Where did I put that?
I have spent the last three days looking for a bag of parts - Several weeks ago I put together new tie rod ends and a new tie rod bar - I just set the ends in the "they go about there" position - I did this in the evening so I left the assembled bar leaning against the wall in the living room - The dust covers, grease fittings, nuts and cotter pins were left in the original bags on the coffee table (I do live alone) - The next day I didn't feel well and then for several days it rained and then blah, blah. At some time shortly after starting the project I decided that I had better put the small parts away or they would get lost - I remember putting them in a ziplock bag and putting them in a place that I WOULD NEVER FORGET - Riiiiggghhhttt !!! - We've got a few days of good weather ahead I started to pull together everything I want to try and get done
The tie rod was still leaning against the wall and the other parts I wanted to put on were found within a few hrs - I went to my stash place to get the covers and stuff and they weren't there - No problem, I went to my backup, they weren't there every place I looked - Nothing - I even went to the Special Place (It's a wicker basket with a piece of paper tacked on that says Special Place) and again zip - I started the intence search, then went to the mad search, then the pi&&ed search, and this morning I was in the frantic search - Nothing, Nada, Zip - whatever - Just after supper I went to a tool box that I use for wood working/destruction stuff - I opened the top and there was the bag with my parts in it.
Man's Second Oldest Question - Where did I put that? Is there any way that I can remember where I put stuff? - Don't say notes - I lose them too
I need help - Well we all know that, I mean help with Man's Second Oldest Question

 

I hear ya Dick.

There is one sure fired way to find the missing parts. All you have to do is go an buy new parts, as soon as you get home then whammo, like magic, there they, right out in the open.

You are not alone
Bobby

 

Happens to me all the time. The parts usually end up right where I first looked, but I somehow looked right at them and it didn't click. Trust your first instinct!

 

Happens all of time. I swear I just put it.down and it disappears. Bobby's suggestion works about 90% of the time.

 

I've worked thirty plus years with the same company. I once came across a wrench I know I lost at least 20 years before still setting on a ledge just out of sight. Only reason I found it I went to set another wench in the same spot.

 

Happens to me too, as a matter of fact. I'm planning the placement of various dash ***** and switches,measuring and making centre lines. I set down the tape measure to go over the the work bench to get a drink of water. I came back to the truck and I'm looking fo my tape measure. Well I look and look and look....nowhere. I sit down on the cab floor and scratch my chin. Takes a couple minutes, and then"what the heck" here I am staring at it and I didn't even know it. Is this what happens when yuh get old?

 

No, it's been happening to me all my life. For me, most jobs take as much time looking for tools, parts, etc. as it does to complete the task.

 

It happens to me when I get a phone call while in the shop. Whatever I happen to have in my hands gets put down so I can answer the phone. Of course the first thing I do when the call is over is try to remember what it was that I was doing. When I remember it often takes me quite a while to find what I put down. Sometimes I give up, and later (sometimes much later) it magically appears. I get a lot of phone calls during the day so my days usually consist of answering calls and looking for what I put down. And sometimes some work actually gets done.

 

Those parts are right next to my shock studs!

Better check in the fridge next to the beer.

 

I feel your pain. I also suffer from "I don't need something until after I've thrown it away".

 

Ya'll aren't very encouraging - I'm glad I'm not the only one, but I really need some solutions - Pleeeeeeeeeees

 

Dick; I know this won't work for every thing but for the last ten years I've been tying my glasses around my neck, sometimes i'll go for a day or two without loosing them.
Like most, I spend more time searching than working.

 

In the last 3 months, I've lost half of a pto shaft and a jack stand. I found the shaft weeks later in a place that only aliens could have placed it there. Still haven't found the jack stand. HOW does a person lose a jack stand!!?? As you can imagine, smaller parts don't stand a chance at my place. You're definitely not alone, Dick.

 

Easy solution. Get a cat. Blame the cat. Problem solved.
We have three cats and two dogs. I never misplace anything.
Honest!

 

Doc, your jack stand must have run away with mine.

Last week I had four now I can only locate three