Don't work on your sidearms in your living room unless your attic coffee table

[can14]

Go to Costco and buy front door boot trays for wet footwear. Then go to auto supply company and buy a magnetic parts tray
Bolt tray keeps all of the parts together magnetic tray keeps all the small parts

 

[mudgunner49]

When I lose a small part I sweep the area with a strong magnet on an extended handle. The little click is the sound of success.

For me the little click is usually a spent primer that managed to evade the vacuum cleaner...

 

[bogusiii]

Another point to keep in mind with all this home isolation going on, Never , ever let the wife "tidy" the shop up.

Good advice but too late. My wife (working from home as am I) took to the upstairs bathroom to remove the wallpaper she's never been to fussy about (before you ask...yes she was the one who originally picked it). She passed by with a hammer, then a prybar, then a lot of banging. Wondering how tough that wallpaper was to need such force I had a look and the damned room is down to the studs. I could leave her to it but it's inherently understood my project is my project and her project is my project so now I'm looking at wiring, plumbing, mudding and wallpapering for the rest of my covid isolation. I know this has nothing to do with finding errant springs but I needed someplace to vent.

 

[Cameron SS]

Buy a mechanic's magnetic parts bowl from Princess Auto.

This is what I use.

Also, if I was two for two on losing or damaging parts when disassembling my pistols, I'd probably consider not disassembling my pistols so much.