Author Topic: Shop/Patchbox Gremlins (Read 8972 times)

smallpatch · « **on:** April 19, 2009, 09:40:29 PM »

OK, I just got a Chamber's Smoothrifle kit from EZRA. Yesterday, I decided to check out all the pieces/parts to see where to start.

I've got it sitting on the bench, placed the wood patchbox lid in place, and noted to myself that it was nearly perfect. All I had left to do, was the brass end cap, and the release.

I promptly put it back in the box that all the other parts were in, and I haven't seen it since.

I totally tore apart and cleaned my shop. (it needed it) thinking I would find that it had fallen to the floor. No Patchbox lid.

I spent an hour and a half totally retracing every step I had taken, (including the bathroom), cleaned under and behind every bench and shelf, vacuumed the floor, and still no patchbox lid.

I guess the next step will be to find a piece of cherry that will match, and make a new lid.

@!*% those gremlins!!! Or wood mites???

Blacksmoke · « **Reply #1 on:** April 19, 2009, 09:55:16 PM »

I have those same kind of gremlins in my shop! They like to hide things in my pockets!

H.T.

Brian · « **Reply #2 on:** April 19, 2009, 11:32:01 PM »

Got any kids around?

Or pets???

The other day I spent two hours looking for a a USB data chip/stick I had stored some information on to transfer to my lap top. I KNEW I had put in right on the top of my computer desk. Looked everywhere. Nothing. I finally decided to go have a coffee and re-think the whole matter - and there it was in the cat's bed! Critter packs stuff around like a dog! LIttle "chewy" marks on it, but fortunately no damge to the data.

roundball · « **Reply #3 on:** April 20, 2009, 03:05:36 AM »

Quote from: smallpatch on April 19, 2009, 09:40:29 PM

"...the next step will be to find a piece of cherry that will match, and make a new lid..."

And then you'll see the original up on top of that high shelf where you put it so you'd be sure to find it

omark · « **Reply #4 on:** April 20, 2009, 06:32:49 AM »

a friend of mine was changing the oil in his truck and couldnt find the drain plug anywhere. he finally took his dog to the vet and had it x-rayed, sure enough, there it was. could see the threads and everything in the x-ray. cost him quite a bit to have plug surgically removed. mark

B Shipman · « **Reply #5 on:** April 20, 2009, 07:23:17 AM »

S**t happens. That's the only way to explain it. Seems to happen a lot.

David G · « **Reply #6 on:** April 20, 2009, 12:06:12 PM »

Don't worry, it will turn up after you make another one.

ptk1126 · « **Reply #7 on:** April 20, 2009, 02:33:50 PM »

I lost my Nicholson #49 rasp. Tore the shop apart and continued to look for about a month.
Finally gave up and ordered a new one. When it arrived I put it away in the drawer NEXT TO
the one I had lost ??

All the best
Paul

Levy · « **Reply #8 on:** April 20, 2009, 05:15:31 PM »

I'll bet its still on the gun!

James Levy

John Vaccaro · « **Reply #9 on:** April 20, 2009, 06:20:48 PM »

I think I spend at least half my time looking for things. Check and see if it is covering the hole in the butt of the gun stock.
John

D. Taylor Sapergia · « **Reply #10 on:** April 20, 2009, 07:42:14 PM »

I can feel your frustration, Dane. I just lost the fly out of a Siler lock, so I tore the shop apart, and still didn't find it. Up side - the shop- is clean.

keweenaw · « **Reply #11 on:** April 20, 2009, 07:59:15 PM »

But the worst part is standing at the bench, using a tool, or taking a piece off a gun, putting it on the bench to use another tool and then the first one is gone and you haven't even moved your feet! Yesterday I was looking for my half pint jar of bees wax/linseed oil to use on a stock. I know it's in the shop. Looked everywhere and still didn't find it.

