Leaking Iron? New Rowena Iron issues
01-04-2011, 04:55 AM
#111
Senior Member
Join Date: Nov 2010
Location: Ohio
Posts: 323
I asked this very same question not too long ago as I was in the market for a new iron and heard a lot about the Rowena. The sweet ladies here gave me their opinions and I have to say, I bought a new iron from Walmart. I LOVE it!! It is a replica of the old iron my mother use to use. Black and silver but with steam and a few bells and whistles. It cost me $21.00 and it's been the best money I've spent!!
01-04-2011, 12:57 PM
#113
Super Member
Join Date: Oct 2009
Location: NYS Finger Lakes Region
Posts: 1,178
WOW!! Am I proud of you! I wouldn't have even dared tackle such a job-----that's a girlie thing, I guess.
Okay all.... I cracked my Rowenta tonight. First of all, I have the DX 6650 Power Duo, made in Germany - no auto off. Taking it apart is fairly easy, but you have to do it in steps. And you need a 15 torx, possibly a 20 torx as well. My cord tie in, electrical connections are all fine. Sole plate is fine. Tank is fine-no cracks. No cracks in any of the water tubing. The inside is pretty much as I expected, it's not rot-gut cheap, but I would have liked a bit better 'fit and finish'. Oh well... that's not really the issue.
I DID find that the gasket sealant used was more like the black stuff used on windshields - permanently gooey. I'm not sure but that the stuff was simply losing cohesion and melting away from the seal area over time. The plastic used for the water tank and surround is also slightly thin looking to me. I suppose another potential issue could be the plastic may warp out of true over time. The Power Duo is a 1700 watt iron, so it can get pretty dang hot by the sole plate and there is no secondary insulation around the tank area.
Spent two hours cleaning off the sealant goo from the iron using mineral spirits. It's drying out now. Tomorrow, I'll get some of the high temp silicone gasket sealer from the auto store and will finish the job. The silicone sealer will set up and not remain gooey, is water tight, so we'll get to see how that type of sealant works in this application. I'll wait another 24 then test it out.
I'm taking pictures along the way. If what I do fixes the issue... I will create a new post - a step by step, DIY of how to fix your iron, with pictures and all. It ruined my french manicure... but heck, sometimes a girl's gotta do... what a girl's gotta do!
Originally Posted by kwendt
Originally Posted by twinkie
My husband has fixed a few Rowenta irons for members of my quilt guild. Don't know what he did, but he says they are built like a throw away and are difficult to repair. Just our experience.
I DID find that the gasket sealant used was more like the black stuff used on windshields - permanently gooey. I'm not sure but that the stuff was simply losing cohesion and melting away from the seal area over time. The plastic used for the water tank and surround is also slightly thin looking to me. I suppose another potential issue could be the plastic may warp out of true over time. The Power Duo is a 1700 watt iron, so it can get pretty dang hot by the sole plate and there is no secondary insulation around the tank area.
Spent two hours cleaning off the sealant goo from the iron using mineral spirits. It's drying out now. Tomorrow, I'll get some of the high temp silicone gasket sealer from the auto store and will finish the job. The silicone sealer will set up and not remain gooey, is water tight, so we'll get to see how that type of sealant works in this application. I'll wait another 24 then test it out.
I'm taking pictures along the way. If what I do fixes the issue... I will create a new post - a step by step, DIY of how to fix your iron, with pictures and all. It ruined my french manicure... but heck, sometimes a girl's gotta do... what a girl's gotta do!
01-05-2011, 12:37 AM
#114
Junior Member
Join Date: Jan 2011
Location: San Clemente, CA
Posts: 108
I had the same problem and cleaned my iron thoroughly, according to manufacturer's recommendations, with no luck. Went out and bought the Costco cheapy, and just use my Rowenta dry in another room. The $29.00 model works better than the Rowenta! Good luck and be sure to post if you had success in eliminating the problem so we can learn from you.
01-05-2011, 05:09 PM
#116
Senior Member
Join Date: Oct 2010
Location: Virginia
Posts: 942
Originally Posted by TerryQuiklter
I read somewhere, can't remember where, that ALL Rowenta irons leak :-( ! Mine does but I still use it.
