Just to say if you are going to service one or take it apart then please wear gloves/mask and do it somewhere suitable as I hadn’t realised how much asbestos was used in them.. washers for insulation in the areas circled and hidden from view there may be more as well as i didnt get very far perhaps careful use of wd40 to help damp down any potential dust ; i was glad I had put some newspaper down. no pics of mine as it got bagged and boxed asap thanks thanks to Christer for the images
No asbestos in my iron, it's just a boring leccytrickle one, but my ironing board has an asbestos iron stand, and IIRC the cover is impregnated with asbestos as well...
I suppose virtually any older, heat-resistant fibrous materials would be asbestos. Would be quite uncommon for anyone in the earlier 20th century years to use any other ceramic fibres instead of asbestos. Asbestos is/was certainly much cheaper and more commonly available.
Good general warning as most old irons have either some washers or pads of asbestos i guess to minimise how much heat goes towards the handle.
So long as you're careful not to damage what ever it is there's not much to worry about in my opinion. I am however dreading the day that they have to do any work on the main stack for my flat, as I know that's got asbestos in it, and there's going to be some major upheaval when they remove it.!
That was why I put the warning up ; any old asbestos washer will stick to the surfaces that it is compressed between.. unscrewing anything will disturb it or worse it will crumble and get airborne Not Recommended …
