Do you leave your sewing machine on?
 

While you iron or piece, do you leave your sewing machine on? I argue with myself everyday over this question because I don't want my light bulb to burn out because I leave it on so often. One lady told me she leaves her sewing machine on all day.

With my old New Home wonderful sewing machine, there was an off/on switch for the light and I left my machine on year round with light off until I needed it. With my new sewing machine there is no way to turn off the light without turning off the entire sewing machine.

The reason why this is a big deal for me is because turning the machine on and off throughout the day causes that burst of electricity that is pretty hard on the light, and maybe even the machine itself. Haven't you ever had a light bulb blow out as soon as you turned it on --- because of the extra burst of electricity.

And along with this question, how long can I expect my machine light to last?

TIA

I've always left my machine on while ironing, cutting, etc. Never had a bulb burn out in all my years of sewing. When I leave the room I turn machine off and unplug from power strip so there's no chance of power surges hurting my machine.

I leave the machine on to stop and press. If I can't get back to sewing within a reasonable time, then I turn it off.

Essentially this is what I do as well. I will say, my iron is plugged into the other side of the room, hence a different circuit than my sewing machine. The machine is plugged into a surge protector.

This is me, too.

My machine faces the wall so it's hard to see if it's still on, and I've accidentally left it on overnight before. So now I have it and my gooseneck lamp plugged into a power strip and left switched on, and I use the power strip switch to turn everything on and off. So if I'm across the room, I can tell if the sewing machine is on because the lamp is also on - much harder to forget!

My machine is on while I'm sewing. I don't turn it off if I get up to iron or cut. I do turn my machine off and unplug it if I get up and leave the room to take the dog out, get a meal, or if I leave the house.

Depending on how long I'm going to be away from my machine I usually leave it on most of the time that I'm in my sewing room. If I'm going to be cutting a lot or searching for something I may turn off the light as it does get hot.
The light on my mom's machine did burn out once, but it was probably 20-30 years old by then. Don't know if the bulbs for the newer machines are that long lived or not. Haven't had to replace the bulb on my featherweight yet and have had it about 6 years.

I turn it on at the beginning of my sewing session, and leave it on if I have to iron or cut, then turn it off when I stop, usually to make dinner :(. I mean they just ate yesterday!
As far as posts being moved, there's a brief explanation of the forums on the home page:
http://www.quiltingboard.com/forum.php
One of the biggest reasons I see stuff getting moved is if it's a show-and-tell pic, it goes in pictures. If you post a picture to ask a question (what color sashing etc), it goes in main.

My iron and sewing machines are on 2 different circuits and surge protectors. My iron shuts off automatically but as a precaution because I've always done it when I was a hairdresser was to unplug the surge protectors also. When I saw the cord suspended in a handle on the drawer I knew it was safe. I am able to see from a distance if all is safe. I personally don't believe the new energy efficient bulbs last as long. I have replaced every bulb in my home twice this year. They were all the energy efficient corkscrew shape bulbs. The exception is the bulbs on the machines. I have a package that came with the 401 an there were 2 bulbs. Date back to 2008 written by previous owner, I'm assuming. The bulb for my2662 is original and that is about 10 years.

If I am in the room, my iron and sewing machine are left on. But if I leave the room, both are shut off. I also have both plugged into electrical surge protectors to prevent damage from electrical surges since we have a lot of severe lightening and thunderstorms in Oklahoma.

I leave my machine on while I'm in my sewing room.

I leave my machine on the entire time I'm sewing during the day. Sometimes I go off doing something completely different and then come back. Think I left my embroidery machine on for 3 days as I'd forgotten to turn it off or thought I had and didn't. Didn't go into the machine room for 3 days when I notice the light on. Hate when that happens. Machine worked fine though so that's a relief.

I have wondered the same thing.. I don't want my light bulb to burn out on me either. I usually leave mine on while I am working. If I am going to be away for awhile I turn it off. If its the weekend and I am sewing on a project the machine stays on most of the day.. even while I work on laundry and cook.... because I am always running back in to stitch for a few minutes :)

Anything longer than 15 minutes, and I turn mine off. Just a habit, I guess.

This is what I do also.

I leave mine on while I am pressing or cutting, etc. If I leave the room I shut it off. Though I always leave the surge protector on. :)

Just curious why the big deal about a light burning out? They are inexpensive and easy to replace on every machine I've ever had. I leave my machine on most of the day if I'm sewing. I always turn it off at night, when leaving the house, or if I know I've finished for the day. The only time a light burned out on one of my machines was on a 1962 Pfaff that had been in regular use for over 30 years. I think the bulb cost around $4.00.

This is what I do, too.

With the age of computer machines... I leave mine on all day if I am in the process. If I turn my machine off, I have to remember to reset it to the custom stitch I was using. Kind of a pain. We have a whole house surge protector, so I don't worry about that sort of thing. I just figure the machine was made to be used/on.

i like your idea! i leave mine on for all of my sewing time and have never had to replace a bulb

My sewing machine is older you can't leave it on, because I have had mine burn out and it takes me forever to replace it. The kids are bad about going around it and stepping on the foot. I wouldn't leave it on unless you are needing too.

When I'm sewing I leave it on until I quit for the day. Actually turning a light off and on is what causes it to burn out faster.

I don't turn mine off either if I am only pressing or doing anything that doesn't take longer than a few minutes. Would drive me crazy to turn it on and off all the time. I've been using the same BROTHER machine for about 10 yrs and I haven't had to change the bulb yet!!