01-05-2011, 05:59 PM
#117
Senior Member
Thread Starter
Join Date: Dec 2010
Location: Coastal Florida - Mountainous Maine
Posts: 949
Hi back to all patiently waiting.....
We'll have to a wait a couple more days... still haven't got my hands on the exact high temp silicone gasket sealer that I want. Went to three stores today.... I'll try PepBoys tomorrow... thanks for being patient!
Meanwhile, here is a pic (sorry it's sidesways, I'll fix that for the DIY). This is half the iron... the 'top' half when the iron is sitting horizontally. See the black goo? This is after I scraped off as much as I could with flat head screwdriver. The rest needs to come off, in order for the new sealer/gasket to adhere strongly. Mineral Spirits.. lots of paper towels and q-tips. It's the most time consuming part of the job.
As you can see, the water uptake hose looks fine, and all the bushings, o-rings and spacers are present and look fine.
We'll have to a wait a couple more days... still haven't got my hands on the exact high temp silicone gasket sealer that I want. Went to three stores today.... I'll try PepBoys tomorrow... thanks for being patient!
Meanwhile, here is a pic (sorry it's sidesways, I'll fix that for the DIY). This is half the iron... the 'top' half when the iron is sitting horizontally. See the black goo? This is after I scraped off as much as I could with flat head screwdriver. The rest needs to come off, in order for the new sealer/gasket to adhere strongly. Mineral Spirits.. lots of paper towels and q-tips. It's the most time consuming part of the job.
As you can see, the water uptake hose looks fine, and all the bushings, o-rings and spacers are present and look fine.
Cracked Rowenta, old black gooey gasket seal must come off...
[ATTACH=CONFIG]154179[/ATTACH]
01-06-2011, 09:55 AM
#118
Super Member
Join Date: Oct 2009
Location: NYS Finger Lakes Region
Posts: 1,178
I love your posts keeping us informed. I will eagerly await your updates.
Originally Posted by kwendt
Hi back to all patiently waiting.....
We'll have to a wait a couple more days... still haven't got my hands on the exact high temp silicone gasket sealer that I want. Went to three stores today.... I'll try PepBoys tomorrow... thanks for being patient!
Meanwhile, here is a pic (sorry it's sidesways, I'll fix that for the DIY). This is half the iron... the 'top' half when the iron is sitting horizontally. See the black goo? This is after I scraped off as much as I could with flat head screwdriver. The rest needs to come off, in order for the new sealer/gasket to adhere strongly. Mineral Spirits.. lots of paper towels and q-tips. It's the most time consuming part of the job.
As you can see, the water uptake hose looks fine, and all the bushings, o-rings and spacers are present and look fine.
We'll have to a wait a couple more days... still haven't got my hands on the exact high temp silicone gasket sealer that I want. Went to three stores today.... I'll try PepBoys tomorrow... thanks for being patient!
Meanwhile, here is a pic (sorry it's sidesways, I'll fix that for the DIY). This is half the iron... the 'top' half when the iron is sitting horizontally. See the black goo? This is after I scraped off as much as I could with flat head screwdriver. The rest needs to come off, in order for the new sealer/gasket to adhere strongly. Mineral Spirits.. lots of paper towels and q-tips. It's the most time consuming part of the job.
As you can see, the water uptake hose looks fine, and all the bushings, o-rings and spacers are present and look fine.
01-08-2011, 06:17 AM
#120
Senior Member
Thread Starter
Join Date: Dec 2010
Location: Coastal Florida - Mountainous Maine
Posts: 949
Okay... sealer applied and iron setting up for 48 hours... just to be on the safe side. I finally found the product I wanted at Pep Boys. Its both a Gasket and a Sealer, high temp (package says to intermittant 600 degrees). Much easier to work with than say... epoxy.
You know, this is a lot easier than you'd think. I bet all of us could fix our Rowentas to our own satisfaction.
So cross your fingers... and I'll let post again the iron sets up and I get to testing it out...
You know, this is a lot easier than you'd think. I bet all of us could fix our Rowentas to our own satisfaction.
So cross your fingers... and I'll let post again the iron sets up and I get to testing it out...
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