filling water is 250 ml, i.e. 250 g. A simple calculation shows that after 5 minutes the tank will need to be refilled. But practice shows that refilling is required less often. And the steam boost, in the literal sense of the word, should have emptied the container in a couple of minutes. But both steam boost and simple steam supply occur discretely, not constantly, but after the time required to heat a certain volume of water.
Cord length

A short cord will make it difficult to use; the remoteness of the outlet can, of course, be compensated for by an extension cord. But it's not safe. An iron is an energy-intensive technique. And with a power of 2200-2400W, it requires a network capable of safely passing a current of 10 A, and therefore, to ensure reliable power, you need an extension cord marked at least 10 A. In general, connecting powerful equipment through an extension cord is not good, it is unsafe.
 
So, when choosing an assistant, pay attention to the power, type of sole, weight, tank capacity and length of the power cord. It is worth considering equipment from well-known manufacturers who have proven themselves on the market for many years as reliable.