Author Topic: Weirdest place to find a lost part  (Read 2054 times)

Offline rich pierce

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Weirdest place to find a lost part
« on: September 09, 2019, 02:20:08 AM »
Yesterday I was taking apart a lock and was absent minded. I was taking out the sear spring and thoughtlessly did not loosen the screw a little then pivot the spring out of the tab slot. Upon release it went flying like a mortar round.  I saw it hit the concrete basement wall then heard it strike something metallic.  I spent 2 hours cleaning that part of my basement shop. No spring within 8 feet of my bench. I double checked anything metal it might have pinged off.  This morning I went back down to the basement and looked up at the heating duct up near the ceiling. What were the chances? I an my fingers along the top of the duct - and there it was!  Never had a part lost 8 feet off the floor before.
Andover, Vermont

Offline Bob Roller

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Re: Weirdest place to find a lost part
« Reply #1 on: September 09, 2019, 02:23:59 AM »
Yesterday I was taking apart a lock and was absent minded. I was taking out the sear spring and thoughtlessly did not loosen the screw a little then pivot the spring out of the tab slot. Upon release it went flying like a mortar round.  I saw it hit the concrete basement wall then heard it strike something metallic.  I spent 2 hours cleaning that part of my basement shop. No spring within 8 feet of my bench. I double checked anything metal it might have pinged off.  This morning I went back down to the basement and looked up at the heating duct up near the ceiling. What were the chances? I an my fingers along the top of the duct - and there it was!  Never had a part lost 8 feet off the floor before.


I had a mainspring escape once and found it the next morning on the window sill
of the East facing window.

Bob Roller

Offline Keb

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Re: Weirdest place to find a lost part
« Reply #2 on: September 09, 2019, 02:40:52 PM »
I found a frizzen spring on the floor of the shower once while taking a shower after the 94 Eastern  :/

Offline Taylorz1

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Re: Weirdest place to find a lost part
« Reply #3 on: September 09, 2019, 08:17:42 PM »
For some reason the chip pan on my lathe is a spring magnet. It’s a good 15’ jump from the bench to the lathe but that’s the first place I look regardless of the trajectory of an escaping part.

Offline SingleMalt

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Re: Weirdest place to find a lost part
« Reply #4 on: September 09, 2019, 10:15:29 PM »
Embedded in the wall six months after I lost and replaced it.
Never drink whisky that isn't old enough to vote.

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Offline Metalshaper

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Re: Weirdest place to find a lost part
« Reply #5 on: September 09, 2019, 11:34:01 PM »
in the laundry machine, over on the other side of the basement..

Looked and looked all over the shop, had Lynn Marie pat me down before I got out of my shop clothes.. Turned out all the pockets and checked??
started a load of clothes the next day and when I unloaded it.. There was my part!!

Respect Always
Jonathan

Offline Taylorz1

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Re: Weirdest place to find a lost part
« Reply #6 on: September 09, 2019, 11:37:32 PM »
https://shop.harborfreight.com/media/catalog/product/cache/1/image/9df78eab33525d08d6e5fb8d27136e95/6/2/62704_zzz_alt_500.jpg

These are like $10 from harbor freight. I haven’t used this one but we use smaller versions of these at work and they are helpful

Offline shortbarrel

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Re: Weirdest place to find a lost part
« Reply #7 on: September 10, 2019, 12:45:03 AM »
Best way in the word to clean the shop and work bench. Have found my glasses on my head a few times to.

Offline BJH

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Re: Weirdest place to find a lost part
« Reply #8 on: September 10, 2019, 01:28:30 AM »
I have short legs. I’ve found more than one lost part in my pants cuff.
BJH

Offline bowkill

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Re: Weirdest place to find a lost part
« Reply #9 on: September 10, 2019, 02:47:15 AM »
Heck i lost both lock bolts one time and have not been seen to this day, and i have a small shop. Looked for a week and finally gave up and just made some more. Still think they will show up someday tho..
μολὼν λαβέ (Come and take them)

Offline WKevinD

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Re: Weirdest place to find a lost part
« Reply #10 on: September 10, 2019, 06:00:00 AM »
I use (depend on) one of Dave2s depth gauges. It disappeared, so I cleaned the benches, the floor and checked every tool box drawer for two days. I broke down and I ordered a new one from the Lucky Bag, it arrived and I was using it at the drill press and in order to rotate the press I placed the new depth gauge on the nearest shelf...on top of the lost one.

Kevin
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Offline Jason C

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Re: Weirdest place to find a lost part
« Reply #11 on: September 10, 2019, 12:22:42 PM »
I use (depend on) one of Dave2s depth gauges. It disappeared, so I cleaned the benches, the floor and checked every tool box drawer for two days. I broke down and I ordered a new one from the Lucky Bag, it arrived and I was using it at the drill press and in order to rotate the press I placed the new depth gauge on the nearest shelf...on top of the lost one.

Kevin




Sounds like something I'd do.


Did you have to order a third one because you couldn't find the first two?

Offline Eric Krewson

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Re: Weirdest place to find a lost part
« Reply #12 on: September 10, 2019, 04:42:12 PM »
I have found most of the missing parts that sailed across the room on disassembly, they were never where I thought they would be. I use a roofing nail magnet to sweep the dusty floor first off then go to hands and knees.

Offline WKevinD

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Re: Weirdest place to find a lost part
« Reply #13 on: September 10, 2019, 04:54:16 PM »
Quote from: Jason C link=topic=55917.msg559404#msg559404 date=1568107362


Did you have to order a third one because you couldn't find the first two?
[/quote


Not yet.
PEACE is that glorious moment in history when everyone stands around reloading.  Thomas Jefferson

Offline J. Talbert

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Re: Weirdest place to find a lost part
« Reply #14 on: September 11, 2019, 12:20:52 AM »
I wish I could answer that...  ???
There are no solutions.  There are only trade-offs.”
Thomas Sowell

Offline John Shaw

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Re: Weirdest place to find a lost part
« Reply #15 on: September 11, 2019, 05:47:44 AM »
I've often wondered how much more I would have accomplished in my life if I hadn't spent half of it looking for something that I had in my hands a few minutes ago.

JS

Offline Mike_StL

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Re: Weirdest place to find a lost part
« Reply #16 on: September 11, 2019, 05:46:13 PM »
I have disassembled things with strings inside a white tall trash bag. Most of the time, the parts stay in the bag.