Machine off/on
 

I don't. I'm lazy. I haven't had a problem. Besides, I need the light to see what I'm doing. :O)

I usually do. I use my ott light and a pen flashlight to make sure I get all the lint out.

Lesson learned: If I don't turn off the machine, I engage the bobbin winder so the machine won't start sewing when changing needles, bobbins, or lint removing, if I bump the sewing pedal.

I turn off the machine before I do any service to it. Last thing I need is my fingers or my long hair caught in it.

Never! I don't even consider it and I'm not aware that I need the machine light for any reason. I do a quick swishing with an art paint brush in bobbin area and feed dogs with each bobbin change.

Yes I turn off and unplug my machine. I have accidently pushed the foot peddle/knee bar or the reverse stitch so that the machine will take a stitch. not only could be dangerous to fingers but also could jam needle or bobbin if bobbin is not in correct position.!!!!! Turning off machine is cheaper than repair.

I don't turn off or unplug the machine but I do unplug the foot pedal. I'm pretty sure *I* won't bump it, but my dog loves to lay on my feet and he presses the pedal sometimes.

I don't turn it off. I stick a brush in there. Not my fingers! I know it is the proper thing to do. But, I'm guilty as charged!

Humm good idea. I just use my brush and go but this would be a tad safer Smart girl BellaBoo

I always unplug the machine. Then I bring my Ott light around or lay the machine on its side if necessary.

Yikes I haven't but never thought of the consequences mentioned here. Will I next time I clean my bobbin .. don't know. I clean my bobbin pretty often, every time my bobbin runs out of thread.

Wow, thanks for posting this...never thought about it, but this could happen to me.

I actually turn my machine ON to clean the bobbin area/oil it. I can't see without that light...

If I'm changing the needle, I do leave the needle out until I'm done, but I don't remove it. I usually lift my foot onto the chair so that I can't accidentally press the foot. Maybe I need to start unplugging the foot so I don't have that to worry about. My bobbin runs on a separate motor (awesome during embroidery since I can wind a bobbin for my next color while it sews) so I can't use that tip.

I don't usually turn it off either. I really need the light to see what I'm doing, though I could use my Ott light beside it or something. Just lazy, I guess. 8)

I don't worry about turning the sewing machine off, because I can be careful with it, but the longarm has a very fast speed and is easy to start up accidentally, so I've learned to turn it off before I clean and oil it. Well, I've almost learned to do it. A few more near misses with my fingers and the needle and I'll completely learn that lesson.

never thought of turning it off while cleaning the bobbinarea......

I had to change out the bobbin in my new quilting machine and I DID turn it off before doing so. I'm not too "comfortable" with it yet since I've had it for less than a week. So not sure if I'll always turn it off in the future when changing/cleaning bobbin area..but it might be the safest thing to do.

I turn it off and use my otto light and then a small light I have to make sure I got all the lint removed. Better safe than sorry is my philosophy when it comes to electricity.

If I need to do something to my sewing machine I turn it off and unplug the cord so i can move it around easily, my long arm I do not it is hooked to a computer and would be a pian to turn off between needle changes and oiling....

Yeah, I have 4 feet of black hair last thing I need is to loose a big hunk of it.

It depends on which machine I'm using. If it is mechanical I might, or might not, turn it off. If it is one of my electronic or computerized machines it gets turned off and unplugged. I'm afraid of accidentally shorting something out if a wire gets moved or messing up a connector on an electronic board. Repairs are to expensive.

I never even thought of turning the machine off. I just clean it out then get back to work. I guess maybe I should turn the machine off. I probably won't unplug because that would be too much of a hassle

On my computerized machines, the cord comes right out of my machine- no hazzle at all - zip, it's unplugged.
I do it not so much to save my fingers, but to save a very expensive repair charge if it accidently started when I was cleaning. When I clean the bobbin area of lint, I take the throat plate off and clean the whole area of lint around the feed dogs, everywhere. On the mechanical mechines I then go ahead and oil them according to my instruction manuals. I think cleaning them of lint with them connected would be a lot like changing the oil in your car with the engine running. wouldn't think of doing it for lots of reasons.

