How do missing parts know everything?

[Dahak]

The day I feared almost happened today. Was changing turret heads on my Redding T-7 and I heard the dreaded sound of steel bouncing on concrete. The detent ball decided to play hide-n-go seek. I moved everything, no luck. I swept, no luck. On my hands and knees with a flashlight, no luck. Ugh, off to the internet to find see what size I need for a replacement. Found the answer (5/16 bearing ball). Back into the reloading room for one final look before heading to buy the replacement and right there, in the middle of the room gleaming brightly was the detent ball, just laughing at me.

How did it know that I was ready to move on? I'll still buy some replacements just in case, but I suspect with the ball knowing I am prepared, it will stay put for a decade or so now.

 

[Telecaster]

Usually it comes slinking back home after you buy a replacement.

 

[Bastogne71]

The second time mine hit the floor, I realized it was just a matter of time before it fell into the black hole of lost parts so I ordered a package of replacements.

You know that when you get some spares that you are guaranteed never to need them.

 

[mikerjf]

1 foot of vertical drop = 8 potential feet of sideways movement.

Subject to shop size of course, and the magnetic attraction rule of drains.

 

[Ivan the Butcher]

Also, the time of day and availability of open stores plays a major factor in their being found!

Having spares destroys the wonder lust of parts!

Ivan

 

[Willyboy]

Missing parts

I lost a part on a Ruger No.1 trigger assembly, and had to order a new assembly from Ruger. I found the part years later, after I had sold the rifle.
The part was tucked away behind a large China cabinet. I wonder how it knew to hide there? Willyboy

 

[mikld]

I'm getting old and suffer from "dropsy". I recently got a pellet gun to shoot in my shop and it is a very customizable pistol, much like a 10-22. A few screws needed to remove/replace are 4-48 and 6-32,some just 1/4" long. I got frustrated crawling around looking for a dropped screw I bought a 150 assorted 4-48 screws and a few 6-32' (Thank goodness for McMaster-Carr!). I also changed my "gun working" position; I lowered my stool, moved right up against the bench, moved the "gun mat" away from the bench edge (now I only lose screws on the bench top). Gettin' old ain't fer sissies...

 

[WR Moore]

I've loved magnetic tip screwdrivers for decades. In my old age I'm starting to ponder the wisdom buying one of those magnetic mats to do work on.

One of the best tools I ever bought was a 3 inch diameter magnet on a long handle. It's found a lot of stuff for me.

 

[Nevada Ed]

I have to be real careful when I dismantle anything, since I have a formica table top and a carpet floor.

I usually will lay out a small light colored towel on the table top to work on and catch any wandering parts that stray or that I drop.

Every now and then I also sweep up the area arond the table to pick up spent primers and Shotgun lead or steel pellets that have go astray over time plus any other objects, that go into a bowl and is latter gone over.

I have found 9mm cases, live primers and even a phillips screwdriver tip, that I some how did not hear or forgot about, on my last sweep job.

 

[Engineer1911]

RCBS decapping pins

The second time mine hit the floor, I realized it was just a matter of time before it fell into the black hole of lost parts so I ordered a package of replacements.

You know that when you get some spares that you are guaranteed never to need them.

I bought a 50-count bag of small pins, large pins, and headed pins that were shipped to me in THREE separate orders.

Per 'Bastogne71's Theory of Missing Parts', I have only used 3 out of each bag in 12 years. Despite the ridiculous cost, those pins are 'priceless' when needed after closing time.

 

[TXBryan]

Surely there must be an established "law" such as "Murphy's" to describe the phenomenon of having to buy a replacement before one finds the lost original. And why is it that with astonishing frequency we find the original within minutes or hours of ordering a replacement despite no longer searching? If there's no established "law" for this I'd propose "the Law of Lost & Found."

 

[km101]

The steel parts usually reappear right after I have spent 15 minutes on my hands and knees with a magnet. And usually well away from where I thought it would be. ��

 

[cmj8591]

I have enough lost parts floating around my shop to build a whole gun. It never ceases to amaze me how far a rebound spring can fly when they sneak out from under the shop rag.

 

[mikld]

Magnets work great, and I have a few with telescoping handles and different size/shape magnets, but are are not so hot finding nylon, stainless steel or brass parts...