My #1 machine is my Bernina 440 QE. I leave it on while I am in the room, unless I know I won't be sewing while I'm in there. I had a 1971 Singer Fashionmate Model 237 for 30+ years and can't remember changing the bulb once; however I did have to change the bulb on one of my Singer FWs after I had it for a few years. I do have my Bernina plugged in a surge protector; however, my Singer serviceman told me years ago that it is better to unplug the machine completely. So I unplug the cord from the Bernina, rather than from the surge protector. I put a binder clip on the cord near the plug (the clip doesn't clamp the cord, it fits around it), then put a small caribiner through the "arms" of the clip (you could also use one of the metal shower curtain rings). When I unplug the cord, I hang the caribiner on a Command hook mounted on the edge of my sewing table so I never have to search around on the floor for the cord.

Also, remember that a power strip may not be a surge protector.

I have been sewing for decades and can only remember replacing one light bulb. I leave my machines on (the one I am sewing on) for hours if I am not done sewing for the day.

It is plugged into a surge protector (it is a Bernina Artista computer/embroidery machine). We can see my machine from the open archway in the kitchen so it never gets left on overnight.

On my FW I do turn the light off if I am leaving the machine for more than 10 minutes to let it cool off. It does heat up the shield that is over it and since it is metal it gets quite hot. In the scheme of things I believe the light bulb does not cost that much considering the convenience of not having to turn it off and on all of the time.

This is all just my humble practice and opinion. Happy sewing!

I should note here that I did buy one of those irons that turns itself off if left more than 10 minutes without ironing. Some consider that a nuisance but I consider it a safety issue and it doesn't take long to heat back up.

My fancy pants machine goes into "sleep mode" if I don't touch it for 10 minutes - then just a touch and it's back on. If I leave it for an hour, I have to turn it back on. My other machines - leave them on until I'm done for the day - or at least a few hours. I have a 35 year old Bernina that had a light burn out. By that time, the little rubber item that you use to get hold of the bulb had rotted.

I leave mine on unless I am leaving the room. For some reason in my mind it is harder on a light bulb to be turned off and on than to be left on. But honestly I have no idea why I think that. It is funny how we get things in our minds that do not really have anything to do with reality.

Thanks for the advice about the surge protector. I have my first electronic machine and didn't even think about it. My iron is right next to my machine and will turn itself off after a bit. I always turn my machine off if I leave my sewing room. The room is in the basement and I don't always get back to it right away. I may get distracted if I leave. I just won't take a chance. As for the light bulb...I have only had one blow out on me and that was on a really old Singer that someone gave me. If I remember right, it wasn't that expensive to replace.

My machine is plugged into a surge protector. I turn it on in the morning when I start sewing and off at the end of the day.

My iron doesn't turn off by itself. I leave it on if I'm pressing, piecing, sewing, pressing; repeat.

Otherwise I turn it off: if you've ever looked at your electricity meter, you can tell if your iron is on! :eek:

That's it
 

You said what I intended to say in fewer words and easy to understand. Thank you. (the original poster.)

The danger in leaving a machine on, unattended, is that if something gets put onto the foot pedal, it can burn out the pedal or the motor, or cause a fire -- all because something got put onto the pedal. I've seen foot pedals melted to the carpet, and motors burned to a crisp, and the owner was glad that there wasn't a fire in the house. Even if the pedal is pushed slightly, and not even moving the machine, there's still an electrical current going through the pedal, and into the motor. So be careful -- especially on the older machines!

I've never given this any thought!! With me it is automatic....done sewing...machine off...even if for only a few minutes. Have never had to replace the light bulb...Iron is downstairs...same thing.... off when done. The iron has an automatic shut off, but I've never tested it. I get my exercise running up and down the stairs!!

If you switch the machine off to cut or press during a sewing section you loose the machine settings and have to reprogram again. There is the chance you forget to reset then seams and stitch lengths will vary making it difficult to match later.
keep mine on all day when sewing.

I leave mine on. I would be concerned about the on/off switch wearing out. As for the light bulb? Easy fix....and rare that they wear out. I think the most jolt to the machine us turning it ON.

SANDY

my janome 9900 remembers all settings...even where my embroidery design stopped. One reason I bought this machine. I love this feature.
sandy

I have a Janome 8900 and it reverts to default settings when it is turned off so I never turn it off once it is set until I know I'm going to leave the room for a while. I never turn it off just to cut or press. I do have it on a surge protector because of Florida lightening.

I have had this machine less than a year and my 37 year old Viking which has sewn miles and miles doesn't have an on/off switch for the machine, just for the light. I do leave the light on for pressing/cutting and if I'm going to be gone for any length of time I turn the light off. I've never had to replace the bulb. The same goes with my Featherweight machines.

I don't worry about lights burning out. They are readily available, easy to change and relatively inexpensive.

I changed all the lights in my machine to LED light bulbs and they are expensive compared to the regular bulbs. And the FW light cover does not get hot with the LED light. That is worth the extra cost. That hood gets hot!

I turn my Bernina off. DSM and irons suck a lot of electricity more then your TV.

Hi, Rosa
The same as VaQuiltgal I leave mine on while ironing I turn it off when I take breaks, because I walk away from the machine for long period of time, but yes turn it off when I am finishing for the night. -Vontina

While in my sewing area, I keep the machine on. But when I am finished for the day, I turn it off and unplug it. We had a lightening strike a few years back that destroyed a tree in our backyard and fried our paper shredder. The shredder was inexpensive to replace. My sewing machine would be very expensive to replace, so I unplug it to be safe.