How to find those dropped parts!

[Harry P.]

For any of you guys who build in a room that has carpeting on the floor, you know how frustrating it is to drop a tiny part and then never see it again. Even for those who build over hardwood or tile or concrete floors, sometimes tiny parts bounce when they hit the floor and wind up far from where you think they landed.

Here's a neat way to find those tiny dropped parts: Get some old pantyhose (how you get them is up to you )...

cut a piece out and attach it over the end of your vacuum cleaner hose. Use a rubber band to hold the piece of pantyhose tightly against the end of the hose (you could also cut off a leg of the pantyhose and slip the foot part over the nozzle of the vac and hold it tightly in place wih a rubber band if you want to be able to cover a wider area quicker).

Then just vacuum the floor! Eventually you'll find that tiny piece (and probably some stuff you weren't expecting to find!) right there on the end of your vacuum!

Bonus: The wife or GF will think you're a real sweetheart for pitching in with the housework, and you just may be rewarded later, if you catch my drift...

[MikeMc]

Also works well with a dustbuster....and doesn't have as much suction.

[Bartster]

You might just be a lifesaver.

[trogdor]

So Harry, which brand of stockings do you prefer

[turn1wonder]

For smooth floors, put a flashlight on the floor and shine it perpendicular to the floor, any parts (or other crud [or other undies]) will cast a shadow.

Bob

[Harry P.]

For smooth floors, put a flashlight on the floor and shine it perpendicular to the floor, any parts (or other crud [or other undies]) will cast a shadow.

Bob

You mean shine it PARALLEL to the floor. Shining it perpendicular to the floor means shining it straight down.

[Harry P.]

So Harry, which brand of stockings do you prefer

Well... I'd rather keep that a secret...

[turn1wonder]

Uh, ya, that's what I meant. Thanks Harry

Bob

(my foot tastes terrible)

[Harry P.]

Uh, ya, that's what I meant. Thanks Harry

Bob

(my foot tastes terrible)

Try a little ketchup on it...

BTW... no harm, no foul. I figured that's what you really meant.

[Sixx]

I've actually done that before, works like a charm!! Great tip Harry!!! The " hose " in the egg feel, whoops, works best!!

[Bowtienutz]

I wear an apron with velcro attachment to the workbench. No need to get on my hands and knees looking for stuff.

[pharr7226]

Great idea Harry. I've sacrificed a bunch of small pieces to the carpet gods.

[Bartster]

It works! Thank you Harry. I just found my fuel pump! Man it's tiny.

[62rebel]

getting down to floor level? at my age? it it hits the floor, it's gone....

[JunkPile]

Aprons and panty hose...... Oh my!

[Big Daddy]

getting down to floor level? at my age? it it hits the floor, it's gone....

i agree i just did the 52 hudson and 1 headlight and i front signal gone gone gone

[Deathgoblin]

Wow! Great tip! I lose more parts this way.

[donkeypuncher76]

For any of you guys who build in a room that has carpeting on the floor, you know how frustrating it is to drop a tiny part and then never see it again. Even for those who build over hardwood or tile or concrete floors, sometimes tiny parts bounce when they hit the floor and wind up far from where you think they landed.

Here's a neat way to find those tiny dropped parts: Get some old pantyhose (how you get them is up to you )...

cut a piece out and attach it over the end of your vacuum cleaner hose. Use a rubber band to hold the piece of pantyhose tightly against the end of the hose (you could also cut off a leg of the pantyhose and slip the foot part over the nozzle of the vac and hold it tightly in place wih a rubber band if you want to be able to cover a wider area quicker).

Then just vacuum the floor! Eventually you'll find that tiny piece (and probably some stuff you weren't expecting to find!) right there on the end of your vacuum!

Bonus: The wife or GF will think you're a real sweetheart for pitching in with the housework, and you just may be rewarded later, if you catch my drift...

Sweet idea Harry, thx!

[Danno]

You mean shine it PARALLEL to the floor. Shining it perpendicular to the floor means shining it straight down.

Or straight up.

[Danno]

I have a different approach.

I irradiate all the small parts.

Then if any fall or go flying, I get out my Micro Mark Mini-Geiger Counter ...

[High octane]

For any of you guys who build in a room that has carpeting on the floor, you know how frustrating it is to drop a tiny part and then never see it again. Even for those who build over hardwood or tile or concrete floors, sometimes tiny parts bounce when they hit the floor and wind up far from where you think they landed.

Here's a neat way to find those tiny dropped parts: Get some old pantyhose (how you get them is up to you )...

cut a piece out and attach it over the end of your vacuum cleaner hose. Use a rubber band to hold the piece of pantyhose tightly against the end of the hose (you could also cut off a leg of the pantyhose and slip the foot part over the nozzle of the vac and hold it tightly in place wih a rubber band if you want to be able to cover a wider area quicker).

Then just vacuum the floor! Eventually you'll find that tiny piece (and probably some stuff you weren't expecting to find!) right there on the end of your vacuum!

Bonus: The wife or GF will think you're a real sweetheart for pitching in with the housework, and you just may be rewarded later, if you catch my drift...

Yeah you'll be rewarded when she tells you that you can vacuum the rest of the house also. LOL!

[Lovefordgalaxie]

I imagine what one can find after doing this for the first time.

Look, a turn signal I lost in 1978!!!

[Ddms]

I wear an apron with velcro attachment to the workbench. No need to get on my hands and knees looking for stuff.

Eh? How does that work? I'm seeing a bib with a strip of velcro along the bottom.

[Rob Hall]

I have no carpeting (wood and tile) and can usually find a dropped part, if I'm fast enough that I get before a doggy hoovers it up...

[slusher]

Great tip Harry, l drop a buch of parts. This will help me out.