Do you leave your sewing machine on?
03-19-2015, 05:26 AM
#42
Senior Member
Join Date: Sep 2010
Location: WV
Posts: 582
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
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
03-19-2015, 06:48 AM
#44
Senior Member
Thread Starter
Join Date: Jan 2014
Location: Beautiful Oregon
Posts: 320
note to Belfrybat:
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.
Mainly, I do worry that it is the turning on and off of my sewing machine is the hardest on it.
03-19-2015, 06:58 AM
#45
Super Member
Join Date: Dec 2010
Location: Norfolk, VA
Posts: 5,397
Sometimes my machines will be on for days, my smaller computer one, I used to never turn it off. I've never had to replace a bulb. I do keep all of them plugged into a serge protector though, just in case.
03-19-2015, 07:18 AM
#46
Super Member
Join Date: Oct 2010
Location: Colorado
Posts: 2,254
I leave mine on while I piece, cut, press; but if I'm going to have to leave for more than an hour before proceeding I turn the machine off. My present machine is six years old and has never needed a new light bulb.
03-19-2015, 07:47 AM
#47
Super Member
Join Date: May 2010
Location: Somewhere neat!
Posts: 1,146
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 am pretty much the same - depends on what I am doing. If I am cutting and pressing, I leave it on - - if I have just come up with a stitch adjustment configuration, I will leave it on (while I am working in the same room) - - but if I have a long project space where I will not need it for awhile, or leave the room, everything gets turned off in case I get "busy" at something else that I didn't necessarily plan on, the dog needs a walk right now(!), hubby wants something, etc. My stuff is on surge protectors as well, and for the iron I just flip that off - beats standing on my head to unplug it from the wall. :-)
Marysewfun
03-19-2015, 08:10 AM
#48
Super Member
Join Date: Sep 2011
Location: Illinois
Posts: 5,336
Me too. I don't think I have ever replaced a bulb on any of my machines and I have been sewing for 50 yrs.
03-19-2015, 08:39 AM
#49
Super Member
Join Date: Sep 2010
Location: Brisbane, Aust
Posts: 1,498
While I am sewing I leave my light on all the time and only replaced my light bulb for the first time 2 weeks ago. not bad since I bought my Elna back in 1973. I had to get the instruction book because I did not know how to remove it. The new bulb only cost me $3.95 so it is cheap to leave on.
03-19-2015, 08:40 AM
#50
Super Member
Join Date: Apr 2012
Location: Texas
Posts: 2,369
I, too, worry about the light burning out on my new Brother 450Q. And I can't turn it off -- I think -- without turning off the machine, which means losing my settings. So I leave it on when actively sewing, as in when I sew, then press, then sew. Otherwise, I turn it off.
My Golden Touch 'n Sew no longer has an active light in that we had to replace the light holder and it just does not work, for whatever reason. I use an Ott light which stands on the machine cabinet when sewing on that machine. But I also worry about burning out the Ott bulb, so turn it off when not actively sewing. I'm a lights off kind of person, though; I turn off lights when I leave a room (except the kitchen, for some reason; I'm always going back in there, maybe!).
Interesting topic. I've enjoyed others' points of view on the sewing machine on/off and the light issue.
My Golden Touch 'n Sew no longer has an active light in that we had to replace the light holder and it just does not work, for whatever reason. I use an Ott light which stands on the machine cabinet when sewing on that machine. But I also worry about burning out the Ott bulb, so turn it off when not actively sewing. I'm a lights off kind of person, though; I turn off lights when I leave a room (except the kitchen, for some reason; I'm always going back in there, maybe!).
Interesting topic. I've enjoyed others' points of view on the sewing machine on/off and the light issue.
Last edited by Friday1961; 03-19-2015 at 08:49 AM.
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