Sad Irons for Top of Stove

Guys any one know the weight of one of these . jack

Sad irons come in a variety of sizes and bottom shape.

The more common ones, like the two larger ones that I have here, are 4 pounds 5 ounces with the removable handle.

The middle sized one is 34 ounces.

The littlest one is missing it's handle and it may be a child's toy because it's too small for even doing collars.

Paul

why are they called "sad irons"?

had to look it up:

From the 17th century, sadirons or sad irons (from an old word meaning solid)

I had read that it also meant "heavy".

Maybe the name had something to do with if you dropped one on your foot !

Paul

Sunny Boy wrote:I had read that it also meant "heavy".

Maybe the name had something to do with if you dropped one on your foot !

Paul

I think the idea is that previous generations were "hollow" containers to hold coals. These new babies are solid.

Not only that, they make excellent door stops. Mike

With these Mary Potts Patent type Sad irons the handle is designed to be removed and swapped over as one iron is in use and the other is reheating on the stove.They have a top cover screwed on over a cavity in the casting to allow the handle latch to lock into holes in that top plate. Because of that they are not as solid as they look, nor as heavy as some early solid designs. But they are still quite heavy compared to modern electric irons.

The one in the picture with the handle is the one I measured at 4 +pounds, but it is narrower, with an upturned bottom at one end to glide over the clothing better. The one sitting on the iron trivet is wider and flat at both ends. That adds another pound bringing that one to 5-1/2 pounds with the handle attached.

If other types were even heavier that's quite a bit of hefting to be doing on ironing day. That would sure make me sad.

While the sad irons I have add interest to the look of the range, I keep them on the range top to add extra iron surface area to absorb and radiate more heat.

Paul

stovepipemike wrote:Not only that, they make excellent door stops. Mike

And they make pretty good bodyshop dollies for backing up sheet metal when hammering out dents in tight corners. I have one of the steel handle "flat irons" that I use just for that.

Paul

Thus one is fixed handle and has been a door stop (likely have some more around too). The crap one collects...

lobsterman wrote:Thus one is fixed handle and has been a door stop (likely have some more around too). The crap one collects...

Yup that's one of the "flat iron" type exactly like I use in my paint shop. Great for helping to work dents out of sheet metal,....... or put dents in the top of your foot.

Paul

Sunny Boy wrote:

stovepipemike wrote:Not only that, they make excellent door stops. Mike

And they make pretty good bodyshop dollies for backing up sheet metal when hammering out dents in tight corners. I have one of the steel handle "flat irons" that I use just for that.

Paul

You can use the smaller ones as a meat press while cooking

The one I have is 5.88 Lbs.

I have a coal laundry stove made to heat 8 at a time, I can't for the life of me think of the brand. Ill snap some pics tmrw in the daylight if anyone has any interest..

D.lapan wrote:I have a coal laundry stove made to heat 8 at a time, I can't for the life of me think of the brand. Ill snap some pics tmrw in the daylight if anyone has any interest..

Yes, please.

Paul