Whats the best brand or type of steamer for forcing the steam into foam?
Jiffy's have always been known as the best... there are less expensive steamers out there though, but you get what you pay for.
-Andrew
My J2 from Jiffy lasted me 30years. Just replaced it with a new one. Great steamers, great service.
I've had my J3 for nearly 30 years with good results. I recently had the opportunity to use the J2 and liked it better. It takes less time to heat up. Less than 1 min compared to 5 min for mine and the see through bottle lets you know, at a glance, how much water you have left.
They really do give that added touch to the finished product.
Mine is not the best, but it is the cheapest. I use a $15.00 regular clothes iron from WalMart. It is able to spray steam in the vertical position, which you have to have when you are working around the edges of foam and furniture.
I am certain that if I should ever try a Jiffy I would go out and buy one.
gene
Where I worked way back when we used the steam of an iron...long and painstaking process.
Jiffy steamer was the best investment ever made.
A Jiffy is on my wish list. Anyone know of the best price on one? My local supplier has the J-2 with hose for $210. I think the jug is an extra $15.
A quick search on Google shows them from $149 to $249. That, to me, seems quite a price difference.
One of my local suppliers, Banasch's http://www.banaschs.com also has it for $149. (They do ship)
The other, Sunshine Foam, is $236.
There does seem to be a vast disparity in pricing on items like the Jiffy Steamer, or Bosch foam saw.
I called a place once to get a quote on the steamer. He stuttered, stammered, and hem-hawed around for a few minutes. I suspect that he was just stalling me while he looked it up online.
I think that many supply houses just buy items like that from a retailer, and mark them up from there.
It's probably not a good idea to buy a sewing machine from an online place that doesn't provide any service after the sale. But for a Jiffy steamer sill new in the box, I'd have no reservations about getting one from the $149 place.
Don't forget DLT! We sell them, as well. $149 for a J-2?? Not possible - something must be wrong there. There are many different models of Jiffy Steamers.
-Andrew
Not sure if that $149 price includes the bottle, hose and head or not??? Could make a big difference and you should obviously check before ordering and getting an incomplete unit.
The $249 model probably comes with the steam.
gene
I bought my replacement J2 for 149 with free shipping from http://www.allbrands.com/ (http://www.allbrands.com/)
Great site Paul. Here's the one I recently used. It can easily handle any small shop use. $169
http://www.allbrands.com/products/abp02481-2091.html
I guess I got mine just in time :)
Seems the price went up 20 bucks since then. I think I remember getting the email from them saying that. Now that I think about it.
They are a good place great service and great prices. I bought a machine from them a few years ago. Several other items and no complaints.
I think that I would like the self-contained tank on the J-2000 model better. I have the J-2 model with the jug that sits upside down on top. It's always tipping over when I roll the unit around.
But then, I guess the J-2 jug is easier to refill.
do a search on craigslist. most owners buy to steam clothes. I found a J4000 on craigslist for 80.00. the owner had used it for steaming clothes. it was practially new.. no calcium or lime buildup. all I had to do was order a upholstery wand kit.
Quote from: Vtool on April 10, 2012, 06:00:57 pm
do a search on craigslist. most owners buy to steam clothes. I found a J4000 on craigslist for 80.00. the owner had used it for steaming clothes. it was practially new.. no calcium or lime buildup. all I had to do was order a upholstery wand kit.
Reading this post reminded me that when I bought out another shop recently, a J-4000 was included. I pulled it out today. It was unopened still "new in the box", but the shipping label said Jan. 2004. It has a wig steam head like this one:
http://www.allbrands.com/products/abp07665-1306.html
My J-2 has this head:
http://www.allbrands.com/products/abp07665-1306.html
Anyway, I plugged it in and compared it with my J-2 model. Even though it's 200 watts more, it doesn't seem to put out any more steam than the J-2.
With the J-2, you turn it on, and 2 minutes later you have steam. On the J-4000 model, you have a pre-heat setting first (15 minutes) and then switch the dial to steam (another 2 minutes).
So my observation is that the J-2 puts out the same amount of steam for less money than the J-4000.
I have the tank version but would be quite happy with a jug. Some rubber webbing with some velcro make a nice ''keeper' for that jug.
Quote from: sofadoc on April 11, 2012, 12:39:37 pm
Reading this post reminded me that when I bought out another shop recently, a J-4000 was included. I pulled it out today. It was unopened still "new in the box", but the shipping label said Jan. 2004. It has a wig steam head like this one:
http://www.allbrands.com/products/abp07665-1306.html
So they had a wig steamer. Don't you find that a bit odd. I didn't even know wigs had to be steamed. ???
Quote from: kodydog on April 11, 2012, 06:13:02 pm
So they had a wig steamer. Don't you find that a bit odd. I didn't even know wigs had to be steamed. ???