Count me among the lazy ones! No, I do not turn my machine off but I am very careful. I have been impaled once. Lesson learned.

I know there has been a lot of discussion about canned air used to clean the bobbin area. I spoke to my Bernina tech and he showed the class how to use canned air. Do not blow into the machine front to back! Blow from right to left. Take off the needle plate and blow from back to front. If we blow from the front, the lint, etc will travel back toward the handwheel and cause the problems we saw on another discussion here. We were also told to add a drop of oil everytime we add a new bobbin.

I don't. My old machine's on/off switch is broken, so have to plug and unplug, have it plugged into a strip with a pole lamp also plugged in there, so I wouldn't be able to see what I'm doing.

with the Singer 301A if it is pluged in it is on so I just flip the surge protecter off, that saves wear and tear on a 53 year old plug.

with the Bernina 1630 - I leave the program, turn off the machine, then flip the switch on the surge protector....take NO chances with this darling diva.

with the serger, the switch has an off position but since it is a 'rocker'(three position switch)I do not take chances I switch to the off position and then flip the switch on its surge protector.

Electric shocks are not my favorite thrill...and as for needles (knock on wood) sewing now for 68 years and not sewn any body part, yet ......... ok, if this is TMI, sorry :)

Not only should you unplug your machine then, but you should unplug it whenever you are not sewing. Think--lightning strike, power surge, etc.

45+ years of sewing and have never turned off my machine to clean this area. I also use the extra light plus I usually vacuum that area out so my fingers are never in the way. But you should do what you feel is best for you and your machine. If you feel more comfortable turning it off, that's what you should do.

I don't unplug my machines usually but if we have storms coming in, I will unplug them definitely (even with a surge protector in use). We had a TV blow while it happened to be plugged into 2 surge protectors (needed the extra length).

I used to have my main sewing machine on a backup battery unit until my son needed it for his computer. This is good to keep the power consistent even during nice weather. I probably should invest in another one (run around $50).

Not to clean the bobbin area. I use a long pipe cleaner so my fingers are out of the way. Have to admit my foot pedal is out of the way so I don't accidently step on it.

It never occurred to me to turn off the machine. With my 301a, the fuzz in the bobbin area usually falls on the table as I sew so I just lightly brush the area. On my recent purchase of a vintage New Home with the front load bobbin, I brush the lint out everytime I reload the bobbin, it just seems the natural thing to do. Accidently turning on the machine has never been an issue, I keep my feet under my chair when I am not sewing.

I shut off and unplug when I do any cleaning/servicing. It only takes a moment and if it keeps an accident from happening or any damage, it's more then worth a few seconds of my time.

I tend to keep one foot on the foot pedal, so I TRY to remember to turn the machine off. I use canned air first to get rid of any loose stuff, then a cheap paint brush on every part I can reach, then use the canned air again, oil what needs to be oiled and it's good to go. I also got into the habit a long time ago of cleaning the bobbin area with canned air every time I change the bobbin, then give it a good cleaning when I'm done with each project. I usually sew three or four days a week, sometimes just to hem something and other times for a few hours at a time.

Oh, what a fantastic idea! Gotta give this a try, but I think it will probably work on most machines. Thanks for posting this!

Unless I'm actually sewing, I keep the surge protector in the 'off' position so the iron and sewing machine are 'off' til I turn it back on.

If I do a quick lint cleaning from the bobbin area, I also use a folded pipecleaner. And when my pressure foot is up, if I step on foot pedal, my machine will beep at me so I'm safe.

I was told (could be bad info) that even if the surge protector is off, if a lightning strike occurs or there's a surge, it can still go through the surger protector.

I usually turn mine off.

I never turn it off as I also need the light to see what I am doing and I do LOADS of machines and never had an accident, YET!