Tom

J.D. · « **Reply #12 on:** April 20, 2009, 08:39:01 PM »

Quote from: snyder on April 20, 2009, 07:59:15 PM

But the worst part is standing at the bench, using a tool, or taking a piece off a gun, putting it on the bench to use another tool and then the first one is gone and you haven't even moved your feet!
Tom

That's when I call my wife to find it. As it turns out, the uterus is an excellent locating device.

t.caster · « **Reply #13 on:** April 20, 2009, 08:52:52 PM »

D.Taylor, bet you didn't check the soles of your shoes!
Or if you blew the floor off with that compressor it might be imbedded in the drywall.
Hey I'm just trying to help!

Roger Fisher · « **Reply #14 on:** April 20, 2009, 09:22:25 PM »

Jeez Taylor - Who stole all your stuff? BTW did you check your pants cuffs if any

brokenflint · « **Reply #15 on:** April 20, 2009, 09:32:59 PM »

Roger ya beat me to it, I was wondering where all his tools went also

Taylor on the upside now you can buy all new stuff to fill up that empty space LOL

Tim Crosby · « **Reply #16 on:** April 20, 2009, 09:42:07 PM »

I wonder what it would be like to work without the gremlins and their associate Mr. Murphy? Probably very boring...yea right.
Did you ever notice they never mess with the stuff you don't need?

Tim C.

Robby · « **Reply #17 on:** April 20, 2009, 10:01:32 PM »

Taylor, I have a good magnet, tied to a string, and drag it around every possible area the part could be, so far I'm batting a thousand.
Oh, to be a fly on the wall in that shop!!
Robby

California Kid · « **Reply #18 on:** April 20, 2009, 10:08:10 PM »

Taylor, I think I would have made a new fly than move all that stuff. Looks like you moved the lathe as well! You guys must have strong coffee up there. Or is it the cold and snow?

Brian · « **Reply #19 on:** April 20, 2009, 11:07:32 PM »

Oh yeah - sorry Taylor. Meant to tell you I borrowed a couple of tools!

bryanbrown · « **Reply #20 on:** April 20, 2009, 11:13:38 PM »

Not that it helps in this particular instance, but I use pipe tobacco tins or butter tubs with those advertising refrigerator magnets on the bottom to hold small parts when I am working such as disassembling a lock. Magnets are strong enough to keep small stuff in them even if they tip over (lock plate may fall out, but the tumbler, fly and screws remain), and the tin keeps it from wandering across the shop.

A couple rare earth magnets in a small bag are nice for "sweeping" to find small parts. I also have one on a stick for sweeping under benches

I get them here
http://www.forcefieldmagnets.com/catalog/

Dphariss · « **Reply #21 on:** April 20, 2009, 11:20:13 PM »

I was sure the floor in Shiloh had a trap door with a tiny troll or some such that would grab parts...
Generally stock Shiloh parts though. Colt parts, part I had modified were it s favorite.
It is amazing how far a dropped part can go in a big shop.
Dan

billd · « **Reply #22 on:** April 21, 2009, 12:15:53 AM »

I feel much better after reading this thread. Been there, done it all. My wife justs laughs.

Bill

JCKelly · « **Reply #23 on:** April 21, 2009, 12:45:21 AM »

As a small child in 1945 my Dad was stationed at Ft Lauderdale Naval Air Station.

On the walls inside were paintings of Gremlins.

I have always felt that if the US Navy believed in Gremlins, who am I to disagree.

RobertS · « **Reply #24 on:** April 21, 2009, 05:30:20 AM »

Someone gave me an old large magentic rubber sign, and it just occurred to me that a good use for it might be to use as a pad for disassembling things like locks, or anything where you run the risk of something like that getting away. Great discussion-

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Author Topic: Shop/Patchbox Gremlins (Read 8972 times)

roundball

omark

David G

Levy

John Vaccaro

keweenaw

J.D.

brokenflint

California Kid

bryanbrown

billd