The guy's wife was a hairdresser, so the steamer probably got mixed in with the upholstery stuff by mistake. But since it was in an unopened box since '04, I don't think she'll miss it.
I played around with the wig steam head today. It might come in handy for getting into welt seam crevices.
I really wish you guys and gals would quit posting threads about tools. Every time you do it costs me money.
My wife needed a steamer for the wedding dress so I ran over to Walmart and bought one of those Shark tank models.
Sorry Andrew but I cannot justify paying $ 200 for a pro model that will get used twice a year. :) I will report back on the Shark once I have used it. I paid $ 48 for it and it came with a stand which is on rollers. I would have bought a pro model if I used one alot but with my business it wont get used much at all. Actually my wife will use it more then I will.
Chris
Chris: I've compared one of those $50 Wally World steamers to the professional Jiffy model. They put out a very similar amount of steam, so I don't blame you since you'll only use one a few times a year.
Actually Dennis, I bought this based on your post. I figured if it was good enough for you it would be good enough for me.
of course if it doesn't work worth a damn then I will send you the bill. ;D I am still stinging from that dang sharpening tool you talked me into buying...... 8)
Chris
Quote from: Mojo on April 13, 2012, 07:53:38 am
Actually Dennis, I bought this based on your post. I figured if it was good enough for you it would be good enough for me.
of course if it doesn't work worth a damn then I will send you the bill. I am still stinging from that dang sharpening tool you talked me into buying
The fact that you're taking buying tips from
me indicates that you've been "hittin' the sauce" ;)
Chris I bought one of those Shark steamers also. The few times I've used it have been fine. I want a Jiffy but it will have to stay on the wish list a while longer. I want to get into making window treatments at some point. Maybe I can justify it then.
By the way, the Shark steamer is great for removing old wallpaper. Ha ha.
I do not have any wallpaper in this house. How is it for removing wrinkles from my old worn face I wonder ? :)
I think it will be good for us since it wont get used much. I was thinking of using it on foam. besides foam and cloth fabric, what else has everyone used their steamer for ?
Chris
I have used mine to steam my mattress. I helps also with dust mites. my wife has allergy issues. I have also steamed wrinkles out of shirt. that's about it.
http://s40.photobucket.com/albums/e216/djh_64/?action=view¤t=kettle.jpg
I really like the jiffy that the boss has; but when I was on my own this is all I could afford for a steamer. It was actually "modified" to fit the steam box we had at the sign shop for bending wood , but the hose off the shop vac and a flattened piece of boat top tubing stood we well until until I closed up.
Thanks for all the input guys and gals !!!!!
This may sound dumb...but what do you use the steamer for?? I have one, but the previous owner never used it while she was here a couple months with me.
Not a dumb question if you have never been shown how to use one.
On some fabrics it works good to eliminate the little puckers you may get while working with it. For example channel on channel back chairs.
Also works good to steam down the zipper on cushions and gives a nice crisp touch steaming the border all around.
Helps to steam skirts so they lay flat.
Some disagree but you can steam used foam to bring new life to it.
Steam old patterns so they lay flat and make it easier to work with.
Steam seams on inside and outside backs to make puckers disappear.
Steam pleats to make them lat flat.
Steam vinyl to make it easier to work with. Being careful not to overdo it. A hair dryer works also.
Also works good to press non-upholstery items like clothes and wigs. ???
On a lot of fabrics, especially cotton a steamer will take a good job and make it look fantastic. On some fabrics it makes no difference. I've seen some acrylic fabrics that stretch and get ruined with steam (including some Sunbrellas).
Just thought of one more. Steams the creases out of fabrics bought at discounters who put it on a bolt instead of a roll.
Thanks kodydog! Wish I had thought to try it on skirts before and will def. try using it for several of those things! :)
Quote from: kodydog on April 27, 2012, 10:34:35 am
Some disagree but you can steam used foam to bring new life to it.
Rejuvenating foam is one of my favorite uses for the steamer. But I've always heard that the rejuvenation effect on foam is short lived. If this is true, isn't this the used car dealer's equivalent of sawdusting an engine? Sure, it'll quiet the valves long enough for the poor sap to drive the car off the lot. So if steamed foam goes flat again in a short while, are we doing a disservice?
I used to think that the steamer's benefits were a little overrated, but in the last year or 2, I've come to appreciate it a lot more (mostly for the reasons Kody listed).
I'm interested in hearing opinions regarding the merits of steaming foam.
The fact that steaming foam is short lived is not a disservice. It helps fill a cushion better and even if it does set back it is still better than starting with a set in edge on the foam. My opinion that is.
Definitely the best is Jiffy. I have a J2 and will be selling it shortly for $75. Moving out of state and not taking with me
Quote from: chrisberry12 on April 27, 2012, 04:01:03 pm
Definitely the best is Jiffy. I have a J2 and will be selling it shortly for $75. Moving out of state and not taking with me
There you go Rocketman. A good steamer at a good price. Where are you Chris.