My machine is magic. I push the pedal and it magically makes cloth and anything else in it stick together. For this reason I have opted not to place my fingers directly in it. If they were stuck together it would be hard to use the shears. The subtle grey color of the machine works well at never outshining me and my flamboyant neon colors. In fact, if I'm not looking for it very hard I might not notice it is there. You need never worry that the government will charge you with improper light bulbs as this forward thinking machine uses led light bulbs and should be compliant with the laws for many years to come. So far this thing has magically stuck together four thick layers or cotton canvas like material. I await my opportunity to try it on leather as I endeavor to make a trap shooting vest for my husband.