canopus 

I have a bad tendency to loose track of items I purchased if I don't use them right away or place them in the box for the project, so I try to do just that and have this project in a box. But I cannot figure out HITH I have misplaced 36 spokes... I purchased 72 for the project, I built one wheel but had to wait until I could get parts for the rear hub, now I have it finished and went to build it. Danged if I could find them... I checked my boxes, checked my receipts (yep, purchased & delivered) measured all the spokes I can find.. Go through all of my spare boxes, tool boxes, boxes that have nothing to do bikes... Nothing...
Grrrr.... Damn shop gremlins...

Korina

You should be nicer to your house elf. I hope you find where they've been hidden.

iab

I am missing 3 pieces of 24" x 48" x 0.125" polyethylene foam. There are only so many places they could be.

So no, it's not just you.

zandoval 

Jody said the last time he was over your wife said she was going to hide um behind the oven...

No... Really... Not trying to be mean. I understand this dilemma. Some times I loose a tool I am using that was just in my hand a few seconds ago. Wait... Did I check behind the oven???

tkamd73 

Nah, not just you, I do it all the time, but I have what’s call CRS, or half-hiemers.
Tim

easyupbug 

I lay things down all the time when my eye catches something, phone rings, someone comes around, dogs bark, etc. then can't find it again. My shop is 1620 sq. ft. and poorly organized.

P!N20

It gets worse. When I eventually find the item I misplaced, I've forgotten why I bought it in the first place.

repechage

The more fun version was run across some items and I do not recall exactly from where they came. ( for a short time I bought various “lots” of parts, some can be attributed to that )

I did buy a jumble that included Campagnolo brake QR levers, pre CPSC... this was before ebay cloaked everyone, got a message soon after, ... ya want to sell those?, no, that is why I bought the lot.

jamesdak 

All the time anymore. Hence why I sold off so much of my collection. I was getting too angry all the time about loosing stuff.

Ronsonic 

I own a full Campagnolo cable set. New, In Box. Perfect. Unused.
Bought it ages ago when it was on sale. Now I need it.
Where did I leave it.

Spaghetti Legs 

If you want to find them sooner though, go ahead and buy 36 more.

canopus 

I bought a box of 100.... not DB like the originals but I don't like this $1+ per spoke bs....

SurferRosa

Well, it's not me. I simply can't afford it in more ways than one. Besides the obvious, excellent organization is good for my mental health. "Everything in its place..."

bikingshearer 

No, the syndrome is well-known and affects a wide segment of the population. The worst is when I have been driving myself crazy looking for something and finally ask my wife, who finds it within five seconds and usually right under my nose. She calls it "Male Pattern Blindness." It doesn't just happen with bike stuff.

You may or may not find whatever it is when you move out, but you will certainly find it right after you buy a replacement.

frogman

My wife finds stuff that I can't find after looking and says I gave it "the guy look"

billytwosheds 

This is sounding more and more like a "What did you misplace in your shop/garage/workspace lately" thread.

We've all got something to contribute.

JohnDThompson 

Or as soon as you buy another set of spokes to build the other wheel.

nlerner

I think I left it under here somewhere.

Phil_gretz

I agree with this. I've saved one of those cardboard cylinders that contained some document or photo print; the kind with the press-in plastic caps. It's labeled "Spokes", and I have my spare spokes rubber-banded by type and size and stored in there on my parts shelf. All spokes go into the tube.

I have similarly labeled boxes for categories of parts: derailleurs/shifters, brakes, cranksets/bb, cable housing, pedals, etc.

Now, do I lose things? Occasionally. I recently found a misplaced mini garage door opener that had been part of my commuting bag. It's been lost for 18 months. It was in the bottom zippered cloth bag that had a spare tube, presta extender, co2 cannisters/head, and tire levers. I don't carry that pouch, but must've assembled it for a particular ride. I forgot about it and tossed it into a garage bin where I keep riding glasses. So...

bark_eater 

My Park spoke ruler went missing 2 years ago. I finaly broke down and ordered another. I've only had couple hours of shop time aince the replacement arrived, but im still shocked the the original hasn't immediately resurfaced.

canopus 

Oh, You mean like this...

Phil_gretz

Yes. Similarly done, except cranksets go into a box, freewheels and chainrings are hung on pegboard, and small brake parts (straddles, noodles, pads, cartridges, binder bolts, etc.) have their own compartmentalized tray/box. I like what you've done.

canopus 

Found 'em... last project box I looked in AGAIN, under some greasy parts to be cleaned... gotta love organization...

I use translucent plastic boxes for my parts and projects so I can see into them... I really gotta stop using those blue shop towels to wrap greasy stuff in. Defeats the whole purpose .

mechanicmatt

I have a pretty sweet 7spd 11-28 IG cassette, well at least the last four cogs of it.