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Some people do prefer a retractable cord iron because it is simply easier to store. There is no cord to mess with after you are done with the chore. Just one push of a button and the cord is neatly stored away unseen. Although retractable cord irons are available in the market, unfortunately, there are not many of them around. The Hamilton Beach Durathon digital iron is one of the few that deserves a second look.
Hamilton Beach Durathon Digital Iron 19901 Review
The features of this iron include:
- 1700-watt
- Nonstick soleplate
- 3-way auto off
- Self-cleaning
- Vertical steam
- Spray mist
- Steam blast
- Anti-drip
- Digital control panel
- Retractable cord
- Size: 12″ (D) by 5″ (W) by 6″ (H)
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The Durathon boasts of a soleplate that is 10 times more durable than its traditional nonstick counterpart as the video below shows. It has a superior glide with tough scratch-resistant durability that Hamilton Beach is confident enough to give buyers a 10-year limited warranty for the soleplate. It also has plenty of steam holes covering the soleplate to give it 40% more continuous steam power than its competitors.
Unlike most other steam irons, the Durathon also has digital controls rather than a thermostat knob for fabric selection and temperature settings. The panel is conveniently located at the top after the spray mist and steam blast buttons. The steam selection lever is at the front of the unit to give you variable steam output.
The cord length of this Hamilton Beach Durathon iron is about 8 feet. It can take in tap water but if the water in your area is extremely hard, alternating between distilled and tap water is recommended in the manual. The water tank capacity is about 10 ounces for this unit.
Bear in mind that there are a few models for the Durathon irons. The 19901 model is the one under review here. It is the most expensive of all Durathon irons at the time of writing. Other retractable cord models include the Durathon 19803 (1200-watt with no digital control), 19701 (1500-watt with no digital control) and 19804 (1700-watt with electronic control).
Should You Buy The Hamilton Beach Durathon 19901 Steam Iron?
Pros
- Digital control – Not many irons offer digital controls at an affordable price. The Black & Decker D2030 is one but it is a 1500-watt iron compared to the 1700-watt offered by the Durathon 19901. Digital control makes it easier to change the settings with no dial to fiddle with and accidentally bumped into with your knuckles, especially when the dial is located below the handle.
- Heavy weight – The unit is on the heavy side with the large base for cord storage. It weighs about 3.5 lbs, certainly not suitable for those who prefer a lightweight iron. But with the weight, it helps to remove wrinkles without you having to apply more pressure when ironing. The large heel also makes the unit well-balanced and more stable when sitting upright on the board. For a similar weight unit, you will probably need to look at the Rowenta DW5080 but that will cost you a bit more than a Durathon.
- Gets sufficiently hot – The 1700-watt of power means it heats up pretty quickly in about a minute and the soleplate is sufficiently hot to remove wrinkles on cotton and linen. The steam volume is also high for an iron that costs less than $50.
Cons
- Retractable cord not perfect – This is a common complaint about retractable cord models. Usually, the problem is that the cord doesn’t retract fully into the casing. You will need to pull it out again to get it to retract completely. If you want to get rid of the hassle of tangling with the cord completely, cordless is the way to go and the Panasonic NI-L70SR is a good option.
- Does not last long – There are very few complaints of leaks for the Durathon 19901, unlike the Rowenta DW2090 which is another retractable cord iron. Instead, the more common complaint is that the iron does not last. It simply quits working after a few months to 2 years of use. The buttons for the steam blast and spray mist could also fail to pop back up at times.
The Hamilton Beach Durathon digital iron is not one of the best steam irons out there. It will not be able to beat the upper-end Rowenta irons in terms of the slickness of the soleplate and steam output. But it wins in terms of price for a 1700-watt iron. For less than $50, there are very few irons with the same level of wattage. The T Fal FV4476 is one of them but 1200 to 1500-watt is the more common feature for irons that retail for less than $50.
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So, if you like a powerful iron with a retractable cord, the Durathon 19901 is an acceptable choice. The digital control is an added bonus to make this iron even more attractive price-wise.
Antonio Barron says
Why does the duration 19804 leaks so much water when ironing it is very frustrating
Jacquelyn Williams says
What is thke price of Hamilton Beach 149777? Where is it available?
Audrey says
Do you mean the Hamilton Beach 14977Z? You can try checking it out from Amazon or Walmart for a start.
Sandi Sloan says
I have had Hamilton Beach Durothon Iron for a couple of years. I dislike it very much, because it clogs and gums up when using a spray starch. I have difficulty locating the Faultless iron cleaner. This iron must be cleaned several times during ironing. Suggested cleaners such as vinegar, tooth paste, etc. just make it worse. I still use a lot of table linens in my home and it becomes a challenge to iron these items and I also still iron my clothing. I have never had such a problem with an iron. I would not recommend this ‘so-called’ NON-STICK iron to anyone that does ironing.
William says
I have a hamilton beach durathon and my only problem is that my fingers keep moving the round temperature control when I’m ironing. They need some sort of lock mechanism to keep it from moving once you set it. It moves very easily even with just a light touch. other than that its a pretty good iron